06/06/2026
Pride Month and Youth Employment Month
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Dear LEO Stakeholders,
happy pride month 2026 graphic with rainbow waves
June marks Pride Month and I want to take a moment to honor and recognize the diversity, liberation and invaluable contributions of Michigan’s LGBTQIA+ community. It’s always important to show our support to a valued and treasured group of people. As a mother and ally, I am incredibly proud of the progress our state has made in recent years to create a more welcoming and inclusive Michigan for every individual.
Michigan is home to an estimated 373,000 residents who identify as LGBTQIA+, and has been at the forefront of advancing civil rights for LGBTQ+ people since the nation’s first non-discrimination ordinance passed in 1972 in East Lansing. Michigan is also home to the nation’s first Civil Rights Commission to independently recognize that discrimination “because of sex” includes sexual orientation and gender identity in 2018. In 2023, Gov. Whitmer signed legislation to expand the state’s Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act to include protection from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in employment, education, housing and real estate as well as the use of public accommodations and public services.
Pride is also a great start to highlighting the year-round work of our LGBTQ+ Commission. The Michigan LGBTQ+ Commission is a bridge between the community and the government dedicated to serving as a vital advisory force, collaborating with the governor, LEO and various stakeholders to shape policies, eliminate discrimination and enhance the overall quality of life for the LGBTQ+ community. The LGBTQ+ Commission works to ensure equal representation, amplify voices and foster a state where everyone, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity feels affirmed and valued.
Our commitment to supporting the LGBTQIA+ community extends year-round, but Pride Month is a meaningful opportunity to renew that commitment. Let’s use this time to stand in solidarity, reflect on the progress we’ve made and recommit to the ongoing fight for equality and acceptance for all Michiganders.
Whether it’s attending an event, displaying a pride flag or simply engaging in conversations about inclusion and acceptance, let us each do something to show our support. Together we can continue to create a Michigan where everyone, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, can live authentically and with dignity.
Thank you for your ongoing commitment to making Michigan a place where all people, businesses and communities have the economic means and personal freedoms to reach their full potential.
Sincerely,
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LEO Director Susan Corbin
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$150,000 Available to Help Strengthen K-12 Educator and Local Manufacturing Partnerships
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LEO is encouraging school districts, with support from local automotive manufacturers, to apply for a share of $150,000 in funding to develop, coordinate and manage regional partnerships that help connect classroom learning to real-world applications.
The Skills in Sync Regional Partnership Pilot Program will provide funding to help regional stakeholders — including K-12 educators, employers, post-secondary education providers and workforce or community organizations — join, build or expand partnerships that will implement employer-informed manufacturing programs within the schools. The deadline to apply for the pilot grant is Friday, July 10, 2026.
“Supporting Michigan’s auto industry through transition and building a resilient future requires us to proactively develop programs that ensure our future workforce has exposure to jobs that are growing,” said LEO Director Susan Corbin. “Strong partnerships between schools and manufacturers create valuable opportunities for students to explore rewarding careers and gain the skills employers need. The Skills in Sync initiative strengthens those connections, increasing awareness, access and readiness for high-quality career pathways while helping students build a foundation for long-term success.”
Learn more and apply on the Skill in Sync RFP webpage.
Read the Skills in Sync press release.
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Gov. Whitmer Unveils New Anti-Poverty Strategies and Policy Recommendations Released in Michigan Poverty Task Force 2026 Report
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The Michigan Poverty Task Force released its 2026 Poverty Task Force Report to highlight the scope of poverty’s impact across the state, and provide recommendations to lift Michiganders out of poverty, connect families in every corner of Michigan with economic opportunity, improve quality of life, improve outcomes and create real change.
“The Poverty Task Force’s latest recommendations will help Michigan continue our bold progress to reduce poverty, expand economic opportunity and help more families achieve long-term stability,” said Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. “Addressing poverty head on is critical to building stronger communities, improving health and educational outcomes, supporting workforce participation and ensuring every Michigander has the opportunity to thrive. Let’s keep working hard to make sure everyone can make it in Michigan.”
