Community spotlights: April 2026

In April’s Thrive Highlights newsletter, we highlighted how strengthening families helps create brighter futures for children. Beyond that theme, a range of stories in the media this month pointed to the many ways communities are working to support children and families. 

• Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers signed a bill extending postpartum Medicaid coverage from 60 days to one year. Kids Forward and Wisconsin Appleseed helped bring this across the finish line.  

• In an op-ed, Anna Gallagher of Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. draws on Philadelphia’s Irish immigrant history to advocate for policies that keep families together and expand access to legal representation.  

• Lift Orlando president Eddy Moratin is a finalist for Central Floridian of the Year. The nonprofit was highlighted for its work developing affordable housing, early learning and wellness resources in West Orlando neighborhoods.  

• A federal judge ruled that the acting director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau must request funding for the agency. This victory for the National Community Reinvestment Coalition and its partners ensures the CFPB can continue its work.  

• Virginia’s legislature passed a statewide paid family and medical leave bill, which awaits Governor Abigail Spanberger’s signature. This would make Virginia the 15th state and first in the South to enact such a program.  

• “Sinners” won four Oscars, while director Ryan Coogler secured rare profit-sharing and ownership rights — reflecting a growing shift toward creator ownership led by MACRO and CEO Charles King, Coogler’s manager.  

• Global Fellows are driving transformative change across continents through initiatives like Leadership CO-ACT and cross-country exchanges. Three powerful stories highlight the lasting impact they’re building in connection, trust and action.  

• From the U.S. to Sierra Leone and places in between, Namati is empowering everyday people to know, use and shape the law to promote environmental justice in their communities. 

Michigan 

• A report shows Michigan’s Rx Kids program distributed $29 million to families, with most funds spent on baby supplies, food and housing, while boosting local economies. 

• Michigan’s MiEarly Apprentice program pays child care workers to earn credentials and become preschool teachers. It aims to address staffing shortages as the state expands access to free preschool. 

• Michigan lawmakers weigh expanding mid-level health roles, including dental therapists, to address provider shortages. Officials plan a Ferris State training program to improve access, especially in rural and underserved areas. 

• Michigan’s child care shortages, driven by limited funding, leave many families without care. This threatens workforce participation and highlights the need for greater state investment in child care programs. 

• Construction began near HUB 07 on a $25-million, 45-unit mixed-income Boston Square development, advancing a broader neighborhood plan to add housing, commercial space and investment in Grand Rapids. 

• Detroit Regional Partnership’s mobility initiative connects partners to grow the advanced mobility sector while promoting inclusive leadership pathways and expanding women’s engagement in economic development. 

• Battle Creek is launching a rent-free housing initiative for early childhood educators. Paths to homeownership can boost compensation, stabilize the workforce and address low wages in a critical child care sector. 

• A Michigan Head Start Association conference trained parents to advocate for early childhood programs, equipping families to share their experiences with policymakers as funding for safety-net services faces ongoing debate. 

Mississippi  

• The Mississippi Children’s Museum launched a statewide tour of its “Story to Stage: America250” exhibit, bringing structured, literacy-based programming and interactive learning experiences to children and families in communities beyond Jackson. 

• Hancock Whitney named Moore Community House’s Women in Construction program a 2025 Opportunity Grant winner, recognizing its work empowering women in the trades. 

• Deep South Today secured $3 million to expand video production and launch a regional investigative reporting center, while adding Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Anna Wolfe to lead accountability coverage in Mississippi. 

• The Mississippi Center for Justice is expanding expungement clinics across Mississippi. Recent coverage highlights how its legal services help residents clear records and remove barriers to jobs and housing. 

Haiti 

• The ANGAJE 2026 Social Enterprise Fellowship selected 100 young leaders from nearly 1,200 applicants. This 12-month cohort is 70% women, with 65% building enterprises in agriculture and food systems.  

New Orleans 

• Propeller’s Impact Accelerator won a 2026 national award from the U.S. Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship. The award recognizes its model supporting entrepreneurs addressing social and environmental challenges. 

• Foundation for Louisiana celebrates its 20th anniversary with a statewide tour convening community leaders in Baton Rouge and New Orleans to reflect on two decades of investment and shape future priorities.