Michelle Regalado Deatrick

Last updated
Michelle Regalado Deatrick
Education University of Michigan - Wesleyan University - Harvard University
TermJanuary 1, 2017 – December 31, 2018
Political partyDemocratic Party
Vice Chair, Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners
Website http://www.votemichelledeatrick.com/

Michelle Regalado Deatrick is an American politician, activist, and poet. [1] Deatrick serves as the elected National Chair of the Democratic National Committee's Council on the Environment and Climate Crisis, which she founded in August 2019. [2] Deatrick also served as a surrogate and 2020 Michigan co-chair for the Bernie Sanders campaign. [3] She served in the Peace Corps in East Africa and as Vice Chair of the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners. Elected to the Democratic National Committee in 2016, she was also elected Midwest Representative to the DNC Women's Caucus in 2018. [1] Deatrick was the Special Projects Director in Michigan for the 2016 Bernie Sanders presidential campaign [4] [5] and stumped for the 2016 Hillary Clinton presidential campaign. [6] She is a graduate of Wesleyan University and holds Master's degrees from Harvard University and the University of Michigan. [7] [8] Deatrick is also a member of UAW Local 2320 and serves as a delegate to her regional labor federation. She serves on the board of directors of the Southeast Michigan Land Conservancy. [9] In addition to her political career, she has won several national poetry fellowships and awards. [10]

Contents

Political career

Deatrick serves on the Washtenaw County Environmental Council, which she founded. [11] She was named Woman of the Year by the Women's Council of Washtenaw County in 2017. In 2016, Deatrick beat a three-term incumbent for a seat on the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners, with 53% of the vote in the second district. [12] [13] [14] Deatrick states she supports small farms, renewable energy, veterans' services, and natural area preservation. [13]

While serving as County Commissioner, Deatrick led measures resulting in the County being the first in the Midwest to sign on to the County Climate Coalition. [15] She also wrote and succeeded in passing a resolution founding the County's first environmental council, with the mission of achieving net carbon neutrality for the county. [16] She led an initiative supporting DACA recipients and ensured that a county contract with a landfill operator accounted for inflation. [17] In May 2017, Deatrick successfully proposed anti-poverty legislation to lower the chances of residents losing their homes or facing utility shut-offs. [18] Deatrick also wrote and succeeded in passing several measures, including: a ban on the purchase of Nestle brands of bottled water by county departments in July 2018; [19] a statement of opposition to the Rover pipeline, a natural gas pipeline that traverses several townships in western Washtenaw County, [20] a resolution upholding the Paris climate accord; [21] and a resolution increasing wages for county-employed mental health workers. [22]

As County Commissioner, Deatrick wrote and passed additional proclamations honoring the work of two Food Policy Council members, [23] honoring county naturalist Faye Stoner, [24] and condemning the deportation of mother and longtime community member Lourdes Salazar. [25]

Activism

Deatrick is an activist focusing on social and economic justice, women's issues, and climate change. In 2020, her invited speaking engagements include the American Climate Leadership Summit, the Democratic National Convention, several state Democratic party environmental caucuses, and panels with other environmental leaders. [26]

On September 20, 2019, Deatrick spoke in an invited forum on environmental justice and politics and taught a workshop on writing Environmental Poetry at the Washtenaw County Climate Strike, part of the Global Climate Strike. [27]

On March 16, 2019, Deatrick was lead organizer, as Chair of Women's March Ann Arbor, of Women March On for Justice. [28] [29] [30]

On March 15, 2019, Deatrick was an invited speaker at the Washtenaw County Climate Strike on the University of Michigan Ann Arbor's Diag. "Climate change is an alarm clock that's been going off, ignored by those in power, for years," she said. "This strike is a beautiful thing. We have been called the grassroots for a reason - step on us, we spring back up." [31]

In late 2018 and in 2019, Deatrick was a spokesperson for Michigan One Fair Wage. [32] [33]

In October 2018, Deatrick was co-organizer of the Stand with Survivors Rally and March in Ann Arbor, a response to the Supreme Court nomination of Brett Kavanaugh. [34]

In January 2018, Deatrick was a lead organizer for the 2018 Ann Arbor Women's March at the University of Michigan. [35]

In April 2017, Deatrick co-organized and spoke at the Tax March in Ann Arbor, Michigan. [36]

In January 2017, Deatrick was a lead organizer of the Women's March in Ann Arbor, Michigan as a part of the 2017 Women's March. More than 11,000 [37] people gathered at the University of Michigan Diag and marched through Downtown Ann Arbor.

