The Board of Commissioners Honors Local Women During Women’s History Month

What began in 1978 as a weeklong observation in Santa Rosa, California, and was proclaimed by President Jimmy Carter as National Women’s History Week just two years later, is now officially Women’s History Month. First established by an act of Congress in 1987, the annual declaration memorializes the contributions women have made to U.S. history.

Here in Oakland County, the Board of Commissioners is recognizing local women for the historic impact they have made in their communities. Commissioners were invited to submit the names of exceptional women for this honor as part of the Board’s celebration of March as Women’s History Month. This is the second year the Board has honored outstanding local women.

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Oakland County Board of Commissioners Celebrates Black History Month By Recognizing Local Residents

Every February, the nation comes together to celebrate the achievement of Black Americans and recognize their role in U.S. history with during Black History Month.

The Oakland County Board of Commissioners joined its neighbors across the country in this observation by shining a light on outstanding residents here at home with its Black Excellence Award. In its second year, the award program recognizes Black residents of Oakland County for significant contributions to the community, notable achievements and other accomplishments worthy of honor.

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New Oakland County Commission Districts: Get Ready for Election Day

Board of Commissioners meeting room

Oakland County voters will be seeing new county commission district numbers on their ballots this November. Separate from Michigan’s districting process, county commission redistricting is determined based on final U.S. Census data, and the county’s Apportionment Commission adopted new district maps on November 9, 2021. Let’s take a look at the new districts and explore the process of county reapportionment.  

All information about the new county commission districts can be found on the Oakland County Board of Commissioners website. An interactive map that is linked on the page allows residents to find their new districts by address and compare them to their current districts.

Map of new county commission districts
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Oakland County Continues to Make Big Investments into Mental Health for Students

It has never been more important than now to recognize the role mental health plays in our overall well-being and helping those in need receive support. Oakland County continues to invest tens of millions of dollars in resources for school mental health, learning delay, food and housing assistance, and wraparound services for students and their families in 2022.

Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter and Board of Commissioners Chairman David T. Woodward, joined by educators, students, and community leaders, highlighted how American Rescue Plan funds are bolstering the beginning of the new school year during a recent news conference at the Pontiac School District Administration Building:

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Welcoming Week in Oakland County

While Welcoming Week was officially celebrated for 10 days this month, Sept. 9-18, we celebrate it all year long in Oakland County. Welcoming Oakland is an official county member of the Welcoming America network that brings together communities to reaffirm the importance of promoting inclusivity and celebrating the vast array of cultures that make our neighborhoods and towns so vibrant and exciting.

The theme of this year’s Welcoming Week celebration was #WhereWeBelong. All individuals throughout the county should understand that there is a place for them here.

In the last year or so, that’s been especially true for people fleeing the wars in Afghanistan and Ukraine. Through the Uniting for Ukraine initiative, more than 630 Oakland County residents have stepped up to sponsor and financially support families who have left Ukraine because of the war.

But Welcoming Week is about more than just helping resettle refugees. There are services, people, and organizations across Oakland County that are helping newcomers when they arrive in the state.

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