On August 3, 2024, a movement began that will transform the future for families in Michigan.
Thirty Black and Latina mothers, in partnership with the Steelcase Foundation and the Investment In Families team, launched a 10-year, $10 million initiative aimed to study families' challenges, solutions and "felt difference." This effort seeks to identify and transform systems that often fail parents and families. The initiative is grounded in a simple truth:
When we invest in mothers, we invest in the future.
Parents know what's best for their families. Research and common sense confirm that when people are given the resources they need, they take the steps necessary to help themselves, and their families and the community thrive. By directly partnering with the 30 Kent County mothers in the Investment In Families cohort, the initiative will uncover barriers they face and work to break them down.
This program is designed to both follow the families' journeys and to actively support their social, emotional, and financial well-being through offerings such as monthly guaranteed basic income payments and the cohort model to foster authentic networks of support. In doing so, the initiative gives them room to breathe, and in turn, room to help guide this effort. This is not just about supporting families; it's about addressing the impact of poverty-inducing policies and supporting the cohort partners to more readily engage in change.
At the Foundation, we often discuss how programs designed to help families address only the symptoms of systemic issues. For example, initiatives aimed at improving third-grade reading are common in school districts. While programs focused on literacy, early childhood education, and book access can improve reading outcomes, they don't tackle the root causes of the disparities—why families can't access quality early childhood education, extracurricular activities or even books in the first place. These underlying challenges continue to persist.
Yet, on a sunny August day, the energy in the room was undeniable. Thirty women—most meeting for the first time—arrived full of excitement and hope. The gathering felt more like a family reunion than a formal event, with hugs, laughter, and a shared sense of belonging. But amid the joy, there was also apprehension. Having hope can be difficult, especially for women of color who have been let down by dehumanizing systems. However, hope is what brought them here, and hope will fuel this journey.
I, too, feel hope mixed with nervousness. Leading a 10-year initiative is an enormous responsibility, and we are deeply aware of the trust the women have placed in us. We seek to have a relationship built on this trust, accountability and a shared belief in the power of change. We know we will make mistakes, but we are committed to owning them, learning from them and moving forward together.
Moms are natural change-makers, and that truth is clear from day one. Without prompting, the women began sharing resources, offering mentorship and brainstorming ways to stay connected between gatherings. Their power, knowledge and leadership were immediately evident.
Over the next decade, we will continue to create that space. People deserve to understand the systems that shape their lives, and together we will learn about advocacy, narrative change and how to transform those systems. Through reflection, wellness practices, shared learning and data analysis, the initiative will equip cohort partners to advocate not only for their own families, but for Michigan families.
This effort also includes shifting the narrative. Women of color are often told that they are not doing enough and that they must "fix" themselves to succeed. But these mothers are already doing everything society asks of them—they work, raise their children and contribute to their community in multiple ways. The problem lies not with them, but with the systems that perpetuate inequalities. Together, we will rewrite this story.
A group of mothers fighting for their families is powerful. Learning and working together, I am confident that meaningful change is coming. And this is only the beginning.
Stacy Stout is Director of Family-Centered Philanthropy at the Steelcase Foundation and leads the Investment In Families Initiative.
Photos courtesy of Carbon Stories.
