More than 60 volunteers and elected officials called for affordable child care and paid family leave, hit the streets to turn out local voters

[Event photos and videos available for download HERE, courtesy of Oakland Forward and Family Values @Work Action]

LATHRUP VILLAGE, MI – On Sunday, October 6, 2024, sixty volunteers gathered at Jay Birds Bar and Grille, joining Rep. Rashida Tlaib and leaders from Michigan United Action, Oakland Forward Action, Detroit Change Initiative, Tramsey and Associates, Our Own Wall Street, Michigan Black Women’s Roundtable, Black Youth Wall Street, Mothers of Hope, and Family Values @Work Action for a “Dads for Care” rally and voter drive to celebrate the civic engagement of men and fathers and turn out voters who support policies that can ensure economic stability for families, such as paid medical and family leave and access to affordable child care. Mayor Kelly Garrett of Lathrup Village and Southfield Councilmember Charles Hicks lent their support to the rally. Dwayne Brown, and Adam Duberstein, trustee candidates for Oakland County Community College were also present.

Rep. Tlaib spoke on her role in the Congressional Dads Caucus, which is dedicated to championing the needs of working families and is grounded in the belief that dads need to do more both at home and in Congress to advocate for policies that uplift parents and children across the country. The Dads Caucus has been instrumental in supporting policies such as national paid medical and family leave, access to affordable child care, and expanding the Child Tax Credit.

Following the rally, volunteers fanned out into the community for a voter turnout drive, knocking on 350 doors in Lathrup Village. The effort advances a larger Oakland Forward Action goal to know 80,000 doors by election day. So far, the organization has knocked on 36,000 doors to encourage voter turnout in support of stronger care policies for Black and Brown Michigan families.

“Sunday’s Dads Caucus rally for care with Rep. Tlaib was a huge success, thanks in large part to the enthusiasm of our local partners, who are committed to strengthening Oakland County families. We were especially excited to see local officials join dads from all over Oakland County to center care. Affordable child care and paid family leave can benefit our whole community, and especially Black and Brown families who are often most at risk of having to choose between caring for their loved ones and a paycheck,” said Kermit Williams, co-executive director of Oakland Forward Action. “We’re out here because we believe we can win a better future for Michigan families. Together, we laughed, we cried, and then we got active on the doors to let the state of Michigan know that dads care.”

Oakland Forward Action is made up of grassroots, community centered activists, organizers, and changemakers who are passionate about making real change and improvement for Black and Brown communities.

“Family Values @Work Action has been proud to support the incredible voter mobilization work happening in Michigan around care policies that can lift up struggling families. We were thrilled to join local dads and the Dads Caucus yesterday to hit the streets and share with voters that care can’t wait,” said Carol Joyner, executive director of Family Values @Work Action. “Care is on the ballot, and the stakes have never been higher. Candidates are offering competing solutions to our child care and paid leave crises. On November 5, we have a national decision to make about who will best support families in Michigan and across the country.”

Michigan is one of numerous states across the country facing dramatic child care shortages caused by a combination of factors including high costs, staff shortages, and insufficient wages for caregivers and providers. In Michigan,

• About of 75% children in the state live in areas with limited access to licensed child care (3 or fewer children per slot).
• Over 60% of Black and Hispanic/Latino children live in places with limited access to child care.

These shortages increase the likelihood that one or more parents and family caregivers will have to leave the workforce in order to care for their children. Exacerbating the child care crisis is the lack of a paid family and medical leave standard in both Michigan and nationwide, despite lawmaker efforts to move legislation forward in the state over the past several years. However, policy solutions including child care subsidies, stabilization grants, and caps on total child care costs per family are possible with lawmaker support.

As election day approaches, Oakland Forward Action and Family Values @Work Action have additional plans to release a series of area billboards encouraging Michiganders to be “care voters” as they head to the ballot box, supporting elected officials who will advance paid family leave, affordable child care, resources for elder care and disability services, and reproductive autonomy.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, please contact Carolyn Davis at media@familyvaluesaction.org or 214-395-8149.

Family Values @ Work Action works in partnership with their state coalitions to build political power among historically disenfranchised voters in the movement for care and caregiving and other economic security issues through public education and civic engagement strategies.

###