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.
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 [...]
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 [...]
Blog
How Alabama can reduce Black maternal health disparities
As we reflect on the recent observance of Black Maternal Health Week, it is crucial to confront the staggering realities that Black women in Alabama face concerning maternal health care. A closer examination of data and statistics reveals the urgent need for targeted interventions and systemic reforms to address the unacceptable disparities in maternal health [...]
Blog
Arise legislative update: May 13, 2024
Arise's Akiesha Anderson gives a final update on the Alabama Legislature's 2024 regular session, which ended last week. We closed the session with a big advocacy win: Lawmakers approved the funding needed to provide Summer EBT food assistance for more than 500,000 children starting next summer! For more information about what happened this year, please [...]
Blog
Arise legislative update: May 6, 2024
We welcome Arise's LaTrell Clifford Wood to this week's legislative recap to celebrate some good news: The Senate added $10 million to the Education Trust Fund budget for Summer EBT food assistance! Once the House agrees to this change with this modified budget and the governor signs off on it, the funding will start in [...]
Blog
Arise legislative update: April 29, 2024
Arise's Akiesha Anderson provides an update on where things stand in the final days of the Alabama Legislature's 2024 regular session. Unfortunately, we received unfavorable news last week on public transportation funding and legislation that would discourage employers from voluntarily recognizing a union. But we also have good news: Alabama lawmakers heard Medicaid expansion success [...]
Blog
Arise legislative update: April 22, 2024
Arise's Akiesha Anderson brings you up to speed on all that happened last week at the State House plus gets you ready for the upcoming week. As the session is nearing an end, we still have action to take on securing public transportation funding and increasing penalties for child labor violations. We also are trying [...]
Blog
Arise legislative update: April 15, 2024
Arise's Akiesha Anderson gives an update on where things stand in the Alabama Legislature as lawmakers begin to wind down the 2024 regular session. We still are keeping an eye on numerous bills, including the state budgets and legislation related to child care, death penalty reform and voting rights. Akiesha provides a rundown on some [...]
Blog
Alabama Arise Action Legislative Day 2024
Arise held our 2024 Legislative Day on Tuesday, April 2. More than 230 supporters joined us in Montgomery to urge their lawmakers to close Alabama's Medicaid coverage gap, invest in public transportation and fund a summer nutrition program for children. Thank you to everyone who spoke out for a better Alabama for all! Full [...]
Blog
Arise legislative update: April 8, 2024
Arise's Dev Wakeley provides this week's legislative update with a look at bills related to workers' rights, including one that would disincentivize companies from voluntarily recognizing unions. To speak out about these bills and others that we're tracking in the Alabama Legislature, visit alarise.org and click "Take Action." Full video transcript below: Hi, [...]