6 Organizations Improving Life In Michigan

Plenty of important issues affect people in Michigan, whether they concern education, the environment, or the economy. That's why organizations like the ones listed here work to address problems head on and offer solutions. If you're interested in making life better for folks in the Great Lake State, consider supporting these admirable groups. This video was made with Ezvid Wikimaker.

Groups Helping People In Michigan

Organization Mission
Michigan Future, Inc. Be a source of new ideas on how Michigan can succeed as a world class community in a knowledge-driven economy
Fair Housing Center of Southeast & Mid Michigan End discrimination in housing and public accommodations and promote accessible, integrated communities
826michigan Inspire school-aged students to write confidently and skillfully with the help of adult volunteers in their communities
Heart of West Michigan United Way Unite community resources to invest in solutions that reduce poverty in West Michigan
Michigan Humanities Inspire people to come together in creative and freely expressed ways to deepen their understanding of themselves and enrich their communities
Michigan League of Conservation Voters Elect pro-conservation candidates to office and hold all decision makers accountable for protecting Michigan’s land, air, and water

The 10 Largest Cities In Michigan

City 2010 US Census Population
1. Detroit 713,777
2. Grand Rapids 188,040
3. Warren 134,056
4. Sterling Heights 129,699
5. Lansing 114,297
6. Ann Arbor 113,934
7. Flint 102,434
8. Dearborn 98,153
9. Livonia 96,942
10. Westland 84,094

Flint's Fight For America's Children

In Depth

Consisting of two separate peninsulas, Michigan is a vibrant place to live, with beautiful scenery and the longest freshwater coastline in the country. With a population of over ten million, the Great Lakes State serves as a home for many different people from all walks of life. If you're interested in learning about the work being done to help the state's residents, then here are, in no particular order, six organizations improving life in Michigan.

Coming in at #1 is Michigan Future. A non-partisan organization, this nonprofit seeks to be a catalyst for prosperity, uncovering ways for Michigan to succeed in a knowledge-driven economy. It hopes to accomplish this by raising the state's per capita income above the national average. With this goal in mind, Michigan Future places a particular emphasis on talent, which it defines as a combination of knowledge, creativity, and entrepreneurship.

This organization focuses its efforts on three key areas: first, it provides information and ideas that will help strengthen the state's economy, especially as it transitions toward a flatter, more knowledge-based world; second, it researches the best ways to attract and retain talent; and third, it prepares talent for the future, striving to cultivate a culture of entrepreneurship and quality education. To this end, it has worked to improve the opportunities for high school education in Detroit. If you want to learn more about Michigan Future, consider checking out its blog or signing up for its newsletter.

If you want to learn more about Michigan Future, consider checking out its blog or signing up for its newsletter.

In the #2 spot is the Fair Housing Center of Southeast & Mid Michigan. With roots going back to 1989, this nonprofit is dedicated to stopping discrimination in housing and public accommodations, while also fostering accessible, integrated living environments. Active in eight counties across the state, the FHC takes around 150 complaints annually and has helped in the filing of over eighty-five lawsuits.

The FHC accepts complaints related to housing discrimination via its website and over the phone. It publishes information on fair housing law on a federal, state, and local level. Furthermore, it attempts to educate people on what discriminatory practices might look like. It also runs specific campaigns, like "Welcome in My BackYard," which invites people to pledge their commitment to human diversity in all forms. Those who are interested in supporting the Fair Housing Center of Southeast & Mid Michigan can attend one of its events or sign up to investigate civil rights violations.

At #3 is 826michigan. Founded in 2005, this organization, a chapter of 826 National, pairs adult volunteers with school-aged students to help improve youth writing skills in Ann Arbor, Detroit, and Ypsilanti. Dedicated to inclusion and diversity, 826michigan strives to encourage creative expression, personal growth, and academic success among its students. Provided completely free of charge, its programs highlight the importance of fun in learning and are designed to be both enjoyable and challenging.

Dedicated to inclusion and diversity, 826michigan strives to encourage creative expression, personal growth, and academic success among its students.

Specific examples of 826michigan's programs include tutoring in a variety of subjects, creative writing workshops for young people and their families, and field trips, like the Storytelling and Bookmaking workshop, where students write and illustrate their own books. Meanwhile, opportunities such as Drop-in Writing allow students to experiment with their creative side in a fun, informal setting. If you want to learn more about this nonprofit, you can check out its blog or sign up to volunteer as a tutor.

In the #4 spot is Heart of West Michigan United Way. Initially founded in 1917 as a Community Chest, this nonprofit is a member of the United Way network, which boasts over 1,300 chapters across the country. In partnership with other organizations active in the community, Heart of West Michigan United Way works to find solutions that will reduce poverty in the region.

In support of its mission, Heart of West Michigan United Way focuses on six major issue areas in Kent County: housing, financial security, youth education, food security, family crisis, and mental and behavioral health. It also teams up with external groups, collaborating with forty-seven local agencies as of 2019. Moreover, it runs some of its own programs as well, like 2-1-1, which connects people in the area to local services, and the Kent County Tax Credit Coalition, which provides free tax help and financial literacy classes. Those who are interested in helping out this nonprofit can make donations online or even sign up to adopt a family around the holidays.

It also teams up with external groups, collaborating with forty-seven local agencies as of 2019.

Coming in at #5 is Michigan Humanities. Based in Lansing and founded in 1974 as a result of federal legislation, this organization promotes the humanities across the state, broadly encouraging its residents to unite through creative expression. With the goal of helping people understand themselves and their communities, it provides grants for public humanities and cultural programs and runs projects of its own around the state.

In particular, Michigan Humanities offers a number of grants to organizations, like Action Grants, which enable eligible nonprofits to create dialogue that challenges prejudices in the world. Elsewhere, it conducts enriching programs like Poetry Out Loud, a nation-wide competition for high school students run in collaboration with other groups, including the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation. If you want to get involved with Michigan Humanities, you can sign up for its mailing list or make a donation.

Last but not least, at #6 is Michigan League of Conservation Voters. With a number of components supporting its aims, including an educational fund and a political action committee, Michigan LCV operates as a nonpartisan political organization working to protect the state's land, air, and water. To further its mission, it emphasizes collaboration and strives to help Michigan become a leader in conservation and environmental protection once again.

To further its mission, it emphasizes collaboration and strives to help Michigan become a leader in conservation and environmental protection once again.

Specific issues of importance for Michigan LCV include safe drinking water, clean air, healthy great lakes, good government, and parks and public land. Furthermore, it maintains an active role in politics, endorsing candidates and also working to hold elected officials accountable. If you are interested in supporting Michigan LCV, you can sign up to volunteer, check out its organizing toolkit, or attend one of its upcoming events.