Wonk-Life Balance

Michigan's Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a tax credit for workers and families with low incomes, and it helps them meet basic spending needs like groceries, transportation, child care and home maintenance. In 2012, the credit was cut back, and the League and our partners have been advocating for it to be boosted every since. And NOW IS OUR CHANCE! There's bipartisan support for increasing the EITC to 30% of the federal credit. To make sure we understood just how much the EITC means to working Michiganders and their communities, we invited Bethany Broom-Dombrowski, a United Way VITA site coordinator, to talk to us about how the families she serves—most of them in rural areas—benefit. Bethany herself received the EITC when her daughter was younger, so she knows first-hand how important the credit is. Learn more about the EITC here. Take action and ask your lawmakers to support a boost here. Learn more about the United Way VITA Program (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) by calling 2-1-1 or contacting your local United Way.

Welcome to the second season of Wonk-Life Balance! In this episode we take a look at the power of relationships when it comes to parents and their kiddos. Early childhood expert Kerenda Applebey and parent advocate Salina Mann join host Laura Ross to chat about the power of home visiting, which Kerenda calls a best-kept secret that shouldn't be a secret anymore. Any parent—whether they're expecting a new baby, figuring out a nap schedule, or trying to get help with health concerns—knows how important it is to have a trusted confidant to bounce ideas off of and get advice from. In Michigan's home visiting programs, early childhood specialists and parents form a strength-based relationship and navigate parenting together, delving into topics like positive parenting practices, healthy pregnancy, child development and more. Home visits are not clinical...they're true relationships where parents know best and providers are there to support, listen, and share resources. Learn more about how to connect with a home visiting program in your area, and why it's so crucial that Michigan boosts funding for home visiting programs in the state budget. Who: Kerenda Applebey, Director of Early Childhood at the Berrien RESA Salina Mann, Parent Representative for Think Babies Michigan Laura Ross, Communications Director with the Michigan League for Public Policy Helpful Links: The Michigan Home Visiting Initiative MI Bridges (You'll need to create an account, but it's packed with great resources) MLPP State Budget Priority for Moms and Babies Think Babies Michigan Policy Agenda Join the Think Babies Michigan Collaborative This podcast episode was created in partnership with Think Babies Michigan.

This special edition of Wonk-Life Balance takes a look at what communities in Michigan need right now as we continue to endure a health crisis and recover from an economic one. Our panel discussion features three strong advocates for kids, families and workers in Michigan, as well as a moderator who's had a long career in social justice. Join them to learn more about how we can strengthen Michigan with an equitable recovery . Our panelists lift up the importance of not only acknowledging the folks who are impacted by the economy, but actively asking them what they need, then listening and responding. More about the panelists: Meredith Kennedy, Think Babies Michigan Executive Committee Member, parent, small business owner and tribal citizen Madiha Tariq, Deputy Director, ACCESS Community Health and Research Center Kim Trent, Deputy Director, Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) Moderator: Sheilah Clay, Michigan League for Public Policy Board of Directors

This special episode of Wonk-Life Balance features the keynote address from our recent public policy forum. In her address, Janelle Jones, Chief Economist at the United States Department of Labor explores the importance of transformational economic policy at this crucial time. Listen in to hear what she and her team are working on.

This episode of Wonk-Life Balance is time-sensitive. We're talking about making the right investments in Michigan so we can have an equitable recovery, and it's all hinging on the 'Build Back Better' plan that's being hashed out in Congress right now. That means we need to take action. Joining us to talk about what Michigan's communities need is Chong-Anna Canfora of Michigan Community Action, and sharing a look at what's happening in Washington, D.C., is Kathleen Romig of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Together, they help us understand the connection between our real-life experiences and negotiations happening on the U.S. Capitol floor this week. What can YOU do? ACT NOW. Contact your member of Congress and urge them to prioritize kids and families and Build Back Better. Here's a link to take action: https://bit.ly/CongressFundOurFuture

Parents, kids and community members have a lot to teach policymakers when it comes to strengthening our schools. Join us for a conversation about how Michigan's education system can be transformed through new ways of funding and new ways of thinking. This episode features Kids Count in Michigan Project Director Kelsey Perdue, Kyle Lim, a passionate advocate for community-based solutions and Tomarra Richardson, Parent Liaison for First Steps Kent.