 Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Attorney General Dana Nessel and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson have all been sworn in for second terms in office. The Michigan Supreme Court swore in Kyra Harris Bolden as the first Black woman to serve on the court and unanimously elected Elizabeth Clement as chief justice.
Women also now make up 40.5% of the Michigan Legislature – 45 women representatives (41%) and 15 women senators (40%) – with Winnie Brinks chosen to be Michigan’s first female senate majority leader. The combined decades of these professional backgrounds, lived experiences and #VisibleAuthenticLeadership will help center the priorities of Michigan women and families in our state’s policymaking decisions!
Governor Whitmer recently signed an executive directive instructing all State of Michigan departments and agencies to review aspects of reproductive rights that fall within their jurisdiction and to identify ways they can protect and increase protections for the fundamental right to reproductive healthcare under the Michigan Constitution.
“In November, Michiganders of every background made history and sent a clear message: that a woman must be able to make her own healthcare decisions without the interference of politicians in Lansing,” said Governor Whitmer.
Review all of Governor Whitmer’s actions to protect reproductive freedom.
Our next 21-Day Racial Equity Challenge is Feb. 8-28. Reserve your spot in our virtual cohort and learn together with women around Michigan.
The 21-Day Racial Equity Challenge is designed to better understand the origins of the concept of race and how it influences us as individuals and organizations. Created by, and shared in partnership with, the Michigan League for Public Policy, our version of the 21-Day Challenge combines daily emails with live, online reflection conversations to unpack our learning in a shared space.
Register for the February challenge or join the waitlist for future cohorts.
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Does your employer participate in MI Tri-Share Child Care? If so, you could lower your family’s child care costs by two-thirds!
Through MI Tri-Share, the cost of an employee's child care is shared equally among the employer, the employee and the State of Michigan — a three-way split — with coordination being provided regionally by a Tri-Share facilitator hub. It is an innovative, bipartisan program introduced by Governor Gretchen Whitmer and managed by the Michigan Women’s Commission to make child care more affordable for more families.
Download our MI Tri-Share flyer to share with your employer.
Find current facilitator hub regions, answers to frequently asked questions and additional promotional materials to share with your employer at Michigan.gov/TriShare.
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 Income eligibility for MI’s child care scholarships is now at 200% of the federal poverty line (FPL).
Make a New Year’s resolution to #KnowYourRights and #GetYourBenefits!
Our Michigan Fostering Access, Rights and Equity (MI FARE) initiative is designed to help women understand and access their employment rights, public benefits that support working women and opportunities for education and skills that lead to higher-paying jobs.
For example, did you know that Michigan’s minimum wage rate increased to $10.10 per hour on Jan. 1? The tipped employee rate also increased – to $3.84 per hour. For more information about minimum wage employee pay and rights, visit the MI Wage and Hour Division at Michigan.gov/wagehour.
Also, more families than ever are eligible for benefits to pay for child care in Michigan. Following last year’s historic investments, a family of four making up to $55,512 per year now qualifies for free or low-cost child care. In addition, family contributions are currently waived through Sept. 30, 2023. This means that if you qualify for the child care subsidy, your out-of-pocket child care costs could be reduced until this fall. Use the free Eligibility Calculator to see if you qualify. Apply for the child care subsidy at Michigan.gov/MIbridges. Get help finding child care in your area with Great Start to Quality.
Do your resolutions involve news skills or earning new certifications? There may be financial aid available to help cover your costs. Michigan Reconnect offers free tuition for adults 25+ earning a degree or certificate at a community college. The MI Future Educator Fellowship offers scholarships for individuals earning a teacher certification in an educator prep program. Or, get paid while you train for an in-demand, higher-paying job with a Registered Apprenticeship.
Learn more about your rights and benefits with the MI FARE webinar videos on our YouTube channel. Find additional information and resources at Michigan.gov/FARE. The MI FARE initiative is funded by a FARE Grant from the U.S. Department of Labor Women's Bureau.
Our Strong Start is ready to help! Our Strong Start is a State of Michigan program focusing on recruiting new child care entrepreneurs and helping current child care entrepreneurs expand. A team of trained navigators are standing by to help child care providers from idea to grand opening. Visit Michigan.gov/michildcare to learn more.
Jan. 25: Governor Whitmer’s State of the State Address
Feb. 1: Black History Month Begins
Feb. 13: Galentine’s Day
Mar. 1: Women’s History Month Begins
Mar. 8: International Women’s Day
Is your organization interested in learning more about the Michigan Women’s Commission's priorities for 2023? Contact LEO-MIWomensComm@michigan.gov to book a speaker.
Stay up to date on our latest efforts by following along on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn and our YouTube channel.
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