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Sandy Hunwick Harrison Center PHASD

Harrison Center Help Adults Pursue Higher Education

The Futures for Frontliners program offers Michigan residents 18 years and older the opportunity to complete high school and pursue a career path at a community college or job training program. It is open to all adults who worked in an essential industry at least part-time for 11 weeks between April 1st and June 30th.

For those who need to complete their high school diploma or GED, Harrison Center, the adult education wing of Port Huron Schools, offers the tools and support to help students succeed. Harrison has a teacher on site Monday – Friday  for students. Fridays are by appointment only for those who want to limit their contact with others. Students can take classes, get individual tutoring, and/or work at home to finish their high school diploma or study for their GED tests.

Harrison Center’s Career Navigator, Sandy Hunwick, helps students with any barriers they face on the path to high school completion, and then she helps them move on to the next part of their educational journey at college or a career training center.  When asked about the benefits of the Futures for Frontliners program, she aid, “If you were thinking that you’d love to go back to school, now there’s a way. This is a pathway to help you afford college and expensive career training programs. If you worked, now there’s a way.”

For more information on eligibility, and to apply to the Futures for Frontliners program, visit the website <HERE> Applications must be submitted by 11:59 PM on December 31, 2020.

To learn more about Harrison Center, visit their website <HERE>.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

 

Whitmer Receives Award from Detroit Branch NAACP

Governor Gretchen Whitmer was awarded the Detroit Branch NAACP Mary Church Terrell Freedom & Justice Award at the NAACP’s 65th Annual Fight for Freedom Fund Event. The award is presented each year to an individual whose actions, commitment, and integrity reflect the continuous struggle for justice and equality, exemplified by one of the founders of the NAACP. It was named after Mary Church Terrell, a champion in the struggle for dignity and respect for African Americans.

“As a lifelong NAACP member, it is such an honor to receive this award, and I am so grateful for the NAACP’s partnership as we have worked to build a more equitable Michigan together,” said Governor Whitmer.

Rev. Dr. Wendell Anthony, President of the Detroit Branch NAACP for the last 27 years, said, “This Award is presented to Governor Whitmer for her unyielding stand for health care protection for Michiganders, refusal to submit to threats against her life and liberty and standing strong against personal attacks from the President of the United States. She is indeed BIG GRETCH OUR GOVERNOR!”

The Detroit Branch NAACP has been the largest branch of the NAACP since its inception in 1912.

 

Whitmer Signs Bills Protecting Employers and Nursing Home Residents

Governor Whitmer signed several House and Senate bills into law last week. Several of them addressed concerns resulting from COVID-19 for employers and nursing home residents.

House Bills 6030-6032 protect Michigan businesses that comply with relevant COVID-19-related laws, including epidemic orders and rules. HB 6030 make clears that when a business complies with all relevant COVID-19 related statutes, orders, and rules issued by federal, state, and local authorities, they cannot be held liable for a person becoming sick at the business.

HB 6031 makes clear that when an employer complies with all relevant COVID-19 related statutes, orders, and rules issued by federal, state, and local authorities, they cannot be held liable under the Michigan Occupational Health and Safety Act for a worker becoming sick at work.

House Bill 6030 was sponsored by Rep. Tom Albert (R-Lowell). House Bill 6031 was sponsored by Rep. Tommy Brann (R-Wyoming) and Rep. Wendell Byrd (D-Detroit). House Bill 6032 was sponsored by Rep. Graham Filler (R-DeWitt).

Senate Bill 1094 requires the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) to evaluate the operation, efficacy, clinical outcomes, and performance of nursing homes throughout the state during the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill also creates a series of requirements surround the state’s COVID-19 nursing home policy.

DHHS, in consultation with LARA, will work to provide a statewide visitation policy, implement plans concerning COVID-19 laboratory testing, a process to approve care and recovery facilities among other key goals before November 15, 2020. The bill was sponsored by Senator Peter Lucido (R-Shelby Township).

 

Christina Flood Healing Hearts Home

Healing Hearts Home Kicks Off New S.H.O.U.T. Groups

Healing Hearts Home provides help, hope, and healing for women who have experience sexual abuse, and they are kicking off their fall support groups in November.

Their S.H.O.U.T. groups are a place for women to find last healing from the pain of their abuse, and S.H.O.U.T. stands for Sharing Hearts Openly, Understanding Truth. There are separate groups for teens and adult women, and they focus on working through study material and processing together.

Healing Hearts Home Executive Director Christina Flood said she has been busier than ever since the COVID shutdown when she moved to working with program participants online. She is grateful for the opportunity to get back to in-person meetings at The Underground in Downtown Port Huron where the nonprofit is housed.

The kick-off for S.H.O.U.T. groups is November 12th. The teen group meets from 4-6, and the women’s group meets from 6:30 – 8:30.

Visit HealingHeartsHome.org for more information.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

 

State Employees Returning to Work Get Workplace Protections

Governor Gretchen Whitmer has signed an Executive Directive late last week meant to protect state employees from COVID-19, which is reported to be on the rise in the state. The order requires state departments and autonomous agencies to tighten up their policies and procedures to protect workers returning to work.

Whitmer said, “Our state employees’ tireless efforts on our behalf have saved lives and protected our most vulnerable communities, and we must ensure that when they return to work, they can feel safe from the spread of COVID-19. This executive directive will ensure that every state workplace implements strict safety measures to protect our state employees, their families, and Michiganders everywhere from this virus. I will continue to use every tool at my disposal to protect the people of Michigan from the spread of COVID-19.” 

According to the directive, return-to-work policies must address, at a minimum, personal protection equipment, social distancing, cleaning, employee screening, procedures for returning employees to work areas, and communication to employees on policies. 

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Funding Natural Resources Trust Fund on the Ballot with Proposal 1

What is Proposal 1? It is a proposal to allow money from oil and gas mining on state-owned lands to continue to be collected in state funds for public land preservation. It allows for the State Parks Endowment Fund to cap at $800 million and subsequent money to go into the Natural Resources Trust Fund. It also specifies percentages of funding that would go into state park improvement, recreation areas, and land conservation.

Those in favor of the proposal, such as conservation and business groups, say that a yes vote puts money into the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund, which has been protecting drinking water sources, natural outdoor spaces, and wildlife habitats. They say that Proposal 1 will expand the Michigan Natural Resource Trust Fund.

Those against the passage of the proposal, such as the Thumb Land Conservancy, say, it’s passing “will forever reduce the amount of money spent each and every year on important land and habitat protection projects.”

Voters will decide whether to change the funding or leave it alone when they vote on Proposal 1 on November 3rd.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland