When Angelica immigrated to Grand Rapids from Mexico in 2001, the first goal she set for herself was to find a job. A single mother, Angelica faced the daunting task of raising seven children; four of whom were her nephews and nieces whom she had adopted following her sister’s passing. She never imagined she would become an entrepreneur, but not long after she moved to Michigan she met a local vendor who offered to sell her his wholesale blanket business. She accepted the offer and began to sell blankets in a small indoor space at the local flea market.
On her way to work one day, she noticed a vacant business space on Division Avenue. She realized the potential for the large space as both a business and community center. Every day for five years, she drove by the vacant space praying silently that someday it would become hers. After five years, she was finally able to raise enough financial capital to lease it.
Today, La Casa de la Cobija, or The Blanket House, has become exactly what Angelica hoped it could be. It’s a place where all community members can feel welcome and at home. It also serves as a community meeting space and event center. Angelica shared that newly arrived immigrants often come to the store to learn about the community and connect with resources. Being an immigrant herself, Angelica knows the important contributions and strengths of immigrants and focuses a lot of her time on being an advocate and a liaison between the city and the local immigrant community. Currently, she’s working with the city to create a development plan that doesn’t displace local residents.
La Casa de la Cobija
Angelica’s story is truly remarkable and is an example of how immigrant community members strengthen local Michigan communities every single day. A new report from the League takes a look at how immigrant Main Street business owners across Michigan are doing and how policies can strengthen their outcomes.
Main Street businesses are those businesses that are small-scale, less capital intensive and more locally oriented than other small businesses. They tend to fall into three broad sectors: retail, accommodation and food services, and neighborhood services. In Michigan, immigrants play an outsized role in the economy, making up 20% of all Main Street business owners despite making up only 6% of the state population.
Immigrant Main Street business owners are helping to revitalize neighborhoods and put dollars back into the economy, while also providing vital services to local immigrant communities. Still, many continue to face barriers to business startup and success. As noted in the report, policymakers can take steps to support this community of business owners by providing local outreach, business planning and management, and facilitating access to financing among others. Read the report to learn more about the vital ways immigrant Main Street business owners strengthen Michigan.
Emily Jorgensen joined the Michigan League for Public Policy in July 2019. She deeply cares about the well-being of individuals and families and has a great love for Michigan. She is grateful that her position at the League enables her to combine these passions and work to help promote policies that will lead to better opportunities and security for all Michiganders.
Jacob Kaplan 
Mikell Frey is a communications professional with a passion for using the art of storytelling to positively impact lives. She strongly believes that positive social change can be inspired by the sharing of data-driven information coupled with the unique perspectives of people from all walks of life across Michigan, especially those who have faced extraordinary barriers. 
Rachel Richards rejoined the League in December 2020 as the Fiscal Policy Director working on state budget and tax policies. Prior to returning to the League, she served as the Director of Legislative Affairs for the Michigan Department of Treasury, the tax policy analyst and Legislative Director for the Michigan League for Public Policy, and a policy analyst and the Appropriations Coordinator for the Democratic Caucus of the Michigan House of Representatives. She brings with her over a decade of experience in policies focused on economic opportunity, including workforce issues, tax, and state budget.
Donald Stuckey 
Patrick Schaefer
Alexandra Stamm 
Amari Fuller
Renell Weathers, Michigan League for Public Policy (MLPP) Community Engagement Consultant. As community engagement consultant, Renell works with organizations throughout the state in connecting the impact of budget and tax policies to their communities. She is motivated by the belief that all children and adults deserve the opportunity to achieve their dreams regardless of race, ethnicity, religion or economic class.
Megan Farnsworth joined the League’s staff in December 2022 as Executive Assistant. Megan is driven by work that is personally fulfilling, and feels honored to help support the work of an organization that pushes for more robust programming and opportunities for the residents of our state. She’s excited and motivated to gain overarching knowledge of the policies and agendas that the League supports.
Yona Isaacs (she/hers) is an Early Childhood Data Analyst for the Kids Count project. After earning her Bachelor of Science in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience at the University of Michigan, she began her career as a research coordinator in pediatric psychiatry using data to understand the impacts of brain activity and genetics on children’s behavior and mental health symptoms. This work prompted an interest in exploring social determinants of health and the role of policy in promoting equitable opportunities for all children, families, and communities. She returned to the University of Michigan to complete her Masters in Social Work focused on Social Policy and Evaluation, during which she interned with the ACLU of Michigan’s policy and legislative team and assisted local nonprofit organizations in creating data and evaluation metrics. She currently serves as a coordinator for the Michigan Center for Youth Justice on a project aiming to increase placement options and enhance cultural competency within the juvenile justice system for LGBTQIA+ youth. Yona is eager to put her data skills to work at the League in support of data-driven policies that advocate for equitable access to healthcare, education, economic security, and opportunity for 0-5 year old children. In her free time, she enjoys tackling DIY house projects and trying new outdoor activities with her dog.
Amber Bellazaire joined the Michigan League for Public Policy as a policy analyst in June of 2019. Her work primarily focuses on state policy and budgets affecting Michigan’s Medicaid programs. Previously, Amber worked at the National Conference of State Legislatures tracking legislation and research related to injury and violence prevention, adolescent health, and maternal and child health. She also brings with her two years of Americorps service. As a full time volunteer, Amber had the opportunity to tutor high school students in Chelsea, Massachusetts and address issues of healthcare access and food insecurity through in-person outreach in Seattle, Washington.
Simon Marshall-Shah joined the Michigan League for Public Policy as a State Policy Fellow in August 2019. His work focuses on state policy as it relates to the budget, immigration, health care and other League policy priorities. Before joining the League, he worked in Washington, D.C. at the Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP), providing federal policy and advocacy support to nonprofit, Medicaid health plans (Safety Net Health Plans) related to the ACA Marketplaces as well as Quality & Operations.