In 2014, Deatrick was involved with Michigan small farm rights, advocating for full Right to Farm protection for non-commercial farms and farms in transitional agricultural areas. [38] Deatrick co-founded the Michigan Small Farm Council [39] to advocate for small farming operations across the state.

Writing

Deatrick has won multiple writing awards, including both Winner and First Runner-Up in the Chautauqua Poetry Contest. [40] Her poems have been Poem of the Week at Split this Rock, 100,000 Poets for Change Selection for their Global Day of Action and sent to President Obama by tens of thousands of poets, Second Runner-up in the Boulevard Emerging Poets Contest, [41] Honorable Mention in The 38th New Millennium Awards, [42] and finalists for the Rita Dove Poetry Award and the James Mitchell Poetry Award. She teaches writing privately and for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Michigan. [43] Her work has also appeared in the American Literary Review, Southern Poetry Review, Coal Hill Review, and Crab Creek Review. [44] [45] Previously, her fiction was featured in Best New American Voices 2006. [44] [46] Deatrick has also received University of Michigan Hopwood Awards in Fiction and Poetry. [47]

Former candidate for Michigan Senate

On August 7, 2018, Deatrick narrowly lost her primary race for the 18th district of the Michigan Senate (Ypsilanti, Ann Arbor, Saline, Milan, several townships) by 241 votes in a four-way race. [48] She had announced her candidacy on September 7, 2017. As a progressive Democratic candidate, Deatrick was endorsed by multiple left-leaning organizations. [49] She also received distinctions from Planned Parenthood as a candidate with a 100% favorable rating and as a Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate. [49] Her progressive platform includes gun control, increased public education funding, universal single-payer health care, environmental cleanliness, road and infrastructure repair, care and rights for seniors, veterans' services, removing corruption from politics, criminal justice reform, and equality and representation for women, people of color, immigrants, people with disabilities, and the LGBTQ+ community. [50]

Education

Deatrick holds a BA from Wesleyan University, a Master's Degree in Education Policy and Administration from Harvard, and an MFA in creative writing from the University of Michigan. [1] She did further graduate work at Stanford University and is ABD. on a PhD in Education and Political Science.[ citation needed ]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ann Arbor, Michigan</span> City in Michigan, United States

Ann Arbor is a city in and the seat of government of Washtenaw County, Michigan, United States. The 2020 census recorded its population to be 123,851, making it the fifth-most populous city in Michigan. Located on the Huron River, Ann Arbor is the principal city of its metropolitan area, which encompasses all of Washtenaw County and had 372,258 residents in 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Washtenaw County, Michigan</span> County in Michigan, United States

Washtenaw County is a county located in the U.S. state of Michigan. At the 2020 census, the population was 372,258. The county seat and largest city is Ann Arbor. The county was authorized by legislation in 1822 and organized as a county in 1826. Washtenaw County comprises the Ann Arbor Metropolitan Statistical Area. The county is home to the University of Michigan, Eastern Michigan University, Washtenaw Community College, and Concordia University Ann Arbor.

The recorded history of Ann Arbor, Michigan, began with settlers from various eastern states in early 1824.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Washtenaw Community College</span> Public college in Ann Arbor Charter Township, Michigan, US

Washtenaw Community College (WCC) is a public community college in Ann Arbor Charter Township, Michigan. Founded in 1965, WCC enrolls more than 20,000 students from over 100 countries to study each year and grants certificates and degrees to over 2,600 students annually.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cleary University</span> Private business university with multiple locations in Michigan, United States

Cleary University is a private university focused on business education with its main campus in Livingston County, Michigan. It also has an education center located in Detroit. Cleary University offers certificate, ABA, BBA, MS, and MBA programs.

Lawrence Kestenbaum is an attorney, politician, and the creator and webmaster of The Political Graveyard website.

<i>The Ann Arbor News</i>

The Ann Arbor News is a newspaper serving Washtenaw and Livingston counties in Michigan. Published daily online through MLive.com, the paper also publishes print editions on Thursdays and Sundays.

