Dear Neighbor,
I hope you are staying cool amid this week’s heat wave. This past Wednesday we celebrated Juneteenth, commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States. I hope everyone has an enjoyable and safe beginning to summer.
Featured in this newsletter:
- Recognizing Juneteenth
- City of Detroit and Gilbert Family Foundation Announce Free Estate Planning, Will Preparation, and Probate Services
- Center Line Public Schools: School of Choice Now Open
- City of Sterling Heights is Looking for Election Inspectors
- Legislation Introduced to Enhance Protections for Vulnerable Adults
If you have any questions, want to comment on pending legislation, or resolve any issues in state government, please do not hesitate to contact my office by phone at (517) 373-8360 or by email at SenPWojno@senate.michigan.gov.
Sincerely,
Paul Wojno
State Senator
District 10
Recognizing Juneteenth
Happy Juneteenth! Observed on June 19 every year, Juneteenth commemorates the day that the last people who were enslaved in the U.S. learned of their freedom — June 19, 1865, over two years after President Abraham Lincoln presented the Emancipation Proclamation.
The significance of Juneteenth extends beyond its historical roots. It symbolizes triumph over the injustices of slavery and stands as a testament to the progress made and the work still needed to achieve true freedom and equality for all.
As we celebrate this day, please know that I remain steadfast in the fight for equity and justice so that all Michiganders are not only free but can live their lives in happiness and health.
Check out our recent story, Celebrating Juneteenth & Black Excellence in the Michigan Legislature, to learn all the ways the Senate’s three Michigan Legislative Black Caucus members are making waves at the Capitol and for the people of Michigan.
City of Detroit and Gilbert Family Foundation Announce Free Estate Planning, Will Preparation, and Probate Services
The City of Detroit and Gilbert Family Foundation have announced free estate planning, will preparation, and probate services for heirs to help protect generational wealth. The Detroit City Council approved a $668,000 ARPA-funded contract proposed by the Duggan administration to prevent this loss of generational wealth, and work will start this month with a series of workshops kicking off June 20 to provide free legal advice around wills and estate planning. Through these workshops, qualified residents will receive free legal services, ensuring their home is passed down to the next generation.
Workshop registration and program eligibility:
The first three workshops will be held this summer, and advance registration is required.
- Saturday, July 13, 2024, from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. online – hosted by Jefferson East, Inc.
- Monday, August 5, 2024, from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. online – hosted by Bridging Communities, Inc.
Residents can sign up in advance here.
Additional workshops will be held later this year and into 2025 and will be posted on the Detroit Housing Network (DHN) website as they are scheduled.
Eligibility for free legal services through the City of Detroit’s program:
- Own a home in Detroit
- Earn up to 300% of the Federal Poverty Level
To qualify for free legal services through the Gilbert Family Foundation program, an individual must:
- Meet income requirements for the Homeowners Property Tax Exemption program (HOPE)
- Be working through the Detroit Housing Network
- Be an heir living in a home passed down by the previous generation
- Be currently at risk of tax foreclosure
Residents can call the Detroit Housing Resource Help Line at 866-313-2520 for more details.
Center Line Public Schools: School of Choice Now Open
If you or someone you know would like their child to attend the Academies of Center Line, school of choice is now open! Center Line Public Schools is now open to unlimited school of choice for kindergarten through 12th grade for the 2024-2025 school year from now until August 23, 2024, at 4:00 p.m. The Central Office will be open Monday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
City of Sterling Heights is Looking for Election Inspectors
The City of Sterling Heights is in need of Election Inspectors to work at the precincts for the 2024 Elections. These paid positions can be applied for on the City Clerks page at SterlingHeights.gov/vote or in-person at the City Clerk’s Office.
To qualify, you must:
- Be a registered voter in Michigan;
- Be 18 years of age (16- and 17-year-olds may work as election “interns”);
- Have a working knowledge of computers; and
- Be able to attend free, mandatory training provided by the City Clerk’s office.
Legislation Introduced to Enhance Protections for Vulnerable Adults
Elderly individuals and vulnerable adults are at high risk of being subject to abuse and exploitation at the hands of family members, friends, or other close associates. To keep Michiganders safe from harm, Senators Veronica Klinefelt (D-Eastpointe), Sarah Anthony (D-Lansing), Kevin Hertel (D-St. Clair Shores), and Jeff Irwin (D-Ann Arbor) introduced Senate Bills 922–925 last week to better protect those who are unable to protect themselves because of advanced age or a mental or physical impairment. This comprehensive legislative package would enhance protections for vulnerable adults by strengthening penalties for abuse and financial exploitation offenses and developing programs to bolster prevention efforts.
This package has been referred to the committee on Civil Rights, Judiciary, and Public Safety. Read more about these bills here.