The rush of a million feelings.
That’s how I’d explain what I felt the first time I held my daughter in my arms. Love, strength, weakness, joy, pride, excitement, fear. My breath still catches when I see her each morning … realizing how far she’s come in her little lifetime, and how much we still have to learn together.
The people in our lives who serve as “mothers”—be they adoptive or biological parents, stepparents, foster parents, teachers, relatives, or close friends—all feel that range of emotions when it comes to seeing that child they love. But some mothers face more barriers than others when it comes to lifting up their children and helping them thrive.
Last month we released the 2019 Kids Count in Michigan Data Book, and while things have improved for a lot of Michigan families and children, there’s still a lot of work to be done across the state.
Twenty-three percent of kids live in working families who are struggling to make ends meet. Low-wage jobs, unaffordable child care, inadequate housing and lack of resources make it so hard for moms to get through each day.
Moms of color face barriers before their babies are even born, as their access to adequate prenatal care is so much lower. Plus, their babies are more likely to be born too early and to die before their first birthdays.
We’re not doing our best, Michigan. We know that racism and implicit bias play major roles in health inequity, and we must do more to improve outcomes.
I had the opportunity to speak last week at the Mamas’ March in Lansing, which was hosted by Mothering Justice. Moms (and adorable babies) from Detroit and around Michigan gathered to demand a voice in our system.
Mothers and caregivers are the foundation of our state, and lawmakers can do more to enact policies that support them: Maternal healthcare. Paid family leave. Affordable child care. Earned sick leave. Equity in healthcare.
Building a stronger Michigan starts with improving the foundation, and because of a wealth of data and input from people like you, we know what will help moms and families to thrive. That’s why our Kids Count book and Owner’s Manual for Michigan don’t just explain what’s broken—they explain how to fix it. We can modernize the state Earned Income Tax Credit, expand home visiting programs for families, increase access to high-quality, affordable child care, support kids who are leaving the foster care system, make preschool more available for those who need it most, and improve K-12 education.
And raise the age of juvenile jurisdiction, which recently passed in separate packages out of the Michigan House of Representatives and Senate. This was a key policy recommendation of our Owner’s Manual and our 2017, 2018 and 2019 Kids Count books, and after years of hard work, we are closer than ever before to seeing this law change.
By enacting this change, we can help end some of the heartbreak and worry that Michigan moms have been facing and take better care of our state’s young people. Please join me in thanking Michigan legislators for their action on behalf of Michigan kids, and encouraging them to work quickly to reach a compromise between the House and Senate versions.
Moms will always feel a rush of emotions when it comes to their kids, and caring for children will always be a challenge. But we can do a whole lot to make a better place for our kids to grow up. A better place for a mom to feel strong enough. A place with more joy than fear.
So as you celebrate the mothers in your life this month, be sure to push for the policies that will lift them up.
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.
