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February 16, 2023
In This Issue:
 Michigan Civil Rights Commission meeting in January 2023
The Michigan Civil Rights Commission (MCRC) met in their first session of the year on Monday, Jan. 23 in Cadillac Place in Detroit. Commissioners elected officers for 2023, established committees and who will chair them, and passed two resolutions.
The first resolution recognized the National Day of Racial Healing. Noting that the commemoration "...is one pillar of the sweeping W.K. Kellogg Foundation’s Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation initiative..." and that "...this hopeful day of national reconciliation and understanding among all races has its roots in Michigan soil," the commission called upon MDCR to "...avail itself of opportunities to engage in activities and actions intended to heal the racial divide within Michigan." Read the entire resolution here.
The second resolution calls for the expansion of Michigan's signature civil rights law, the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act (ELCRA), to include specific protections on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.
This resolution is the latest in the commission's 40-year history of publicly calling upon the Michigan legislature to add protections for the LGBTQ+ community in ELCRA. Read the full resolution here.
The commission also elected officers for 2023, voting unanimously for the existing slate to continue in their positions in the new year.
- Chair – Portia Roberson
- Vice Chair – Zenna Elhasan
- Secretary – Gloria Lara
The commission established committees to oversee commission priorities for 2023. The committees and chairs include:
- Voting Rights Committee – David Worthams, Chair
- Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee – Gloria Lara, Chair
- Safe Learning Environments and Education Equity Committee – Zenna Elhasan, Chair
The commission tabled a decision on continuing the Environmental Justice Committee until the April 24th meeting.
Image: Tyra Khan, Director of Disability Rights and Compliance, reports on the work of her division in the last quarter of 2022 at the January 23 meeting of the MCRC.
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 Screen capture of January 26th forum on Hate Crime Reporting
On Thursday, January 26, the Community Engagement and Education Division hosted a virtual public forum on hate crime reporting, bringing together an array of experts to discuss current data on hate crimes and bias incidents, barriers to reporting a hate crime, how hate and bias data is collected, and alternatives to traditional reporting.
“This forum comes at a time when Michigan and the nation are experiencing an alarming uptick in hate crimes and bias incidents,” said Director Johnson. “We must come together and find ways to combat this trend, but first we have to understand it."
Among the featured speakers were:
- Patrick M. Geahan, Supervisory Special Agent and supervisor of the FBI office in Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Anne Mahar, Department Analyst in the Michigan Incident Crime Reporting Unit and Criminal Justice Information Center at the Michigan State Police
- Becky L. Monroe, Deputy Director of Strategic Initiatives and External Affairs at the California Civil Rights Department
- Alexandra Wyatt, Victim Advocate in the Hate Crimes and Domestic Terrorism Unit at the Michigan Department of Attorney General
You can view the forum here.
 Michigan Civil Rights Commission logo
Following the Jan. 23 MCRC meeting, the commission convened a public hearing on proposed changes to the Organization, Practice, And Procedure rule set governing both the commission and the department.
The rule changes clarify definitions and practices of the commission and facilitate flexibility and efficiency in the operation of the commission and the department by allowing electronic filings and notifications and remote/virtual proceedings.
Now that the commission has held the required public hearing, the rules will be submitted to the Michigan Legislature’s Joint Committee on Administrative Rules for their review and approval. You can find a copy of the proposed rules on the SOM website, www.michigan.gov/ARD.
MI Response to Hate Series
Topic: Cultivating a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace
Date: Thursday, February 23, 2023
Time: 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Register Here: http://bit.ly/3JsuCYw
 Join the Michigan Department of Civil
Rights as they discuss ways to implement
DEI strategies in the workplace. During this virtual forum participants will learn
about why DEI matters and gain practical
tools for cultivating places of employment that are diverse, equitable, and inclusive. Advance registration is required.
Disability Rights and Compliance Series
Topic: Black Disability History
Date: Thursday, February 23, 2023
Time: 12:00 PM
Description: Guest presenters from Disability Network Southwest Michigan will present on Black Disability History. Black Americans with disabilities have made key contributions to advancing civil rights for both people of color and people with disabilities, yet their impact on the Disability Rights Movement and lived experiences of disability are often overlooked. In this presentation, we will take a closer look at the stories and accomplishments of Black disabled people who have helped shape the disability community and our society.
Register Here: https://bit.ly/3RIhjFo
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 MDCR Releases Statement on National Day of Racial Healing.
"... On this National Day of Racial Healing, I urge everyone who shares a commitment to equity and inclusion in every aspect of society to work with us to secure that vision..."
