A new group wants Michigan women to speak with a louder voice on important issues

Michigan Public | By Steve Carmody

Published January 28, 2015 at 10:39 AM EST

Organizers announce the formation of MI-Lead during a news conference in Lansing

Giving women a stronger voice in Michigan is the goal of a new coalition.

MI-Lead is composed of more than 30 organizations, from civil liberties and reproductive rights to business associations and unions.

Shirley Zeller is with the Business and Professional Women of Michigan.

“We’ve heard from too many women across our state that feel like they have no voice or their voice doesn’t matter,” says Zeller, “When women in Michigan do better, we all do better.”

The group says, while they make up 51% of Michigan’s population, women earn less and rank lower in surveys on women’s access to quality healthcare.

The coalition plans to push for changes in state policy to give women better access to health care and economic opportunity.

An important goal is to get more women involved in the political process. Coalition leaders insist they are committed to working with both Republicans and Democrats.

Coalition members:

AFL-CIO

American Association of University Women

American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan

American Medical Women’s Association – Wayne State School of Medicine

Business and Professional Women of Michigan

Hadassah

Law Students for Reproductive Justice, University of Michigan Law School

League of Women Voters

Medical Students for Choice, Wayne State

Metro Detroit Chapter for the Coalition of Labor Union Women

MI List

Michigan League for Public Policy

Michigan National Organization for Women (NOW)

Michigan Unitarian Universalist Social Justice Network

Milton Ford LGBT Center

National Council of Jewish Women, Greater Detroit Section

Northland Family Planning Centers

NOW, Oakland/Macomb County Chapter

NOW, Wayne County Chapter

Planned Parenthood Affiliates and Advocates of Michigan

Right to Health

Scotsdale Women’s Center

Summit Women’s Center

Women’s Health Center of Flint and Saginaw

Amy Lynn Smith, Writer & Strategist/Eclectablog

Unite Women

National Coalition Partners

American Civil Liberties Union

Catholics for Choice

Center for Reproductive Rights

National Institute for Reproductive Health

UniteWomen.org