Our movement for change keeps gaining strength
By Chris Sanders, communications director
Alabama Arise saw plenty of change last year: a new executive director, new communications tools, even a new name. But what hasn’t changed is our passion for building a more inclusive Alabama with justice and opportunity for everyone. With your support, we’ve smashed previous membership records, defended past policy gains and laid groundwork for future breakthroughs.
One big change came in July 2018, when former Arise organizer Robyn Hyden succeeded long-time executive director Kimble Forrister. We honored Kimble’s 27 years of service at a retirement dinner in October. And generous contributions to the Kimble Forrister Legacy Fund ensure his impact on Arise will endure for years to come.
We rebranded, too. In November, the organization formerly known as Arise Citizens’ Policy Project adopted a new logo and a more recognizable name: Alabama Arise. (Our sister group, formerly known as Alabama Arise, is now Alabama Arise Action.)
We launched a new website. It’s easier to navigate and easier to use on mobile devices. And it includes a blog, an events calendar, a searchable Bills of Interest database and other features to help you stay connected with our work. We expanded our digital outreach in other ways as well, keeping you informed with weekly videos and email newsletters throughout the legislative session.
We renewed and strengthened our shared dedication to racial justice. With guidance from consultant Natilee McGruder, our board and staff developed an organizational statement on racial equity and inclusion in May. We’re committed to the ongoing process of ensuring our work reflects these principles.
Building momentum for the future
You continue to amplify our calls for a brighter future. You packed out the State House’s largest room for Legislative Day. Then you provided the sense of urgency that lawmakers needed to pass a bill creating a civil asset forfeiture database late in the 2019 session. You sustained our efforts to untax groceries and expand Medicaid. And you flooded federal and state officials with emails and calls, demanding that they abandon efforts to impose harmful new limits on Medicaid, SNAP and other programs that help struggling Alabamians make ends meet.
We’re grateful for your advocacy, membership and support of Arise. And we look forward to continuing to build a better Alabama together.
Arise by the numbers
1,720 individual members
148 member groups
25% growth in individual membership since FY 2018
30% increase in individual giving over FY 2018
169 organizing meetings across Alabama
3,500+ people engaged at organizing meetings
5,694 subscribers to Arise’s email list
694 calls and emails to the governor and state lawmakers generated during the 2019 legislative session
20 fact sheets and newsletters
41 blog posts
24 news releases, advisories and op-eds
280+ media appearances
6,047 Facebook likes
3,550+ Twitter followers
We’re changing Alabama together!
Alabama Arise thanks you and all of the individuals, member groups, businesses, foundations and organizations that supported our work between July 1, 2018, and June 30, 2019. (Our sister organization, Alabama Arise Action, will report its donors separately.)
Click here or click the “Download” button above to see Alabama Arise’s full FY 2019 donor list and financial report.