The new 2026 Poverty Task Force Report outlines policy recommendations with clear goals, including:
Improve pathways to quality employment
Enhance public safety by removing barriers to economic participation
Provide pathways to prosperity through stable, affordable housing
Support prosperous futures for Michigan's youth
“Investing in people and removing barriers to opportunity is helping Michigan create a more equitable and prosperous future for families across the state," said LEO Deputy Director for Prosperity Kim Trent. “While there is much work that lies ahead, this report offers state government solid strategies to help financially struggling families in Michigan thrive.”
Read the 2026 Poverty Task Force Report.
Read the Poverty Task Force Report press release.
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LGBTQ+ Commission and Gov. Whitmer Celebrate Pride Month
raul hernandez guzman chair of lgbtq+ joins gov whitmer and others celebrating pride month in group photo at good judys juice bar
Raúl Hernández-Guzmán, chair of the LGBTQ+ Commission of Michigan, joined Gov. Whitmer for a celebration and signing of the Pride Month proclamation at Good Judy’s Market & Juice Bar, an LGBTQ+ owned business in Grand Rapids.
“As we celebrate Pride Month 2026, I want to celebrate and uplift every member of our LGBTQ+ community,” said Raúl Hernández-Guzmán, chair of the LGBTQ+ Commission of Michigan. “Over the past year, the LGBTQ+ Commission of Michigan has traveled across our state listening to the voices, experiences, and concerns of our communities. This Pride Month, we celebrate not only our resilience, but our collective strength. We celebrate the people who continue to show up, support one another, and build community in every corner of Michigan. Your voices matter. Your stories matter. And together, we will continue working toward a Michigan where every LGBTQ+ person feels safe, valued, affirmed, and celebrated.”
Learn more about the impact our LGBTQ+ Commission is making and sign-up for email updates: Michigan.gov/LGBTQ.
Read the 2026 Pride Month proclamation from Gov. Whitmer and Lt. Gov. Gilchrest.
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June is Youth Employment Month: Help Us Empower Michigan's Next Generation of Workers
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As we recognize Youth Employment Month, LEO is highlighting resources designed to help young workers enter the workforce safely, fairly and successfully.
Earlier this year, LEO launched the Youth Workers' Rights Initiative, providing tools and information to help young Michiganders understand their workplace rights and responsibilities before they start their first job.
Whether a young person is working after school, during the summer or beginning their career journey, they deserve to know:
How to stay safe at work.
How to obtain a work permit.
Their rights regarding pay, hours and breaks.
What to do if they are injured or experience workplace concerns.
We encourage you to share these resources with students, families, employers and community members throughout Youth Employment Month.
Visit Michigan.gov/YouthEmployment to access educational materials, downloadable resources and important information for young workers.
Together, we can help Michigan's next generation of workers start strong and stay protected.
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Bear Lake Schools Bridges Algebra and Analytics with Innovative Bootstrap Data Science Course
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Bear Lake Schools is preparing students for the future by integrating cutting-edge data literacy into its core curriculum through the Bootstrap: Data Science course.
By bridging the gap between mathematical theory and modern-day technology, this innovative program teaches students to apply essential algebraic concepts — such as functions, coordinates and statistics — directly to large, real-world datasets. Rather than simply memorizing formulas, students learn the fundamentals of computer programming to analyze data, identify societal trends, and build rigorous, evidence-based arguments. In an increasingly data-driven world, Bear Lake Schools is ensuring its students are not just passive consumers of technology, but critical thinkers equipped with the essential data science skills required for tomorrow's workforce.
Watch the Data Science at Bear Lake Schools video highlight.
Learn more about how the MiSTEM Network is helping schools and students across the state at www.michigan.gov/MiSTEM.
MISSION
Expand economic opportunity and prosperity for all
VISION
Make Michigan a place where all PEOPLE, BUSINESSES, and COMMUNITIES have the educational and economical means to reach their full potential
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