Dear Neighbor,
Welcome to this month’s Capitol and community update e-newsletter!
As always, please encourage neighbors and friends in House District 56 — Troy, Clawson, Royal Oak, Birmingham and Bloomfield Township — to also sign up for these updates at RepMacDonell.com. Please let us know if you have any thoughts on state-level issues or want to meet with me. My office can be reached by phone at (517) 373-2617 or by email at SharonMacDonell@house.mi.gov.
I can also be found on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. I want to hear from you and work with you to make the 56th House District a better place!
In Service,
Sharon MacDonell
State Representative
House District 56
Upcoming Events
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Community Conversation in Clawson
Please join me for coffee and conversation later this month, with special guest state Sen. Mallory McMorrow.
When: Saturday, Aug. 19, from 10-11 a.m.
Where: Leon & Lulu, 96 West 14 Mile Road, Clawson, MI 48017
Legislative Updates
The following are highlights from my recent work in the legislature. All of my sponsored and co-sponsored legislation from this term are available at the provided hyperlink. You can also see my press releases page for additional updates.
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Summer 2023 Legislative Canvassing!
The legislature is technically on “summer break” for an extended in-district work period until it reconvenes this fall — but that doesn’t mean Team MacDonell has missed a beat connecting with residents.
- Throughout the summer, my office’s staff and interns, community volunteers, and I have canvassed the neighborhoods of House District 56 to hear your ideas and concerns. The input we get from you directly affects the issues I work on and has shaped some of the exciting bills that I will be introducing in the fall. So if you see a Team MacDonell member walking your neighborhood, don’t be afraid to chat them up — we want to hear from you!
- If you want to meet with me to discuss an issue impacting you or our community, please call or email my office with the issue you want to discuss and the times you’re available to meet. This in-district work period has given me much more time to meet with constituents, either one-on-one or in small groups.
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Team MacDonell’s new Youth Council!
Residents of House District 56 ages 14-20 are invited to join my Youth Council, or YC. Members of the YC will meet with me once a month to discuss issues affecting young people in the community and will assist our office with the remainder of its summer legislative canvassing. Being on the YC will be a great experience for high school and college students who want to learn more about the policymaking process. Anyone interested in joining the YC is invited to complete this interest form!
Community Recognitions and Resources
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August is ‘ABLE to Save Month’ for disability savings accounts
Opening a MiABLE disability savings account makes sense any time, but during August, it will earn the first 200 people to open a new account a $100 match.
For people with disabilities and their families, MiABLE might be Michigan’s best-kept secret. An estimated 500,000 Michiganders are eligible to open MiABLE accounts, but only about 1% of them are currently enrolled statewide.
Established in Michigan in 2015, MiABLE is administered by the Michigan Department of Treasury to help people with disabilities save money without jeopardizing government assistance like Medicaid and Social Security that imposes a $2,000 federal asset limit. MiABLE allows individuals who became disabled before age 26 to save up to $17,000 annually.
A MiABLE account allows individuals with disabilities to make their own decisions about how to spend their money on qualified expenses, including health care, housing, education and transportation.
For more information or to open a MiABLE account, click here..
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Connect: The AAA1-B’s Long-term Care Guide
The Area Agency on Aging 1-B (AAA 1-B) supports older adults, people with disabilities, and family caregivers in Livingston, Monroe, Macomb, Oakland, St. Clair and Washtenaw counties by connecting them with information and services they need to remain living independently in their homes and communities. The AAA1-B is pleased to announce the publication of Connect, a comprehensive guide to long-term care options for older adults and caregiving resources for families.
The guide is brimming with informative content about Medicare and the MI Choice Medicaid Waiver Program, brain health, caregiving for a loved one, knowing when it’s time to stop driving, tips on hiring a home health aide, and more.
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Networking and Learning Session for Small Businesses through Oakland Thrive
Are you a small business owner looking to learn more about selling to governments? Join Oakland Thrive, Oakland County’s non-profit partner for small business development, and Schoolcraft College’s APEX Accelerator counselors for this in-person opportunity to discuss government contracting, procurement assistance, and other relevant contracting topics as you network with other businesses.
This exciting event will be taking place at Chief Financial Credit Union in Troy (751 East Big Beaver Rd) on Thursday, 8/17 from 9:30 to 11:00 AM – doors will open at 9:00. Seats are limited, so register now by following the URL above. Bring your questions and the hosts will bring the coffee!
Submissions for Small Business of the Month AND Teacher of the Month
Each month, I recognize a small business in the community from House District 56 as our small businesses of the month. To nominate a business for this recognition, please fill out this form for Small Business of the Month. I am also excited to recognize a Teacher of the Month! Teachers are the backbone of this nation, and our district has the BEST teachers! Please fill out this form to recognize a Teacher of the Month.
Tributes, Letters and Certificates
Do you know someone in the district who is retiring and would like a legislative tribute to celebrate their years of service? Has a local team or group reached a milestone that they would like to be acknowledged with an official certificate for each member? Our office can provide legislative tributes, letters and certificates on a wide range of recognitions for constituents. If you would like to request any of these materials for yourself or others, please email my office at SharonMacDonell@house.mi.gov with as much information as possible on the requested recognition, and we will work with you to arrange delivery or presentation of the recognition!