Letter from Executive Director
Letter from Executive Director
Dear Arise members and partners,
2024 was a tough year, one in which we faced some of our hardest legislative roadblocks yet.
Despite hardline resistance from policymakers, together we were able to lift up the needs of working families and secure new resources to keep our communities safe.
In more personal news, I took time away for maternity leave after my child was born earlier this year. I am grateful to work for an employer that provides 12 weeks of paid family leave and access to generous health insurance coverage. These are two basic rights that should be extended to all Alabamians. I’m so proud of the issues you championed to keep all families protected and supported, as you all have supported and uplifted me during this time. Arise’s staff and our acting executive director Jacob Smith did an exceptional job keeping our vital work moving forward during the session while I was away!
STATE HOUSE VICTORIES
Thanks to Alabama Arise members, more than 500,000 Alabama children will receive Summer EBT nutrition benefits in 2025! It was a tough advocacy fight that went down to the wire, and we know it would not have happened without your vocal support.
Arise members also spoke out loud and clear for Alabama workers, successfully supporting a bill to increase penalties for child labor violations. Legislation to support paid parental leave for state employees also almost achieved final passage. We expect our work to support worker power at the State House to grow in the coming years.
STANDING WITH ORGANIZED LABOR
In November, Arise released our State of Working Alabama report, looking back at 30 years of our tax dollars investing in the auto industry. On the same day, the United Auto Workers launched a historic organizing push across the South. We saw unprecedented levels of labor action across our state. Arise also elected to stand with organized labor by announcing the voluntary recognition of our own staff union, Alabama Arise Workers United, highlighting our commitment to democratic leadership within our organization.
BUILDING POWER FOR BIG FIGHTS TO COME
We also suffered some tough policy losses this year. Legislators focused more on banning diversity, equity and inclusion education and limiting free speech in libraries than supporting the basic dignity and rights of all Alabamians. We hired a new maternal health fellow to work on protecting maternity care coverage for new moms, as we also saw large procedural disenrollments from health coverage as unwinding of Medicaid’s continuing coverage requirement ended in May. And despite our vocal opposition, lawmakers passed the CHOOSE Act, a historically large tax giveaway diverting public money to private schools.
In the face of these facts, we are doubling down on our commitment to community organizing and power building. These activities are the heart of our mission to engage and empower everyday Alabamians to stand together and speak out for our shared values.
THE POWER OF MEMBERSHIP
Our forward momentum on so many fronts is only possible with your sustaining investments. Did you know that almost 15% of all our work is funded by membership contributions alone?
Your support gives us the freedom to continue pursuing a broad, intersectional and responsive member-driven agenda. Thank you for your support, this year and every year, to help us realize our vision for a better Alabama for all!
With gratitude,
Robyn Hyden