Members like you and me are the heartbeat of Alabama Arise. Our collective power has brought material improvements to the lives of Alabamians, such as reducing the state grocery tax and extending postpartum Medicaid coverage.
Thank you for supporting us in building a better Alabama. Will you join Arise with a gift today to grow our shared voice? Jump to our form to give now!
Everyday people drive Arise’s work. Don’t just take my word for it. Here are four stories from members across the state with different backgrounds and stories who share Arise’s vision.
Gillie Presley, a dedicated member of Arise for 19 years from Tuscaloosa, says she joined Arise because she was tired of putting Band-Aids on Alabama’s problems and wanted to tackle the roots of the issues she cares about most. She found our membership model unique, because Arise is one of the few organizations Gillie has seen where the people affected can make the decisions:
“I am fully blind, so public transportation is really important to me. Thankfully, I have the resources to get from one place to another, but many people don’t. I’ve been a part of other spaces that work on infrastructure, but they have not been interested when I bring up transit. Arise centers us as members and works on the issues that affect everyday Alabamians the most.”
Can you give a gift today to bolster our work with Gillie and fund public transit to allow Alabamians to access their communities? Jump to our form to give now!
Because members have a voice in our legislative priorities and help fund the work, Arise’s agenda can truly focus on improving the lives of Alabamians living paycheck to paycheck. Jacob Morrison from Huntsville says he joined Arise last year after working with us over the years and seeing an organization that puts actions behind our words:
“As a union member and head of the North Alabama Labor Council, I see Arise as one of the only organizations fighting for working people in Montgomery, building relationships with legislators on both sides of the aisle and pushing for policies that make the lives of our workforce better. Being a part of Arise’s broad coalition makes a powerful case for our shared agenda.”
Arise is committed to growing our coalition to support working people with Jacob, and we need you as part of it. Will you give today? Jump to our form to give now!
Audrey Noel, an Arise board member from Anniston, advocates with Arise because she knows the terrible situations that limited health coverage can put people in, and she wants to fight for better access to health care and lower the cost of living for Alabamians:
“In 2013, I had no insurance and went to work with the first headache of my life. That day, I had an aneurysm, was airlifted to Birmingham, and left the hospital with almost $1 million in medical bills. I’m a member of Arise because I don’t want there to be any other Audreys out there. Now is the time to get educated about what you can do. If we all come together, we can change unjust systems.”
Will you join Audrey today and donate to Arise to advocate for better access to health care? Jump to our form to give now!
Miranda Schrubbe, a committed member of Arise for 15 years from Fairhope, also joined Arise to fight for health care for all Alabamians. Her husband is a local physician, so they witness the need for Medicaid expansion in our state firsthand. In the last few years, Miranda also has become passionate about protecting our voting rights as she’s watched local officials chip away at this fundamental right. One thing she’s learned is the importance of persistence:
“The work we are doing at Alabama Arise is a long game. That’s how you get things done. And Arise does this work the right way. In Baldwin County, we are partnering with community groups to fight to protect our voting rights, educating neighbors about the issues, and helping us all connect so that our community is in it together.”
I hope you’ll consider supporting Arise with a gift today to join Miranda, Jacob, Audrey and Gillie in speaking out for a better Alabama now and a more secure future for generations to come.
With gratitude,
Benga Harrison, Alabama Arise board member and chair of the Development Committee