Dear Neighbor,

Happy Women’s History Month! I am honored to serve as the state representative for the 53rd House District and proud to be a strong advocate in Lansing for our community. Please encourage your friends and family to stay connected and subscribe to this e-newsletter. The e-news keeps everyone up-to-date on legislation and policies coming from the Capitol, coffee hours and other virtual and in-person community events.

As always, feel free to get in touch:

• brendacarter@house.mi.gov
• Phone: (517) 373-2577
• Sign Up for Email Updates

In service,

Brenda Carter

State Representative

53rd District

In this Issue:

• 2024 Waterford State of the Township
• Meeting with the Japanese Consul General
• 200th Anniversary of First Presbyterian Church
• MiLEAP’s Student Success Grant Program

2024 Waterford State of the Township

Pictured (left to right) Sam James, Larry Spiece, Mary Crate, Matt McClure, Brenda Carter, Barb Spiece, Jan Feldmann and Mary Watkins.

This time each year represents a chance for elected officials and citizens alike to recognize developments in our communities over the last year. Therefore, I was happy to attend the 2024 Waterford State of the Township and hear from the presenters and residents of Waterford on the state of Waterford Township. I am happy to represent such a diverse and vibrant community, in many ways, and I look forward to what this year holds for us.

Meeting with the Japanese

Consul General

Last month, Randy and I were honored to meet with Consul General of Japan Yusuke Shindo and his wife Seiko Shindo in Detroit to discuss and celebrate the long friendship and cooperation between Michigan and our two countries. The consul general also honored me with a certificate of commendation, recognizing my continued commitment to strengthening the relationship between Michigan and its sister state Shiga Prefecture, and the entirety of Japan, through economic and social ties. I would like to thank Consul General Shindo and the Japanese people for their endless love and support, and I look forward to further opportunities to grow the connection between our peoples!

200th Anniversary of First Presbyterian Church

On Feb. 25, I was happy to join with the Rev. Laura Kelsey and members of First Presbyterian Church of Pontiac’s congregation to celebrate the church’s 200th anniversary. Founded in 1824, First Presbyterian has stood through everything from the turbulent days of the Civil War to the exigent days of the Great Depression by devoting itself and its members to carrying out the noble ideals of community camaraderie throughout Pontiac. The church’s history provides a wonderful example of how much faith and selflessness mean to our entire state. Happy 200th birthday, First Presbyterian!

MiLEAP’s Student Success Grant Program

Recently, the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP) announced $45 million in grants to community and tribal colleges and universities aimed at reducing student’s barriers to entry to higher learning institutions and fostering student success. These grants were made possible by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Legislature’s commitment to growing Michigan’s postsecondary educational attainment by focusing on investing in Michigan’s students. The grants will allow colleges and universities across the state to develop and implement reforms that bring education closer to the students, eliminating equity gaps, removing life barriers such as child care and transportation, and educating Michiganders on the possibilities and benefits of attaining a college degree. To learn more about these transformational investments in our students, visit the link below.

https://www.michigan.gov/mileap/higher-education/sixty-by-30/grants