Dear Friends,

 

It’s finally starting to feel like Spring! I’ve continued connecting with my fellow community members to listen to their concerns and share, in person, the important issues that we are tackling in Lansing. We want to make sure our community has a way to stay engaged – either by joining me at a coffee hour or signing up for this e-news. Please share this information with your friends and neighbors and encourage them to sign up for email updates!

The last few weeks, our schedule included a meeting with Clawson and Troy residents from Michigan for Vaccine Choice to listen to their concerns. We also met with Professor Kattner of Oakland University, who we connected to the Michigan Department of Education to discuss concerns around certifications for dance teachers. Whatever the topic is, we are here to represent you and want to hear about the topics you care most about.

Sincerely,

State Rep. Padma Kuppa

District 41

Legislative Update

The first bill we introduced was HB 4076 to protect vulnerable adults from being coerced into providing sexually explicit content online. It was referred to the Families, Children and Seniors Committee, and we recently spoke with the committee chair to request a hearing. My office is currently reaching out to organizations such as ARC, the Michigan State Police, Autism Alliance of Michigan and others to collect statistics regarding the prevalence of this type of coercion in preparation for the committee hearing.

 

 

And on National Pet Day, April 11, we introduced HB 4455, to make the shelter pet the official state pet.

Upcoming Time with Padma

 

Senior Coffee Hours

Monday, April 29, from 3 – 4:30 p.m.

Senior Citizens Center

509 Fisher Court in Clawson

District Spotlight

Automation Alley

 

Have you ever seen signs for Automation Alley or driven by their office off of Big Beaver in Troy? We recently attended a tour Automation Alley provided for a group of legislators and it was illuminating!

 

Automation Alley is a nonprofit manufacturing and technology business association with a global outlook and regional focus. They connect industry, education and government partners in order to fuel Michigan’s economy and accelerate innovation. They offer programs, resources and knowledge to help our members grow and prosper in the digital age. Want to become a member? Reach out to our office and we can help!

 

Boys & Girls Club of Troy

 

Back in 1973, the idea of establishing a Boys & Girls Club for local youth in Troy was formulated. The Club made its first home in a church basement and officially opened the doors of its current 18,000 square foot facility in 2006. The facility includes a game room, Learning Resource Center, gymnasium, an art room and a teen center. Each space is configured to accommodate large groups and specific activities.

 

The Boys & Girls Club of Troy serves the entire tri-county area (Oakland, Macomb and Wayne) by providing a safe and positive place for young people from over 40 communities. The active membership of over 700 kids comes to the easily visible building on John R throughout the year for a wide variety of summer and afterschool programming. The local club is part of the Michigan Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs, which is part of a 150-year old national organization. Their mission is to ensure every child in the United States is in a safe, constructive environment when they are not at home or in school and that they have access to enriching opportunities and experiences during their K-12 years. Schedule a visit today – especially if you have kids in school!

What to Do in 41

The Tigers’ season is underway, and that means it’s also time for sports in Troy and Clawson!

 

Clawson Parks and Rec has information available about their upcoming events on their website — you can even sign up for their newsletter! Find out more information about the great farmers’ market occurring throughout the summer, a baseball game with some friendly competition between firefighters and police, and the famous, fabulous Fourth of July parade!

 

Troy Parks and Rec is another great go-to, no matter if you’re a senior looking for a hobby to take up in retirement, or a parent of a toddler wanting to make sure your little one spends their boundless energy in a fun-filled, safe way. The application to reserve a shelter for a summer picnic can be found there, as well as a sign-up option for their e-news. The summer edition of the Troy Recreation Guide that is mailed home each season is online, too!

Resources

Preventing the Spread of Measles

 

Oakland County (OC0 has plenty of resources, starting with information about the recent measles outbreak. From the FAQs on the OC Health Division website, measles is a respiratory illness with rash caused by the rubeola virus and is preventable by vaccination. If you have been exposed to someone with measles, here is what you can do:

  • Unvaccinated individuals need to get vaccinated within 72 hours of exposure. If you do not have a record of receiving two measles (MMR) vaccines, unsure if you have been vaccinated, or unsure if you have had measles in the past, contact your healthcare provider.
  • Immune Globulin (IG) treatment is effective within 6 days of exposure for high-risk individuals including those who are unvaccinated or unsure about vaccination status, pregnant women, and those with a weakened immune system due to illness and diseases like HIV, malnutrition, and/or medications.
  • If symptoms develop, call ahead before you visit your doctor or emergency room so they can take precautions to prevent exposure to other individuals.
  • Stay home if you are sick and don’t allow visitors in your home as measles is highly contagious.
  • Watch for symptoms for 21 days after potential exposure. Call your preferred healthcare provider if symptoms develop and you believe you were exposed.

 

Oakland County Workforce Development

 

Oakland County’s Workforce Development division includes resources on job training and placement, with information about a special event on this fall: MiCareerQuest Southeast, the region’s largest interactive career exploration event for high school students! The purpose is to introduce students to a broad range of exciting, rewarding career opportunities.

 

Thousands of high school students from Oakland, Macomb, Monroe, Wayne, Washtenaw and Livingston counties will be meeting with working professionals who have built successful careers in a variety of fields. In addition, young people will have the opportunity to touch, feel and work with the equipment, tools and technology used by people every day in a broad range of in-demand jobs. The goal is to connect classroom learning with real-world jobs and their requirements. Students also will discover engaging workplace opportunities, such as internships, job shadowing and more.

 

Want to be a sponsor? Download information and forms on their website!