Our society is confronted by large scale structures of oppression, including racism, cis hetero-sexism {cissexism}, and capitalism. We believe that the key systems of oppression that operate in our lives are all inextricably linked.

These systems have been shaped by each other over time and cannot be broken up and defeated in isolation. We have to fight for a better world, one that does not center justice for some, but rather all of us.

There are no statewide, youth-led coalitions or advisory groups in the State of Michigan on reproductive rights currently. This year, Michigan Student Power Alliance and Michigan Voices developed a coalition space seeks to fill that gap—the Michigan Youth Reproductive Justice Coalition (MYRJ)..

MYRJ is a statewide network of youth organizers building power to win material and transformational change for reproductive justice issues in communities both on and off college campuses. The coalition is a monthly meeting space where youth ages 15-25 can unite across the state to learn, build relationships, and organize around the intersectional nature of reproductive justice organizing. 

MYRJ collaborates with partnered and youth-led advocacy groups/councils/organizations that center issues across reproductive justice, access, and sex education to ensure these movements do not repeat the same work, are not siloed, and build power and capacity to create change together.

If you’re interested in getting involved with MYRJ, visit www.mistudentpower.org/programming or email emily@mistudentpower.org. MYRJ meets every second Thursday of the month from 5:30pm-7pm via Zoom. 

Michigan Student Power Alliance, Michigan Organization on Adolescent Sexual Health and the National Women’s Law Center are currently working together to adopt a Michigan SAFER Act.

What is the MI Safer Act? Great question! 

The SAFER Act would protect students from sex, race & disability harassment.

• The Students’ Access to Freedom & Educational Rights Act (S. 5158) is a federal or state bill that would create uniform protections against sex, race, disability, and other harassment.

• A state SAFER Act can include many other protections.

  • Supportive measures: Require schools to notify students who report harassment about supportive measures (e.g., class/bus/lunch/club changes, homework/exam adjustments, counseling)

  • Anti-retaliation: Prohibit schools from punishing complainants for drug/alcohol use, self-defense, avoiding contact with harasser (e.g., absences), consensual sexual activity, and “false reports” of harassment (without actual evidence). Prohibit “conversion therapy” against LGBTQI+ complainants

  • Training: Require schools to conduct annual training on harassment for all staff, and require the state’s department of education to provide grants to schools for such training

  • Enforcement: Allow the state’s department of education to levy fines against schools that violate a state civil rights law

  • Transparency: Require the state’s department of education or attorney general to publish (1) a list of schools that are being or have been investigated, sanctioned, or subjected to a resolution agreement for violating a state civil rights law, and (2) any related findings or resolution agreements

  • Data collection: Require the state’s department of education to conduct an anonymous climate survey in schools about students’ experiences with and attitudes toward harassment and to publish the results online

Federal courts are failing student victims of harassment.

• If a student is harassed based on sex, race, or disability, they can’t sue their school in federal court unless:

  • • 1. The harassment was “severe and pervasive.”

      • Often not “severe and pervasive”: forced kissing/groping (not “severe”), oral/vaginal rape (not “pervasive”)

    • 2. An “appropriate official” had “actual notice” of the harassment.

      • Often not “appropriate official”: teacher, coach, counselor, bus driver, principal, professor, etc.

      • Often not “actual notice”: educators hear repeated “rumor” a teacher is “dating” high school students

    • 3. The school had “substantial control” over the harassment.

      • Often no “substantial control” if harassment occurs off-campus

      • Worse: if the students go to different schools, then neither school is required to help the victim

    • 4. The school acted with “deliberate indifference” to the harassment.

      • Often not “deliberate indifference” when school expels survivor, takes minimal action, or covers up investigation

    • 5. The student was harassed again.

      • KY, MI, OH, TN: Victim was harassed again after school knew of first incident (peer harassment in higher education)

      • AR, IA, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD: A federal appellate court suggested this rule applies to these states too.

    • 6. The victim had a non-emotional injury.

      • Cummings (SCOTUS): Disabled plaintiffs can’t sue for emotional distress under Section 504 + ACA 

      • Many federal courts have already started applying the same rule to Title IX

• Michigan Can Pass the SAFER Act Too!

  • If you’re interested in being on our SAFER Act team, please email us at team@mistudentpower.org and we will get you involved in the legislative process! 

Stop book bans in Michigan schools and libraries! Are you a high schooler in Michigan who wants to join or know someone who would support? DM @d.a.y.u.m_ to get involved!

Detroit Area Youth Uniting Michigan (DAYUM) builds power by nurturing strong youth organizers through youth-led campaigns that make a material difference in out communities.

We envision a world where young people are liberated, have equitable access to resources, and play an important role in decisions about our community.

Currently, we’re working on an UNBAN BOOKS CAMPAIGN and passing the FREEDOM TO READ ACT! Hear from our campaign leads…

“Growing up on the spectrum it took me quite a while to learn how to accept myself. Time and time again I was reminded that, for better or worse, I was not like my peers. I’ve always struggled to pick up on social norms, those surrounding gender included. Without an adequate representation of gender-non-conforming people, it was easy to believe that there was simply something wrong with me, yet this was the furthest thing from the truth. These books helped me find the supportive communities I needed to grow. These experiences have pushed me to give back to my community by speaking out against book bans, and advocating for those they harm.” (Arlo Garozzo)

“As they ban my books I cry

I cry and scream as I feel the serration of the law digging into my tongue

My tongue

They’re cutting my tongue as they ban my stories

Our stories

They silence us by banning our truths

Our experiences

I feel the censorship crawl up in my throat and hold itself there like a vermin finding its new home in someone’s wall

They prohibit our words for speaking the truth

In the same breath it’s like cutting out our tongues and stripping us of our vocal chords

The propaganda on the wall teaches a better tomorrow

But as censorship rears its ugly head, I can only hear the heavy thud as the boots of fascism march into our homes.” (Demitrius Davis)

​​Under the Democratic trifecta government, more renters' rights bills have been introduced than in any other recent legislature.

However, almost all of these bills have failed to advance. Why is this?

Republicans in the state House are unanimously opposed to Renters’ Rights and housing justice. Because of the narrow margins in House and Senate, the only way to get anything done in the current legislature is to have every single Democratic legislator on board.

That’s why real estate and landlord interests are constantly lobbying the Democrats to kill every Renters’ Rights bill that has been introduced. Too many Democrats are still bought and biased against tenants in favor of landlords.

Therefore, this is the political pathway for Renters Rights bills to pass at the state level: 1) expose the ongoing influence of landlords among both parties, including the Democrats, and 2) pressure all Democratic legislators to place the interests of tenants above landlords.

The time has come to make another show of strength from tenants all across the state!

We are approaching the conclusion of this state legislature. This November and December will be the last chance for this legislature to make a positive contribution for renters’ rights, before a new state House is seated on Jan 1. This is the Housing Homestretch—the last chance for this legislature to do right by renters, the unhoused, and housing insecure people. 

Last Chance for the MI Legislature to Do Right By Tenants!

Wednesday, November 13th, 2024 | 11:00AM 

Meet-Up Location: Central United Methodist Church, 215 N Capitol Ave, Downtown Lansing

Contact: rentistoodamnhighmi@gmail.com

RSVP here!