Dear Neighbor,
Before we turn the calendar on this year’s Black History Month, I wanted to take a moment to share a couple of black history tidbits related to the Michigan House of Representatives.
Did you know?
- The first Black man elected to the Michigan House took office was William W. Ferguson in 1892.
- The first Black woman, Charline White, was elected in 1950.
- In more recent history, I’m proud to have served alongside the 1st Black Speaker of the House, Joe Tate in 2022.
- As well as the first Black Woman serving as Supreme Court Justice, Kyra Harris Bolden taking her seat in 2023.
And that’s just the beginning! The Michigan Legislative Black Caucus has a great website with more historical notes as well as legislative priorities. Take a minute to visit and learn more.
For all other questions, as always, don’t hesitate to reach out to my office by phone at (517) 373-0476 or email at CAGlanville@house.mi.gov. Follow me on social media for the most up-to-date information.
Yours in service,
Carol Glanville
State Representative
House District 84
In this edition:
- Carol in the Community
- Discover What’s Happening in the House District
- Legislative Updates
- Coffee Hour
______________________________________________
Carol in the Community:
This past month, I’ve been busy in Lansing and House District 84, collaborating with my colleagues and engaging with constituents. From celebrating Black excellence, to convening with seniors, supporting the arts and our parks, I’m excited about all the wonderful work and insightful conversations taking place across our community.
GRAM Member opening: Christopher Myers
I always enjoy visiting the Grand Rapids Art Museum, but I was especially excited to attend the Member Opening for Christopher Myers’ exhibition. His work, focused on Myth and Migration, explores the journeys of seasonal farmworkers. With support from Migrant Legal Aid, Myers visited migrant housing sites in Kent and Ottawa counties to meet and document the stories of these workers. Using the Greek Goddess of Agriculture Persephone as a metaphor, he connects her seasonal journey to the lives of migrant workers in his artwork.
I highly encourage you to visit this exhibition, which will be at the GRAM until April 27.
AAAWM/ Advocates for Senior Issues Event
I had the honor of serving as the legislative speaker at the Advocates for Senior Issues event with the Area Agency on Aging West Michigan. The program also featured a presentation from the ACLU, where they discussed their efforts to combat threats to civil rights. I had a great time getting to know the seniors in our community and listening to their thoughts and concerns. It was valuable to hear directly from them about how I can better support and assist in addressing their needs.
GRPS State of our Schools
It was a pleasure attending the Grand Rapids 2025 State of Our Schools address with Superintendent Dr. Leadriane Roby. The event showcased how our school district is on the rise, and I’m excited to see the future of GRPS unfold.
Community Celebration: Honoring the Legacy of Black Veterans
I had such a meaningful experience at the ‘Honoring the Legacy of Black Veterans’ event, where we celebrated the bravery, sacrifices and lasting impact of Black veterans. I gained a deeper understanding of Black history and legacies, learning about figures like William Harvey Carney, Benjamin Banneker, Isiah Mays and others. It was an uplifting community event, filled with powerful stories of service, triumph and resilience.
Love Your Parks Fundraiser
Last weekend, I attended the Love Your Parks: A Night Out with Friends Fundraiser. The event celebrated the past year’s progress in parks, trees and trails, while also highlighting exciting upcoming projects. It was a fun night filled with delicious food and drinks, axe throwing, fire performances, fireside chats with our community members and more!
Discover What’s Happening in the District
I hope you are staying busy during these cold months, But if you’ve run out of fresh ideas, follow this link to find some fun things to do in the city, like candle making, craft workshops, music events, tours and more!
Learn more here: Grand Rapids Winter Activities | Events & Attractions
In addition, Friends of Grand Rapids Parks is hosting many events this month, where they celebrate the spirit of Grand Rapids and the friendships that make our city thrive! Some of these events include Great Lakes Trivia, the Fresh Coast Film Festival Roadshow and Eco-Stewardship Workdays and ArborFest Planting.
Legislative Update:
Over the past month, I’ve been collaborating with my colleagues to advance legislation aimed at improving our Earned Sick Time and Minimum Wage laws. I was particularly concerned at the impact on our vibrant small business community, a key employment and economic driver throughout Grand Rapids. And I’m pleased that we were able to come to a compromise that improves benefits for workers while balancing the burden to employers with House Bill 4002 and Senate Bill 8. These bills establish a standardized minimum wage for all non-tipped employees, ensuring fair compensation and preventing wage discrimination. Additionally, they amend the Earned Sick Time Act, requiring employers with 11 or more employees to offer 72 hours of paid sick leave annually, while businesses with fewer than 10 employees must provide 40 hours. If you have any questions about how these changes may impact you or your business, please don’t hesitate to reach out to my office.
Coffee Hour:
I am happy to share that I will be hosting two coffee hours this month to help accommodate more people’s schedule during the day and in the evening. Both coffee hours will be located at Kent District Library – Grandville Branch, 4055 Maple St. SW Grandville, MI.
Friday, March 7 from noon-1 p.m.
Monday, March 10 from 5-6 p.m.
Come share any concerns that are important to you and your community and hear what legislation will be on the docket for the remainder of the year. Hope to see you there!