JACKSON, MI — Board of Education Trustee Derek Dobies and Vice President Shalanda Hunt today announced plans to introduce an equity policy to the Jackson Public Schools Board of Education. The move comes as the Board continues to discuss and debate how to advance work around equity.

Jackson, MI — Former mayor Derek Dobies today announced the endorsement of the Jackson Education Association (JEA) in his campaign for Trustee on the Jackson Public School Board of Education. The endorsement comes from a recommendation committee of JEA teachers living within the Jackson Public Schools district about a month before the November 8th General Election.

Jackson, MI — Former mayor of the City of Jackson, Derek Dobies, today announced his candidacy for Trustee on the Jackson Public Schools Board of Education. Dobies led the city through a renaissance that ushered in a revitalized downtown, burgeoning civic and community engagement, and investments in public infrastructure and neighborhoods. He aims to bring the same level of hard work and service he gave to the city to the community’s public school system.

Jackson, MI — The City of Jackson passed a policy change at its November 23, 2021 City Council meeting declaring Juneteenth an official, paid city holiday in the City of Jackson. The action came as the final agenda item, at the final meeting, for outgoing Jackson Mayor Derek Dobies.

Jackson, MI — Jackson Mayor Derek Dobies today introduced a new Living Wage Ordinance that would set a $15.68 wage standard for city employees, government contractors, and companies receiving public subsidies, to ensure that public spending creates good family-supporting jobs. Dobies said the effort seeks to use city funds to confront the poverty many face in Jackson, and comes after defeating efforts to criminalize poverty through an anti-panhandling ordinance.

Jackson, MI — Jackson Mayor Derek Dobies today issued a proclamation declaring September 21st “Zero Emissions Day” in the City of Jackson and called on his colleagues on the City Council to support a new proposal that will keep Jackson economically competitive as the future steers towards electric vehicles. He announced plans to introduce an ordinance requiring new developments in Jackson to prepare for adoption of electric vehicles by making some sites EV capable or EV ready, and installing charging stations at others.

Jackson, MI — Jackson Mayor Derek Dobies today announced plans to introduce a Community Police Oversight Commission to the City Council to continue to build trust, transparency, and public engagement with respect to policing in the city. The announcement comes just one week after he spearheaded an additional $1.5 million in new, federal funding to combat gun violence and hire social workers at the city police department.

JACKSON, MI — Jackson Mayor Derek Dobies today announced a proposal to commit more than $1.5 million dollars in federal funding towards increased policing, and community violence intervention programming to reduce gun violence in the City of Jackson. The announcement comes as the City Council prepares to vote on a contract with the National Network for Safe Communities at John Jay college to design and implement a Group Violence Intervention strategy.

JACKSON — Today the Michigan AFL-CIO Workforce Development Institute (WDI) announced expansion of its Access For All Apprenticeship Readiness Training program into the city of Jackson. Access For All was conceived, developed and launched in 2014 with initial support from the United Way of Southeast Michigan, and expanded into Kalamazoo and Battle Creek in 2019. WDI recently received additional funding from the State of Michigan to continue expanding the program into other Michigan communities.

GUEST COLUMN: Jackson has a legacy in championing democracy; we are vanguards at the intersection of civil rights and voting rights. In 1854, while our town hosted politicians and newspapers advocating abolition of slavery, our train station was a hub for the Underground Railroad, helping formerly enslaved people on their path to freedom. Jackson’s leader at the time, Governor Austin Blair, was a pioneer in supporting efforts to give women and black citizens the right to vote.

Jackson Mayor Derek Dobies today signed a proclamation declaring April 22nd “Earth Day” in the City of Jackson and called on his colleagues on the City Council to support policies that will keep Jackson economically competitive as the future steers towards electric vehicles. He announced plans to introduce an ordinance requiring new developments in Jackson to prepare for adoption of electric vehicles by making some sites EV capable or EV ready, and installing charging stations at others.

JACKSON — Jackson Mayor Derek Dobies today introduced a new ordinance that would incentivize the creation of neighborhood associations and formalize their organization within the City of Jackson. Under the ordinance, residents will be empowered to hold elections to elect neighborhood association leaders, convene meetings, and make decisions about city neighborhood investment priorities.

TRANSCRIPT: As your mayor, this marks my fourth state of the city address. And while the Masonic Temple, the MLK Center and the historic Michigan Theatre were great venues, we bring this one to you digitally, here, from my office on the 14th floor of city hall, as we continue to take any and all measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Jackson, MI — Jackson Mayor Derek Dobies today called on Congressman Tim Walberg to support and quickly pass H.R. 6, the American Dream and Promise Act. The legislation would enable DREAMers — people who have lived in America since they were children and built their lives here — to earn lawful permanent residence and eventually American citizenship if they meet certain criteria.