Rebekah Lynn Warren is a former American Democratic legislator from Ann Arbor, Michigan, who represented the 55th District of the Michigan House of Representatives from January 1, 2019 until January 1, 2021. She was elected to this position on November 6, 2018, beating Republican opponent Bob Baird, 74% to 26%. Previously, she served two terms as State Representative for Michigan's 53rd District, from 2007 to 2010, and two terms in the Michigan Senate, from 2010 to 2018. She was arrested for drunk driving and fleeing police in a motor vehicle on December 26, 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ronald Weiser</span> American businessman, philanthropist, and diplomat (born 1945)

Ronald N. Weiser is an American businessman and Republican Party donor and financier. Weiser founded a real estate company. He held fundraising roles for the presidential campaigns of George W. Bush and John McCain. He was chairman of the Michigan Republican Party from 2009–2011, 2017–2019, and 2021–2023. He was U.S. ambassador to Slovakia during Bush's first term (2001–2004), and was elected to the Board of Regents of the University of Michigan in 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adam Zemke</span> American politician

Adam Frederick Zemke is a former member of the Michigan House of Representatives. He represented Michigan's 55th district in Washtenaw County from 2013 to 2018.

Jeff Irwin is an American activist, progressive and politician serving as a member of the Michigan Senate. A member of the Democratic Party, he served on the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners from 1999 to 2010, and in the Michigan House of Representatives from 2011 to 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christopher Taylor (politician)</span> American politician

Christopher Taylor is an American attorney and politician who has served as the mayor of Ann Arbor, Michigan since 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yousef Rabhi</span> American politician

Yousef D. Rabhi is a former member of the Michigan House of Representatives who also served as the Democratic Floor Leader. He represented Michigan's 53rd House District, encompassing the majority of Ann Arbor, from 2017 to 2023. He replaced Jeff Irwin, who was term limited. He is a member of the Democratic Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eli Savit</span> American lawyer, law professor, and politician

Eli Savit is an American lawyer, law professor, and politician. He is currently serving as the Prosecuting Attorney in Washtenaw County, Michigan. His areas of expertise include civil rights, education law, environmental protection, state and local government, and criminal-justice reform.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jerry Clayton</span> American politician

Jerry Clayton was the elected Sheriff of Washtenaw County, Michigan. A 30-year public safety professional, Clayton was first elected sheriff in 2008. He was re-elected in 2012, 2016, and 2020. He did not run for reelection in 2024. Clayton was succeeded by Washtenaw County Sheriff Alyshia Dyer as of the beginning of 2025.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mary Henrietta Graham</span>

Mary Henrietta Graham was the first African-American woman to be admitted to the University of Michigan, as well as the first biracial person to graduate from it.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Felicia Brabec</span> American politician and clinical psychologist

Felicia Brabec is an American politician serving as a member of the Michigan House of Representatives from the 33rd district.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jason Morgan (politician)</span> American politician (born 1989)

Jason Morgan is a politician who represents the 23rd District in the Michigan House of Representatives. He previously served as a Washtenaw County commissioner representing the board's 8th district. He is a member of the Democratic Party.

Sue Shink is an American politician who currently represents Michigan's 14th Senate district in the Michigan Senate. She was elected in the 2022 Michigan Senate election. She is a member of the Democratic Party.

