News Releases
Public policy barriers prevent far too many Alabamians from getting ahead. Our duty is to speak out against those barriers and identify solutions to give everyone an opportunity to reach their full potential. Check out our news releases and press statements about our research, organizing and advocacy for policies to make life better for Alabamians who are struggling to make ends meet.
News Releases
Alabama Arise, Alabama Values launch Think Big Alabama advocacy training program
Alabama Arise and Alabama Values announce the launch of Think Big Alabama: Empowering Voices for Change, a four-part advocacy training program aimed at empowering underserved and underrepresented communities in Alabama. The program, running from July 13 to Aug. 24, will equip 20 participants with essential skills in media, public policy and grassroots organizing. BIPOC Alabamians [...]
News Releases
Summer EBT funding is a big win for Alabama’s children
The Alabama Senate Finance and Taxation Education Committee voted unanimously Tuesday to appropriate $10 million for Summer EBT administrative funding from the 2025 Education Trust Fund budget. Alabama Arise hunger policy advocate LaTrell Clifford Wood released the following statement Tuesday in response: “Every child needs and deserves healthy meals throughout the year. That’s why Alabama [...]
News Releases
230+ Alabama Arise supporters urge lawmakers to close state’s Medicaid coverage gap
[caption id="attachment_9424" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] More than 230 Alabamians gathered to show their support for Medicaid expansion during Arise Legislative Day on April 2, 2024, in Montgomery. (Photo by Julie Bennett)[/caption] Alabama should save lives, create jobs and boost workforce participation by closing the state’s Medicaid coverage gap, Alabama Arise members told lawmakers Tuesday. More than [...]
News Releases
Alabama Arise announces newly formed staff union
The staff, leadership and board of Alabama Arise are thrilled to announce the launch of Alabama Arise Workers United-Communications Workers of America (AAWU-CWA), the newly formed Arise staff union. AAWU-CWA is an affiliate of CWA Local 3908. “I am honored to be a part of an organization that allowed us to make our own choice [...]
News Releases
Alabama should improve wages, working conditions for autoworkers, new Alabama Arise report finds
Declining wages and pay gaps in Alabama’s auto manufacturing industry cost the state hundreds of millions of dollars in labor income and economic growth each year, an Alabama Arise report released Thursday found. Racial, gender and geographic pay disparities also persist even though Alabama automakers have received more than $1.6 billion in public incentives since [...]
News Releases
Alabama Arise unveils 2024 roadmap for change in Alabama
Expanding Medicaid and ending the state sales tax on groceries will remain top goals on Alabama Arise’s 2024 legislative agenda. The group also will pursue a multifaceted approach to improving maternal and infant health in Alabama. More than 500 members voted to determine Arise’s legislative priorities in recent days after the organization’s annual meeting Saturday. [...]
News Releases
New report: Medicaid expansion would improve maternal health in Alabama
Medicaid expansion would improve women’s health and expand access to maternal health care across Alabama, a new Georgetown University Center for Children and Families (CCF) report found. Expansion also would help reduce racial disparities, improve infants’ health and strengthen rural health care access, the report found. Nearly one in six Alabama women (15.9%) of reproductive [...]
News Releases
Grocery tax reduction bill’s passage is a win for every Alabamian
The Alabama Senate voted 31-0 Thursday to pass HB 479, a bill to reduce the state sales tax on groceries beginning Sept. 1. The bill now goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. Alabama Arise executive director Robyn Hyden released the following statement Thursday in response: “Reducing the state sales tax on groceries will provide meaningful help [...]
News Releases
This is the moment: It’s time for Alabama to untax groceries
Sen. Andrew Jones, R-Centre, filed legislation Thursday to reduce Alabama’s state sales tax on groceries. Jones’ SB 257 is co-sponsored by all 35 state senators. Alabama Arise executive director Robyn Hyden released the following statement Friday in response: “Alabama Arise is thrilled to see widespread, bipartisan support from every senator for reducing the state sales [...]
News Releases
Alabama Arise members urge support for plan to untax groceries, protect funding for public schools
[caption id="attachment_7937" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Rep. Penni McClammy, D-Montgomery, speaks in support of untaxing groceries during Arise's Legislative Day on April 11, 2023, in Montgomery.[/caption] Alabama should embrace the opportunity this year to remove the state sales tax on groceries in a sustainable and meaningful way, Alabama Arise Action members told lawmakers Tuesday. More than 100 [...]
