The Great Depression in Michigan
The stock market crash of 1929 defined the decade of the 1930s for Michigan and the whole nation. The people of Michigan, already struggling with economic troubles, moved into a new decade defined by a tidal wave of economic troubles and sharp conflicts over how governmental and private responsesshould be organized and funded.
The decade was a critical one for the Michigan Conference of Social Work, which was operating as it had since 1912 with volunteer efforts augmented by dues and conference fees. The Conference hired the first full-time executive, launched the Michigan Welfare News publication, and immersed itself in public policy during those trying times, culminating with the group’s legislative committee assisting in the revision of Michigan’s “Poor Law” at the request of the State Welfare Director.
Throughout the decade, the Conference was involved in the controversies over how to respond to the deep needs of citizens and conference members struggled to resolve their own disagreements over organizational matters.
Economically, Michigan fared worse than the rest of the country in the Depression. Between 1930 and 1933 the unemployment rate was 34 percent while it was 26 percent for the nation as a whole. Employment in the auto industry, which had become a key industry in Michigan’s economy, declined precipitously in only a few years – between 1928 and 1932 employment at GM was cut in half.
Local governments and private charities were unable to find resources to meet the needs of the growing number of economically strained and destitute people in the state. The January 1933 Welfare News reported that local and private groups could fill only an estimated 15 percent of the need.
By the mid-1930s a movement to reorganize social services and relief work into a state program was gaining momentum. It was recognized that support was needed not just for those with disabilities, children and other vulnerable people but many more who were willing to work but could not find jobs.
Still, the forces in favor of local control of relief work continued to be very strong. In 1937, the Michigan Legislature created a single state level system with integrated local programs only to have it overturned in 1938 by a referendum vote.
The 1939 Welfare Reorganization Act, intended to implement aspects of the 1935 federal Social Security Act, created a dual system of local control and state supervision of welfare and relief programs that satisfied neither the advocates of a single state welfare system nor the defenders of local control.
The welfare and relief challenges and conflicts that developed in Michigan apparently generated controversies within the Conference. For most of the decade Conference members debated programmatic issues and the name the organization should have. Still, the Conference continued to work on a range of issues, regained its organizational footing, and expanded its activities.
In 1933 the Conference initiated Michigan Welfare News and later added a Journal and a Legislative Bulletin to its publications program. The first edition of Michigan Welfare News appeared in January 1933. It opened with a letter from Conference President C.R. Hoffer: “1933 is a year of responsibility and opportunity for social work in Michigan….”
The four-page newsletter reported on the status of welfare relief including $11 million in federal loans for the “destitute,’’ “paroles” from the Kalamazoo State Hospital, and a resolution sent to Gov. William Comstock that estimated $35 million in public relief was needed for 1933.
The Conference was very active in the Legislature in 1937, supporting 19 different proposals for public assistance, correction and mental health reforms.
And, notably, it backed the 1937 legislation to reorganize Michigan’s welfare system.
The League’s first executive, John McClellan, was hired in 1938. (Since the hiring of McClellan the League has had an additional nine leaders with President & CEO Gilda Z. Jacobs the current executive.)
The League closed out the 1930s with a new program of work and a new name – the Michigan Welfare League. Other suggested names up for debate were: State Council of Social Agencies, State Charities Aid, and Citizens Welfare League.
The Welfare League’s program, adopted in 1940, focused on three areas of work: (1) education regarding social welfare objectives, problems, and methods, (2) improvement of standards in the field of social welfare, and (3) assisting in the development of an adequate and effective public welfare program.
By the end of the 1930s, the League had a substantial volunteer effort, a full-time director, ongoing publications and a long list of human services concerns.
–Jim Lunday
Emily Jorgensen joined the Michigan League for Public Policy in July 2019. She deeply cares about the well-being of individuals and families and has a great love for Michigan. She is grateful that her position at the League enables her to combine these passions and work to help promote policies that will lead to better opportunities and security for all Michiganders.
Jacob Kaplan 
Mikell Frey is a communications professional with a passion for using the art of storytelling to positively impact lives. She strongly believes that positive social change can be inspired by the sharing of data-driven information coupled with the unique perspectives of people from all walks of life across Michigan, especially those who have faced extraordinary barriers. 
Rachel Richards rejoined the League in December 2020 as the Fiscal Policy Director working on state budget and tax policies. Prior to returning to the League, she served as the Director of Legislative Affairs for the Michigan Department of Treasury, the tax policy analyst and Legislative Director for the Michigan League for Public Policy, and a policy analyst and the Appropriations Coordinator for the Democratic Caucus of the Michigan House of Representatives. She brings with her over a decade of experience in policies focused on economic opportunity, including workforce issues, tax, and state budget.
Donald Stuckey 
Patrick Schaefer
Alexandra Stamm 
Amari Fuller
Renell Weathers, Michigan League for Public Policy (MLPP) Community Engagement Consultant. As community engagement consultant, Renell works with organizations throughout the state in connecting the impact of budget and tax policies to their communities. She is motivated by the belief that all children and adults deserve the opportunity to achieve their dreams regardless of race, ethnicity, religion or economic class.
Megan Farnsworth joined the League’s staff in December 2022 as Executive Assistant. Megan is driven by work that is personally fulfilling, and feels honored to help support the work of an organization that pushes for more robust programming and opportunities for the residents of our state. She’s excited and motivated to gain overarching knowledge of the policies and agendas that the League supports.
Yona Isaacs (she/hers) is an Early Childhood Data Analyst for the Kids Count project. After earning her Bachelor of Science in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience at the University of Michigan, she began her career as a research coordinator in pediatric psychiatry using data to understand the impacts of brain activity and genetics on children’s behavior and mental health symptoms. This work prompted an interest in exploring social determinants of health and the role of policy in promoting equitable opportunities for all children, families, and communities. She returned to the University of Michigan to complete her Masters in Social Work focused on Social Policy and Evaluation, during which she interned with the ACLU of Michigan’s policy and legislative team and assisted local nonprofit organizations in creating data and evaluation metrics. She currently serves as a coordinator for the Michigan Center for Youth Justice on a project aiming to increase placement options and enhance cultural competency within the juvenile justice system for LGBTQIA+ youth. Yona is eager to put her data skills to work at the League in support of data-driven policies that advocate for equitable access to healthcare, education, economic security, and opportunity for 0-5 year old children. In her free time, she enjoys tackling DIY house projects and trying new outdoor activities with her dog.
Amber Bellazaire joined the Michigan League for Public Policy as a policy analyst in June of 2019. Her work primarily focuses on state policy and budgets affecting Michigan’s Medicaid programs. Previously, Amber worked at the National Conference of State Legislatures tracking legislation and research related to injury and violence prevention, adolescent health, and maternal and child health. She also brings with her two years of Americorps service. As a full time volunteer, Amber had the opportunity to tutor high school students in Chelsea, Massachusetts and address issues of healthcare access and food insecurity through in-person outreach in Seattle, Washington.
Simon Marshall-Shah joined the Michigan League for Public Policy as a State Policy Fellow in August 2019. His work focuses on state policy as it relates to the budget, immigration, health care and other League policy priorities. Before joining the League, he worked in Washington, D.C. at the Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP), providing federal policy and advocacy support to nonprofit, Medicaid health plans (Safety Net Health Plans) related to the ACA Marketplaces as well as Quality & Operations.
