Morning Matters: A Conversation with Senator Mallory McMorrow

Morning Matters brings early childhood professionals together with Senator Mallory McMorrow for coffee, conversation, and policy discussion.

Join us for Morning Matters, an informal conversation with Michigan State Senator Mallory McMorrow. This is your opportunity to share your experiences as a parent, early childhood professional, or community member and discuss how policy decisions impact children and families in Kent County.

What is Morning Matters?

Morning Matters brings elected officials together with early childhood advocates for genuine dialogue about policy impacts. Think coffee shop conversation, not formal presentation. These sessions create meaningful connections between policymakers and the community members who see firsthand how policy decisions affect Kent County families.

Senator Mallory McMorrow represents Michigan’s 8th Senate District and serves as the Senate Majority Whip, the first woman in state history to hold the position. She also chairs the Economic and Community Development Committee.

Throughout her time in the Michigan Senate, Sen. McMorrow has been a leading voice on issues directly affecting children and families. She has championed expanded access to childcare and early childhood education, helped advance Michigan toward universal pre-K, and supported legislation for universal free school meals, saving families hundreds of dollars per child annually. She played a key role in passing dyslexia screening requirements for all Michigan students and helped author the Filter First legislation to ensure clean drinking water in schools and childcare centers.

Sen. McMorrow has also been an outspoken advocate for investments in the early childhood workforce, affordable housing, and economic development strategies that prioritize community needs like childcare and transit. Before entering public service, she worked as an industrial designer and creative director. She is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and a parent herself.

Doors open at 10 a.m. with coffee and light refreshments. The conversation begins at 10:30 a.m. and includes a brief introduction, remarks from Senator McMorrow on her background and engagement with early childhood policy, followed by a moderated Q&A and open discussion with attendees. The event concludes at 11:30 a.m.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

First Steps Kent, 401 Hall Street Southwest, Grand Rapids, United States

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