POLICY & ADVOCACY
Rising Voices advocates at the local, state, and federal levels for progressive policy change that advances Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in Michigan. We work in solidarity with Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) communities and other marginalized groups to ensure that public officials are responsive to the needs and voices of our communities.
Current Policy & Advocacy Work
INCLUSIVE EDUCATION
AAPI history is American history. Ensuring that AAPI history is taught in public K-12 schools is the long-term solution to combating the lack of understanding around AAPI communities that leads to hate at the systemic level. Our children deserve to see themselves represented in history books. Rising Voices is fighting for the inclusion and accurate representation of AAPI and other communities of color’s histories in Michigan’s social studies curriculum to ensure that it reflects the diversity and rich cultures of our state.
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LANGUAGE ACCESS
Immigrants are the primary driving force for population growth in Michigan, especially Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, which are the fastest-growing racial group in the state and country. We are advocating for comprehensive language access at all levels of government to lower barriers to accessing public services for Michiganders with limited English proficiency. Language access is a crucial step in providing equitable access for all new Americans, enabling them to participate more fully as residents and contribute to our state.
With the help of community advocacy, the Michigan Legislature has passed the Meaningful Language Access to State Services Act. This is a huge win for all immigrant communities! This landmark legislation is the first comprehensive language access law in Michigan, and it would positively impact over 300,000 Michiganders who are limited English proficient (LEP) and lift the burden off of many children of immigrants and loved ones. The law requires state agencies to provide sufficient in-person and other oral interpretation and translation of vital documents to LEP residents.
On behalf of 40 community organizations and countless advocates, Rising Voices, MI Poder, and the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center have sent a support letter asking Governor Whitmer to sign SB 382 and HB 4720 - The Meaningful Language Access to State Services Act into law without delay.
REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM
The AAPI community’s record turnout was instrumental in the passage of Proposal 3 in 2022 which enshrined the fundamental right to reproductive healthcare under the Michigan Constitution. But we are not stopping there! Rising Voices and our coalition partners across the state are working to repeal antiquated laws and medically unnecessary abortion restrictions to ensure that people are free to make their own healthcare decisions without political interference.
LEGISLATION TRACKER
Check out which legislation our policy team is
actively working on and tracking
Bills We Supported
Earned Income Tax Credit Bill (EITC)
We supported the expansion of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), a much-needed boost for over 740,000 families statewide. The new legislation increases the state match of the federal tax credit from 6% to 30% for low-income families. This means families will receive an average credit of $750 when they file for taxes each year.
Fred Korematsu Day
We applaud Governor Whitmer for signing and supporting the passage of State Senator Chang’s sponsored SB-0018 bill to permanently recognize January 30th as Fred Korematsu Day for Civil Liberties and the Constitution in Michigan.
In 1942 Korematsu was arrested at the age of 23 and convicted for defying the government's order to be moved to a Japanese American internment camp. The Supreme Court upheld the internment order in the landmark case Korematsu v. United States, but nearly 40 years later Korematsu's conviction was formally vacated in the U.S. District Court of Northern California, a pivotal moment in civil rights history. Korematsu remained an activist throughout his life and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1998, the nation’s highest civilian honor.
