Family First...ALWAYS!
I am Alonzo Wilson II and I am running for a seat on the Kalamazoo City Council in this upcoming election on November 7th, 2023. As a happily married father of two, my family means everything to me and I recognize that I wouldn't be the man that I am today without the support of my village. I believe that stability at home is the foundation required for any individual to be successful in this world. Every family deserves an equal opportunity to thrive, regardless of their socioeconomic status, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. In order for the family unit to share in the wealth of prosperity available in our community, they must be able to access quality healthcare, education, and career opportunities. As an elected city commissioner, I will make it my purpose to fight for equity in these sectors on behalf of all individuals and families in our city!
Issues
Education
Having a growth mindset and continuing to learn throughout one's lifetime are crucial to the pursuance of happiness. Home to the Kalamazoo Promise scholarship, Kalamazoo is a city world renowned for our commitment to education. Even with this special focus, there is still work to be done to ensure that schools have adequate resources and that students are prepared for life after high school...especially those considering higher education.
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Teacher Morale:
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Due to resource constraints, teachers are discouraged and burned out. As this ultimately impacts the level of service they are able to provide, we need to ensure that schools are properly staffed with qualified teachers. I fully support initiatives meant to recruit and retain top leaders in education.
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College Preparedness
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Although the Kalamazoo Promise provides discounted tuition, the rate at which students are taking full advantage of this scholarship is underperforming expectations. I believe this is largely attributed to lack of awareness and preparedness. I am in full support of programs designed to further prepare students for what to expect after graduating high school. As an engineer, I believe that a focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) is imperative to one's ability to problem solve.
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Student Safety
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With recent acts of violence being committed in our schools, parents and students deserve the right to feel safe while being educated. I support initiatives for common sense gun laws, especially as they pertain to our children.
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Healthcare
Healthcare will always be a top priority for me and should be for the entire nation. Healthcare should be affordable for all citizens, but unfortunately many families are forced to sacrifice their health in order to afford other basic necessities of life. With the recent development of COVID-19, mental health is more important now than ever in our nation and the lack of access to resources can be traced to the root of major issues that plague us.
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Affordable and Accessible Healthcare
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Quality healthcare should be made available to all, regardless of socioeconomic status and I support initiatives designed to make it more universal.
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Mental Health Resource Availability
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Without mental stability, it is nearly impossible to succeed in this world. Trauma is not unique to one group, it is something that we all share and require healing from. My goal is to not only increase availability to mental health resources, but to also remove stigmas that often deter someone from seeking the help that they need.
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Homelessness is a major issue in our community and I believe poor mental health is at its root. I support mental rehabilitation initiatives for our homeless population to help them acquire the resources that they need.
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Housing
Housing is a fundamental requirement for survival, yet so many families are left without or forced to endure poor living conditions due to their financial situations.
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Affordable and Accessible Housing
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I am in full support of our local government increasing affordable housing availability.
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Careers
The unemployment rate has always been a major issue in our nation. Since the COVID-19 epidemic began in 2020, Michigan's economy continues to suffer as a result of worker shortages and lack of career development opportunities. Now more than ever, these issues need to be addressed in order to protect jobs, save small businesses, and rebuild our economy.
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Career Development Opportunities
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It's not only important that individuals are paid well enough to support themselves and their families, but it is also important for individuals to have careers that they can be proud of for the sake of their mental health! I support initiatives that provide support for those interested in advancing their skillsets and advancement in their respective fields.
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As Kalamazoo continues to invest in commercial and residential building, the demand for skilled trade workers is outpacing our available workforce. To meet this demand, there needs to be a focus on growing this talent locally.
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Competitive Wages / Salaries
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Employees are seemingly dissatisfied with the wages and salaries offered as those close to the poverty line are struggling to keep up with the impact of inflation. If elected, I will work with small business owners, unions, and individual employees to make wages more competitive.
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