Decriminalize Nature is a national grassroots organization started in Oakland, CA that aims to improve human health and well-being by decriminalizing and expanding access to entheogenic plants and fungi through political and community organizing, education and advocacy. Entheogens include but are not limited to psilocybe mushrooms, ayahuasca, plants that contain ibogaine, and cacti that contain mescaline. Decriminalize Nature supports and trains local leadership to pass policy, having success in multiple cities/counties nationwide so far.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Michelle Regalado Deatrick" . Retrieved 29 January 2014.
  2. ↑ Pitt, William Rivers (27 August 2019). "The DNC Nixed a Climate Debate Because That's What Chairman Perez Wanted". Truthout.
  3. ↑ "Green groups press Biden for bolder plans after Sanders exits". 10 April 2020.
  4. ↑ "Bernie Sanders Loyalists Are Taking Over the Democratic Party One County Office at a Time - Bernie Sanders". berniesanders.com. Archived from the original on 2017-02-22.
  5. ↑ "Subscribe | theaustralian". www.theaustralian.com.au. Retrieved 2017-05-25.
  6. ↑ MLive (2016-10-06), Michelle Deatrick stumps for Hillary Clinton in Ann Arbor , retrieved 2018-06-29
  7. ↑ "Michelle Deatrick announces 2018 campaign for state Senate". 9 September 2017.
  8. ↑ "Washtenaw County Commissioner Running for State Senate". 8 September 2017.
  9. ↑ "Southeast Michigan Land Conservancy Welcomes you".
  10. ↑ "For My Daughter | Poetry Database | Split This Rock". www.splitthisrock.org.
  11. ↑ "Environmental Council | Washtenaw County, MI".
  12. ↑ "Washtenaw County Democratic Party | Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2016-12-07.
  13. 1 2 "Home page, Michelle Deatrick for Washtenaw County Commissioner". Michelle Deatrick for County Commissioner. Retrieved 2016-08-27.
  14. ↑ "Michelle Deatrick unseats incumbent in race for county's District 2 - mLive". mLive. 2016-11-09. Retrieved 2022-11-04.
  15. ↑ "How Counties Are Taking Climate Action". 17 April 2019.
  16. ↑ "Banner appears on Central Power Plant Smokestack in preparation for Washtenaw County Climate Strike". 13 March 2019.
  17. ↑ "DACA Resolution" (PDF). Retrieved 2018-02-15.
  18. ↑ "County Immigration Assistance". 18 May 2017. Retrieved 2018-02-15.
  19. ↑ "Agenda". washtenaw.org. Washtenaw County Board Of Commissioners. 2018-08-08.
  20. ↑ "Resolution to Oppose Rover Pipeline" . Retrieved 2018-02-15.
  21. ↑ "Resolution to Uphold Paris Climate Accord" . Retrieved 2018-02-15.
  22. ↑ "Resolution to Increase Mental Health Worker Wages" . Retrieved 2018-02-15.
  23. ↑ "Proclamation Appointing Food Policy Council Members" (PDF). Retrieved 2018-02-15.
  24. ↑ "Proclamation Honoring Faye Stoner" . Retrieved 2018-02-15.
  25. ↑ "Proclamation Against Deportation of Lourdes Salazar". 3 August 2017. Retrieved 2018-02-15.
  26. ↑ dncclimate.org/newsroom
  27. ↑ @ClimateStrikeWC (14 September 2019). "Share widely - excited to announce our current WORKSHOP TOPICS + FACILITATORS! list is still being updated (& title…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  28. ↑ "Women March On for Justice, Ann Arbor - March 16, 2019". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2021-09-30.
  29. ↑ "3rd Annual Ann Arbor Women's March honors women, justice, Ruth Bader Ginsberg". 14 March 2019.
  30. ↑ "'Every one of us has a responsibility,' Dingell tells crowd at Ann Arbor Women's March". 17 March 2019.
  31. ↑ "Students bring urgency to the forefront in Washtenaw County Climate Strike". 15 March 2019.
  32. ↑ "Collections by Michelle Brown WSG Michelle Regalado Deatrick". 14 December 2018.
  33. ↑ "Ward 3/4 Issues & Action: Water | Michigan Organizer".
  34. ↑ "Community rallies in solidarity with survivors against Kavanaugh". 5 October 2018.
  35. ↑ "More than 3,000 rally at Women's March in Ann Arbor, look to midterms". MLive.com. Retrieved 2018-02-15.
  36. ↑ "More than 1,300 Trump protesters join in Tax March in Ann Arbor". MLive.com. Retrieved 2017-05-25.
  37. ↑ "More than 11,000 flood streets of Ann Arbor for Women's March". MLive.com. Retrieved 2017-01-22.
  38. ↑ Heinlin, Gary (May 4, 2014). "New Michigan urban farm policy creates more uncertainty". The Detroit News. Archived from the original on May 6, 2014. Retrieved May 9, 2014.
  39. ↑ "Michigan Small Farm Council" . Retrieved 2018-02-15.
  40. ↑ "Chautauqua Contest Winners". Archived from the original on 5 March 2014. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  41. ↑ "Log into Facebook". Facebook. Retrieved 2021-10-02.{{cite web}}: Cite uses generic title (help)
  42. ↑ "New Millennium Writings" . Retrieved January 30, 2015.
  43. ↑ "Event details | Osher Lifelong Learning Institute".
  44. 1 2 "Michelle Regalado Deatrick" . Retrieved 29 January 2014.
  45. ↑ "Volume 53, Issue 1 - Southern Poetry Review". Southern Poetry Review. Archived from the original on 2017-03-31. Retrieved 2016-12-06.
  46. ↑ "Crab Creek Review" . Retrieved 29 January 2014.
  47. ↑ "University of Michigan announces Hopwood winners". University of Michigan News. 2004-05-17. Retrieved 2018-06-29.
  48. ↑ "End of an Era - Mayor Taylor won reelection. But his opponents won council". 27 September 2018.
  49. 1 2 "Endorsements of Michelle Deatrick". MICHELLE DEATRICK FOR STATE SENATE. Retrieved 2018-06-29.
  50. ↑ "Issues". MICHELLE DEATRICK FOR STATE SENATE. Retrieved 2018-06-29.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.