Here at the League, we have channeled that concern into a determined and unwavering focus on advocacy efforts that get at the heart of just what threats to things like SNAP will mean for the people of Michigan. We continued those efforts last week by partnering with Attorney General Dana Nessel to host a critically important roundtable discussion that included nine incredible partners from across the state.
Roundtable partners with Attorney General Dana Nessel and League President & CEO Monique Stanton on Nov. 18, 2025.
We came together on behalf of the 1.4 million Michiganders who rely on SNAP — 1 in 7 of our friends, family and neighbors. That includes 39,000 veterans, 225,000 seniors and nearly half a million children.
And while the recent vote on a federal spending bill keeps SNAP funded through next year, harmful policy threats continue. The so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” slashes SNAP by 20% — the largest cut in the program’s history. New time limits and work requirements will strip food access from countless Michiganders and overwhelm state employees with additional paperwork and red tape. The Trump administration has also reduced critical support for local food banks and cut programs that sustain small farmers and stabilize our food supply chain.
On top of that, we’re deeply concerned about the most recent threat that SNAP recipients will be forced to reapply for benefits.
The roundtable discussion opened up with the partners in attendance, who expressed how SNAP cuts and food insecurity will impact the state’s agricultural sector, retailers, people experiencing homelessness, people who were previously incarcerated, immigrants, families and children, people with disabilities, and communities. Here are a few of their powerful, heartfelt statements:
“Real people are feeling the impacts of these policies. A 37-year-old mama out of Inkster, pregnant with her second child and on bed rest, received the notification that SNAP benefits would be temporarily paused. A mother living in Highland Park learned their food benefits might be paused at the same time she heard that free school breakfast and lunch may be cut, leaving her to question how her school-age child would have access to food…Hunger is a maternal health concern and the strain of the increased uncertainty can not be understated for mamas and their babies.” – Terrell Couch, Mothering Justice
“Because SNAP pays for itself, I really want people to realize this is an intentional attack on folks who are in poverty, who are homeless and who are insecurely housed.” – Sarah Prout Rennie, Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness
“Cuts to SNAP have a business and economic impact that can’t be overstated. Independent retailers employ people locally, and we know that some of our member businesses cannot be economically viable with these restrictions.” – Jerry Griffin, Midwest Independent Retailers Association
“We cannot have food security without farmer security, and right now in Michigan, too many farmers are being impacted daily by governmental decisions. Farmers, farmers markets and community-driven marketplaces play a critical role in our local food system.” – Joe Lesausky, Michigan Farmers Market Association
“I think the public perception of someone being released from incarceration is that you’re being released to a family, they’re taking you home, there is going to be a celebration…but many people being released from incarceration are coming home to no one with nothing. And so SNAP is a really stabilizing force for the people we serve coming home that are trying to rebuild their lives from nothing.” – Cecilia Zavala, Nation Outside
Attorney General Dana Nessel at SNAP roundtable discussion
The discussion closed with remarks from Attorney General Nessel, who provided an update on the lawsuits she has been a part of regarding SNAP and her own concerns about how extra red tape for SNAP participants, including the reapplication process that was recently announced, will deter otherwise eligible people from participating in the program. She also talked more broadly about why it’s important to continue to take action to address what is being done at the federal level when it comes to SNAP funding, making the important point that Michigan taxpayers have paid for this program.
“I don’t know what’s more important than people having the ability to eat. And I don’t know why people having access to food has become a partisan issue. It is vital that we make sure SNAP is working for Michiganders.” – Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel
We want to thank Attorney General Nessel for partnering with us on this important conversation as well as the other partners who joined us and also made powerful remarks: Rima Meroueh from ACCESS, Chloe Bayer from Disability Advocates of Kent County, Jen Schaap from Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities, and Cindy Gamboa from MI Poder.
And as we approach this Thanksgiving holiday, we also want to thank all of you for standing strong in the fight to make sure all Michiganders have the economic justice and security that they need and deserve.
Jay Cutler joined the League in March 2026 as the Kids Count Senior Data Analyst, where he collects, analyzes, and prepares data for Kids Count in Michigan.
Danielle Taylor-Basemore joined the League as the Development Data and Stewardship Coordinator in June 2025. She brings with her five years of nonprofit experience with a special focus on community engagement, data visualization and strategic programming. Prior to joining the League, Danielle served as the Business District, Safety, and Digital Manager at Jefferson East, Inc.
Scott Preston is a Senior Policy Analyst with the Michigan League for Public Policy, where he leads the organization’s immigration and criminal justice reform portfolios. In the three years prior to joining the League, Scott facilitated the Southeast Michigan Refugee Collaborative and managed a small business economic development program at Global Detroit. His work included launching Michigan’s first Refugee Film Festival and building on a trusted connector model that linked marginalized communities with crucial resources. Scott’s work at the League is informed by his background in journalism and research. He spent four years covering the Syrian refugee crisis in the Middle East for publications such as The Economist, and later worked with unaccompanied refugee minors through Samaritas. Scott holds a master’s degree in international migration and public policy from the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Kate Powers joined the League as the Chief Development Officer in February 2025. Prior to joining the League, Kate held leadership positions at many Michigan nonprofit organizations, most recently serving as the COO and Chief Development Officer of Ele’s Place. Kate has spent the bulk of her career in fundraising, with a short stint in the state Legislature as a legislative aide to members in both chambers. Kate is a graduate of Michigan State University’s James Madison College with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Relations and has a certificate in fundraising management from the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University. Additionally, Kate served on the East Lansing Public Schools Board of Education and is a past President of the Junior League of Lansing. In her free time, she enjoys traveling with her husband and her son and saving outfit of the day and home decor ideas on Pinterest. 
Nicholas Hess joined the League as the Fiscal Policy Analyst in September of 2024. In this role, Nicholas focuses on tax policy, government revenue, and their impact on working families and racial equity, including the effects of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC). Nicholas values the role that judicious fiscal policy can play in the improvement of people’s lives and the economy, alleviating inequities along the way.
Audrey Matusz joined the League as the Visual Communications Specialist in September 2024. She supports the team with implementing social media strategies and brainstorming creative ways to talk about public policy. She brings with her nearly a decade of experience in producing digital products for evidence-based social justice initiatives. 
Jacob Kaplan 
Donald Stuckey 
Alexandra Stamm 
Amari Fuller
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. 
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