John E. Johnson, Jr., Executive Director
Michigan Department of Civil Rights. Full statement at www.michigan.gov/mdcr
 Civil Rights Commission Statement on National Day of Racial Healing. "...The National Day of Racial Healing is an opportunity for all of us to recommit to the ideals for which Dr. King lived and died, and to bring all Americans together to recognize our common humanity..."
Portia Roberson, Chair
Michigan Civil Rights Commission. Visit www.michigan.gov/mdcr
to read the full statement.
 MDCR Releases Statement on the Killing of Tyre Nichols. "...It is time for police departments throughout Michigan to reassess their hiring practices, training protocols and systems of law enforcement in light of this unfortunate killing. On the national level, Congress must pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act..." John E. Johnson, Jr., Executive Director
Michigan Department of Civil Rights. Full statement at www.michigan.gov/mdcr
 Michigan Civil Rights Commission Annual Report 2022
The 2022 Michigan Civil Rights Commission Annual Report is online. Discover the latest in civil rights news and events and find out more about how our commission and department served Michigan in the last year!
Open the 2022 Annual Report
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Want to work toward making a difference? MDCR is hiring for a number of staff positions, including:
- Civil Rights Investigators
- Investigative Team Managers
- Attorneys
- Administrative Support
- Interns
Visit State of Michigan Job Openings
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By Jerome Reide, J.D., Ph.D.,
MDCR Legislative Liaison
Each month, Jerome Reide, J.D., Ph.D., Legislative Liaison for the Michigan Department of Civil Rights, will bring you updates and analysis of what's happening in the Michigan legislature -- news of legislation, executive orders and ballot initiatives that relate directly to the MDCR mission and impact the people we serve.
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Bill to Expand the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act to Include LGBTQ Michiganders Moves to Senate Floor
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Michigan Senate Civil Rights, Judiciary, and Public Safety Committee Members
- Stephanie Chang (D), Chair
- Sue Shink (D) Majority Vice Chair
- Paul Wojno (D)
- Jeff Irwin (D)
- Sylvia Santana (D)
- Jim Runestad (R) Minority Vice Chair
- Ruth Johnson (R)
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Image left to right: Senator Jeremy Moss and Representative Josh Hoskins, sponsors of companion legislation SB0004 and HB 4003 to expand the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act testified in support.
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Image: Michigan Civil Rights Commissioner Luke Londo, the first member of the Michigan Civil Rights Commission to identify as LGBTQ+, testified before the Michigan Senate Civil Rights Committee on Feb. 2, 2023 in support of expanding the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act (ELCRA) to add protections for sexual orientation and gender identity.
Watch the full testimony: https://youtu.be/gt_R7-ER1-A
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Public Act No. 1 Signed Into Law
On Tuesday, January 31, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed Public Act No. 1 of 2023, a bill sponsored by Senator Sarah Anthony.
PA 1 includes significant investments in housing, water shutoff prevention, apprenticeship and job training programs, small businesses, placemaking, and blight elimination.
Image left to right: State Representative Angela Witwer, State Senator Sarah Anthony, Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist, Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks, and Speaker of the House Joe Tate.
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Lowering MI Costs Plan Announced
On February 6, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced the Lowering MI Costs plan. According to Governor Whitmer's office, the concept is designed to "cut taxes and put money back in people's pockets..."
Under the proposal:
- Michigan taxpayers may get a check for $180
- The retirement tax will be rolled back, saving half a million households $1,000 a year
• The Working Families Tax Credit will be expanded (formerly known as the Earned Income Tax Credit, or EITC), providing 700,000 homes nearly $3,200 combined tax refunds
• The state will take the first step toward providing pre-K for all, saving families $10,000 a year and putting all 110,000 4-year-olds in Michigan on the path to a brighter future
Image left to right: Speaker of the House Joe Tate, Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks, and Governor Gretchen Whitmer.
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United Tribes of Michigan Legislative Reception
Held in Lansing
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The annual reception was an opportunity for Tribal leaders, Tribal representatives, state agency leaders, Tribal liaisons and legislators to network and discuss Tribal issues.
Top image left to right: Frank Ettawageshik, Executive Director of the United Tribes of Michigan; and Jamie Stuck, Chairperson, Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi President.
Bottom image: Attendees of the United Tribes of Michigan legislative reception.
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Top row image left to right: Regina Gasco-Bentley, Chairperson, Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians; Melissa Kiesewetter, Tribal Liaison, Michigan Department of Civil Rights.
Bottom row image left to right: Map of Michigan; Leslie Love, Deputy Director, Metro Region, Michigan Department of Transportation; Bishop Mona Reide, President, International Humanitarian Services.
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