Blog

Public policy should make life better for everyone, not just a select few. Throughout the year, Arise tracks a range of state and federal policy proposals and assesses what they would mean for Alabamians who are struggling to make ends meet. Our blog provides quick updates on these proposals and offers tips on what you can do to help build an Alabama where all people have an opportunity to reach their full potential.

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Personal Stories

Alabama enrollment navigators provide help, but options are limited without Medicaid expansion

As an enrollment navigator for Enroll Alabama, Rebecca Sylvester faces a daily battle with the harsh realities of Alabama’s health care system.

Issues
Medicaid Expansion, Health
Date
June 20, 2024
Author
Whit Sides
Blog

U.S. Labor Secretary calls Alabama Arise ‘truly incredible’ during visit to Birmingham

Acting U.S. Secretary of Labor Julie Su laid out a sweeping vision for good jobs, listened to workers’ concerns and offered high praise for Arise during the U.S. Department of Labor’s visit to Alabama last week.

Issues
Health, Public Transportation, Economic Opportunity
Date
June 17, 2024
Author
Chris Sanders
Blog

LaTrell Clifford Wood: Arise’s new star at the State House

LaTrell Clifford Wood started as Alabama Arise’s hunger policy advocate in November. Since then, the Stillman College graduate has worked tirelessly to ensure Alabama’s most marginalized residents have access to food. In her role, she advocates directly with lawmakers for legislation that supports getting food to the Alabamians who need it most. She also convenes the Hunger Free Alabama coalition of 88 organizations.

Issues
Health, Safety Net
Date
June 11, 2024
Author
Whitney Washington
Blog

Summer EBT, Legislative Day energy highlight busy, tough 2024 session in Alabama

You made a difference! Alabama Arise members played a decisive role this year in securing summer food assistance for more than 500,000 children starting in summer 2025. Summer EBT funding brought an uplifting conclusion to the Alabama Legislature’s 2024 regular session, which ended May 9. The Summer EBT victory showed the power of Arise’s policy analysis, [...]
Issues
Economic Opportunity, Medicaid Expansion, Budgets, Health, Safety Net, Tax Reform
Date
June 11, 2024
Author
Chris Sanders
Blog

Summer EBT passage a hard-fought win for Alabama children

Alabama Arise members helped secure a policy change this year to reduce hunger for more than 500,000 children across the state. Beginning in summer 2025, eligible children ages 5-17 will receive $120 in Summer EBT benefits to continue to have school meals through the summer. The state must cover half of the administrative costs, but [...]
Issues
Budgets, Health
Date
June 11, 2024
Author
LaTrell Clifford Wood
Blog

Building momentum for closing the coverage gap

Alabama Arise and the Cover Alabama coalition have built powerful momentum to expand Medicaid and close the state’s health coverage gap in recent months. Arise held a news conference with our partners at the March of Dimes and Alabama Rural Health Association during our annual Legislative Day in April. The event highlighted how Medicaid expansion [...]
Issues
Health, Medicaid Expansion
Date
June 11, 2024
Author
Debbie Smith
Blog

CHOOSE Act set to undermine funding for Alabama public schools

The Alabama Legislature struck a major blow against public education this session by passing the CHOOSE Act. This law likely will drain hundreds of millions of dollars annually from public schools that have long struggled with underfunding. Alabama Arise testified twice against the bill, but conservative lawmakers moved quickly to enact it. The act – [...]
Issue
Budgets
Date
June 11, 2024
Author
Carol Gundlach
Blog

Consider Arise in long-term planning

Every year, members like you play a pivotal role in making progress toward our shared vision of an Alabama where everyone has the resources to live happy, productive lives.  This year, together, we secured funding for Summer EBT for more than 500,000 children. Last year, we reduced the state grocery tax for every Alabamian. Our [...]
Date
June 11, 2024
Author
Jacob Smith
Blog

Maternal health hits home

When Arise members convened at last year’s Annual Meeting to choose our 2024 legislative priorities, you voted to add maternal and infant health to our agenda. Most people didn’t know I was nearly eight weeks pregnant with my first child at the time! As our team studied how we could improve maternal and infant health [...]
Issue
Health
Date
June 11, 2024
Author
Robyn Hyden
Blog

Join us for 2024 Town Hall Tuesdays!

Listening is both a value and process foundational to Arise's approach to shaping and advancing policies that matter most to those marginalized by poverty. Arise depends on what we hear to help guide our work toward a better Alabama. That's why our virtual Town Hall Tuesdays return this year. These events are a chance for [...]
Date
May 23, 2024
Author
Presdelane Harris