News & Events

8 Minute Activism

At the Suburbs Alliance, we completely understand how hectic life gets.  Nonetheless, there are important issues that need your support and attention – revenue sharing, clean water, public safety, and on and on.  We know not everyone can dedicate a lot of time to effecting regional change, so we've developed a call to arms for those of you who really want to make a difference, but only have time to think about our pressing regional challenges on the ride home from work.  It's called the 8-Minute Activist, and it identifies concrete actions you can take in eight minutes or less that will have an impact on an issue that affects our region.  Check out the list below to see how you can help build stronger, more vibrant communities in southeast Michigan.

• The new Michigan Legislature is in session! Some are old hands and others fresh faces. The most important thing you can do now that they're in office is introduce yourself as a concerned citizen.  You don’t have to ask them for anything, just shake their hands and say you look forward to working with them over the coming two years.  Drop Executive Director Conan Smith an email (conan@suburbsalliance.org) for help figuring out when your lawmakers are in town and where you can have a short chat with them.  Click here to find your representative, and here to find your senator.  

• The state revenue sharing formula is due for reauthorization in June, and it's critical that our policymakers understand its impact on city residents.  Make a phone call to your state representative.  Tell her or him about the importance of city services to you and your family and explain why the new revenue sharing formula should create incentives for collaborative service agreements that maximize efficiency and quality of public services.  Read our new publication, In the Ring, for a briefing on revenue sharing.

• Write a letter to the editor of your local paper.  Describe capital improvements that revenue sharing funds and explain the importance of reinvesting in communities with established infrastructure.  Refer to In the Ring for talking points.

• Help shape Michigan's transportation future by taking MDOT's online questionnaire about its long-range transportation vision and goals.  The Preferred Vision for an Integrated Transportation System can be found on MDOT's website along with the questionnaire.

• And last, join the Suburbs Alliance!  You’ll become part of one of southeast Michigan’s most innovative partnerships of government officials, business leaders and citizen advocates. We need your support to unify the region and elevate the concerns of inner-ring communities.  We're counting on you to help us boost activism in 2007!