The League’s beginning in the Progressive Era

January 1, 1912

The League’s beginning in the Progressive Era

The League’s beginning in the Progressive Era   The Michigan League for Human Services traces its roots to 1912, when it was the Michigan Conference of Charities and Corrections. Led by social workers, the Conference held an annual meeting to discuss the major public welfare issues of the day. In 1912, major change…

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The League in the ‘Roaring ’20s’

January 1, 1920

The League in the ‘Roaring ’20s’

The League in the ‘Roaring ’20s’ During the ‘Roaring ’20s,’ the Michigan League for Human Services was known as the Michigan Conference of Social Work, a name adopted in 1918 from the original Michigan Conference of Charities and Corrections. The 1920s was a decade of growing economic problems in which both public and private…

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The Great Depression in Michigan

January 1, 1930

The Great Depression in Michigan

The Great Depression in Michigan The stock market crash of 1929 defined the decade of the 1930s for Michigan and the whole nation. The people of Michigan, already struggling with economic troubles, moved into a new decade defined by a tidal wave of economic troubles and sharp conflicts over how governmental and private…

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Michigan Welfare League during the war years

January 1, 1940

Michigan Welfare League during the war years

Michigan Welfare League during the war years The 1940s were dominated by the events of World War II and the bombing of Pearl Harbor. The resulting war production pulled the country out of the Great Depression and changed the culture of the country in many ways. Automobile production ceased in 1942, as production…

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Good times in the ’50s belie segregation, struggles

January 1, 1950

Good times in the ’50s belie segregation, struggles

Good times in the ’50s belie segregation, struggles The 1950s marked a period of peace and prosperity across the country.  With World War II over, and the Korean War ending in 1953, Americans were anxious to get on with their lives, and they were aided in doing so by a consumer-led economy that seemed…

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The League in the 1960s: Building momentum as “Keeper of the Public Conscience”

January 1, 1960

The League in the 1960s: Building momentum as “Keeper of the Public Conscience”

The League in the 1960s: Building momentum as “Keeper of the Public Conscience” The 1960s marked a period of great energy and change, both for the Michigan Welfare League (the precursor to the Michigan League for Human Services) and at the state and national level. The League marked its 50th anniversary in…

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League in the ’70s: ‘A force to be reckoned with’

January 2, 1970

League in the ’70s: ‘A force to be reckoned with’

League in the ’70s: ‘A force to be reckoned with’ At the beginning of the 1970s, the Michigan Welfare League had firmly established itself as a nonpartisan, nonprofit entity dedicated to advocating for individuals and families in the state that needed the most help. Research, education, advocacy, legislative monitoring, and consensus building…

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The 1980s: “Working Together for the Good of All People”

January 1, 1980

The 1980s: “Working Together for the Good of All People”

The 1980s: “Working Together for the Good of All People” In the 1980s, the League celebrated 75 years of advocacy and service against a backdrop of familiar challenges and new opportunities. President Reagan took office and passed the largest tax cut in U.S. history. The first Space Shuttle was launched, personal computers…

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League joins national networks in a decade of change

January 1, 1990

League joins national networks in a decade of change

League joins national networks in a decade of change The decade of the 1990s brought changes in the nation, in Michigan and at the Michigan League for Human Services. The decade began with a short recession, just eight months, followed by a sluggish economic recovery and then robust growth. During the 1990s…

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Start of the 21st century marred by terrorism, Great Recession

January 1, 2000

Start of the 21st century marred by terrorism, Great Recession

Start of the 21st century marred by terrorism, Great Recession The first decade of the 21st century was marred by the realization that Americans were not safe from terrorist attacks, as the 9/11 tragedy altered our lives in many ways. The terrorist attacks, two foreign wars and a national financial crisis marked…

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