JACKSON — Nation Outside today joined Jackson Mayor Derek Dobies and City Councilmember Will Forgrave as they introduced a Fair Chance Housing Ordinance to City Council. This new ordinance would give people with a criminal record a chance to find safe and affordable housing for their families within the city. If enacted, the Fair Chance Housing Ordinance would end the practice held by some landlords and rental management companies who automatically deny rental agreements to anyone who has a criminal record, no matter what a person’s arrest or conviction record shows or how old the information may be. If approved, Jackson would join several other cities in Michigan that have already enacted similar housing policies, including major metropolitan areas and smaller cities.

Jackson, MI — As the House of Representatives moves forward with an article of impeachment against President Donald Trump for “incitement of insurrection” for urging his supporters to march on the Capitol last Wednesday, Jackson Mayor Derek Dobies today implored Congressman Tim Walberg to vote to impeach the President.

Jackson, MI — Jackson Mayor Derek Dobies today called on Congressman Tim Walberg and State Representative Julie Alexander to refuse to take their oaths and refuse to take office on January 1, 2021, in response to their support of a Texas suit to nullify the popular vote.

Mayor Dobies has joined thousands of other Americans and more than 60 other mayors who represent more than 21 million constituents in submitting a public comment and letter opposing a proposed federal rule attempting to undermine the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Equal Access Rule, which ensures protections for LGBTQ people seeking federal housing and safe shelter.

Jackson, MI — Today Mayor Dobies joined more than 160 other mayors, cities, and local governments, as well as the U.S. Conference of Mayors, in asking the Supreme Court to rule in favor of upholding nondiscrimination requirements regulating government contractors and taxpayer-funded agencies. The friend-of-the-court brief supports the city of Philadelphia in the case Fulton v. City of Philadelphia, which will be heard by the Court on November 4.

Jackson, MI — Jackson Mayor Derek Dobies was joined by City Councilman Freddie Dancy in announcing the introduction of a package of ordinances aimed at building racial equity in the City of Jackson. The ordinances will create a Department of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, codify the position of a Chief Equity Officer, and create a Racial Equity Commission.

Jackson Mayor Derek Dobies today celebrated the final day of Pride Month by appointing Jackson Pride Center’s Karyl Baker as the new LGBTQ Liaison to the Mayor’s office. Dobies also penned a rainbow-themed, open letter instructing the County to include “sexual orientation” and “gender identity or expression” in protected classes for county employment, and authored a draft, county anti-discrimination policy to protect the LGBTQ community. The letter follows the County’s creation of an ad hoc committee to consider an anti-discrimination policy.

Mayor Derek Dobies today signed a proclamation declaring June 19, 2020 as Juneteenth Celebration Day, and called on the city administration to make Juneteenth an official city holiday in the City of Jackson. The move would likely make Jackson the first city in the State of Michigan to declare Juneteenth an official, paid city holiday.

Mayor Derek Dobies and Vice Mayor Arlene Robinson today announced plans to introduce to the City Council a resolution to declare racism a public health crisis and to put forth measures to combat racism and build equity in the City of Jackson. They also called on the Board of Commissioners to back a similar measure put forth by Commissioner Daniel Mahoney, that was quietly removed from Tuesday’s County Board of Commissioners agenda.

Mayor Derek Dobies and Vice Mayor Arlene Robinson today announced plans to introduce to the City Council a resolution to declare racism a public health crisis and to put forth measures to combat racism and build equity in the City of Jackson. They also called on the Board of Commissioners to back a similar measure put forth by Commissioner Daniel Mahoney, that was quietly removed from Tuesday’s County Board of Commissioners agenda.

SPEECH TRANSCRIPT: Thank you Ken for sharing a vision of what an equitable city looks like — one that helps to create opportunity for all. I am so excited to work with you and your team in this space. I look forward to working with you and other nonprofit leaders through the Poverty Council to make good on some of the proposals you have challenged us with here tonight.

JACKSON, MI — In advance of Jackson’s 2020 State of the City address, Mayor Derek Dobies today announced the formation of a Poverty Council tasked with working with city administration to develop and help implement policies, programs, and projects that will reduce poverty and support others that are asset limited, income constrained within Jackson.

TESTIMONY: I’m Mayor of the City of Jackson, a city that has 38% of the city under the federal poverty level. We have been hit hard by the consequences and disparate impact of the criminalization of marijuana. We have opted into medical marijuana and were, I believe (and likely because of the proximity of our meeting to the election), the first community to opt into adult use marijuana.

TRANSCRIPT: But if you look at the context of his entire sermon, Dr. King expresses quite the opposite: He is exposing those who have succumbed to the seeming inevitability of the hand they’ve been dealt. He was reproaching his congregation — and all those listening to his words — for not being more proactive in the fight for civil rights — for change.