WHAT WE ARE FIGHTING FOR:

• We are fighting for quality education for our youth regardless of school district.

  We are fighting so that our schools receive equitable funding based on need which will allow communities and children in distressed areas to receive wraparound services.

• we are fighting for quality mental health resources.

Since 1997, the State of Michigan has continuously stripped resources dedicated to solving the mental health crisis. We are advocating for programs and robust funding to expand the mental health services that our community needs.

• We are fighting for quality and affordable healthcare for all.

  We are fighting for earned paid sick leave, parental leave, affordable child care, decreasing infant and maternal mortality, ending maternal incarceration, and expanding SNAP benefits and Medicare/Medicaid. We are fighting to lower the cost of prescription drugs and provide resources for our seniors to stay in their homes and age in place. We are fighting for training and adequate compensation for our healthcare workers.

• We are fighting to improve our criminal justice system.  

  Most people are in jail for traffic offenses. Taxpayers spent nearly half a billion dollars on county jails and related costs in 2017. We are fighting to reform sentencing guidelines because in the next 5 years, 80% of inmates in Michigan won’t be eligible for parole. We are fighting to end cash bail on the grounds that we should not jail people simply because they are poor.  We are fighting to reallocate funding to hire more social workers, mental health professionals and increase rehab services. We are fighting to end qualified immunity which protects government officials, including law enforcement officers, from being held personally liable for their actions on the job.

• We are fighting for a living wage and union rights.

  People should not have to work multiple full-time jobs just to make ends meet. Also, people should have the right to bargain collectively and have a say at their workplace.

• We are fighting for basic human rights including quality affordable housing, clean air, clean affordable water, and accessible parks and recreation.

  Appointed by Governor Whitmer to Michigan’s first Environmental Justice Council, I helped secure $2M for the Water Restart Grant Program and the statewide Water Reconnection Executive Order, restoring water to thousands of families during the COVID-19 pandemic.  We must implement a Water Affordability Plan to ensure we keep everyone’s water on. Currently, residents are paying upwards of 20% of their income towards water and sewer bills. 
  
  Michigan is one of the only states in the country that allows unpaid water bills to roll over to your property taxes. About 25% of home foreclosures in District 14 were due to unpaid water bills. Under Snyder’s administration, if your home was foreclosed you could not buy it back in the auction. This made Detroit a majority renter city for the first time in over 50 years. Now families in one out of five rentals face eviction every year. We are fighting to change this.

• We are fighting to open a District office to help our community members get the services they need.

 DONAVAN’S ENDORSEMENTS:

Detroit Free Press
Michigan AFL-CIO
UAW Region 1
Southpaw Michigan (Dr. Abdul El-Sayed)
SEIU Michigan State Council
AFT Michigan
AFSCME Council 25
Laborers’ Local 1191
Operating Engineers Local 324
Unite Here Local 24
United Food & Commercial Workers - Local 876
United Food & Commercial Workers - Local 951
Utility Workers Union of America - Local 223
American Postal Workers - Detroit District Area Local
Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan
Sierra Club Michigan Chapter
14th Congressional District Democratic Party
The Black Slate Inc.
Young Democrats of Michigan
We The People Michigan Action Fund
Michigan People’s Campaign
Michigan Democratic Party Black Caucus
Detroit Action
13th Congressional District Democratic Party
Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib
State Senator Paul Wojno
State Senator Adam Hollier
Metro Detroit NPHC
State Representative Abraham Aiyash
State Representative Regina Weiss
Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan
Wayne County Commissioner Jonathan Kinloch
Former Macomb County Commissioner Marvin Sauger
Wayne County Community College District Trustee Scott Holiday
Detroit City Councilmember Fred Durhal III
Detroit City Councilmember Scott Benson
Michigan Democratic Party Youth Caucus
Wayne County Commissioner Martha G. Scott
Fitzgerald Public Schools Trustee Khaja Ahmed
& many more!

ABOUT DONAVAN

Donavan McKinney is a lifelong Detroiter. He was raised by his mother and grandmother who taught him the importance of community, leadership, and service. He is a proud product of Detroit Public Schools and a graduate of the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, with a B.A. degree from the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy.

McKinney is a proud member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. He worships and serves as a trustee at Mayflower Congregational United Church of Christ in Detroit. On Labor Day Weekend 2019, McKinney married the love of his life Shaunté, who is an attorney. In January of this year, the McKinney’s welcomed the newest addition to their family, a beautiful baby boy, Donavan II. McKinney is now running to be your next State Representative in Michigan’s 14th District, representing parts of northeast Detroit, Warren, and the city of Center Line.

McKinney served as a Legislative Director in the Michigan State House of Representatives. He went on to do community engagement work for a nonprofit called Community Development Advocates of Detroit (CDAD). McKinney then worked in admissions and helped improve student life at Wayne County Community College District (WCCCD). Soon after, McKinney did Political and Coalition work for the largest healthcare union in the state, SEIU Healthcare Michigan. 

Currently, McKinney serves as the National Political Director for Climate Power, an environmental organization that integrates hard-hitting research, polling, state/national & earned/paid media to influence the national conversation and embolden leaders to take immediate climate action.

In January of 2020, McKinney was appointed by Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer to serve on the state’s first Environment Justice Council. Since serving on the Council, McKinney has advocated for a plan for water accessibility and affordability. McKinney was instrumental in Gov. Whitmer’s $2-Million Water Restart Grant Program and her statewide Water Reconnection Executive Order during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

McKinney is truly a dedicated public servant. For the past seven years, McKinney founded and organized a school tour called Young Minds in Transition. He brings together musical artists, entrepreneurs, authors, engineers, elected officials, and others to over 80 middle/high schools per year across the Metro Detroit area to speak with students about the importance of following your dreams, persevering, and mentorship. McKinney is also a 2019 graduate of the Front Line Leaders Academy (FLLA) through the Young Elected Officials (YEO) Network. 

McKinney currently serves on the Board of Directors for Bridging Communities, Inc. a nonprofit community development organization in Detroit that provides senior services and home foreclosure prevention programs. McKinney is on the Executive Board for southeast Michigan Jobs with Justice, where he continues to fight for workers’ rights to join a union and earn a living wage. McKinney serves on the board for The McKinney Foundation which hosts educational programs that help promote healthy living, entrepreneurship, and environmental responsibility. McKinney also serves on the Executive Committee for the Michigan Democratic Party (MDP) and the Executive Board for the 14th Congressional District Democratic Party.

EVENTS