December 2025 | Vol. 28, No. 4

The Arise Report - December 2025

This is an electronic version of the December newsletter that will be mailed to Alabama Arise members.

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Click here to check out the full online version.

Building on our momentum for the new year

As we close out 2025, Arise members and member organizations can reflect on a very successful year. Reducing the state sales tax on groceries from 3% to 2% and guaranteeing more students in public schools get a free breakfast with a $7.3 million budget appropriation were two of the biggest highlights worth celebrating.

The 2026 legislative session, the last session of the quadrennium before lawmakers will face the public at the voting booth, is gearing up to be another busy time for Arise. This is our roadmap for how we will prepare for the challenges ahead.

Arise’s 2026 priorities highlight our roadmap for change in Alabama

Nearly 600 members voted to affirm Alabama Arise’s 2026 legislative priorities after this fall’s Annual Meeting. In order, our priorities for the next four years will be:

• Health equity
• Hunger relief
• Adequate state budgets
• Inclusive democracy
• Justice reform
• Tax reform
• Worker power

Long federal road ahead for SNAP, health care

Alabama Arise believes that society should care for the most vulnerable in our nation—children, the elderly, those who are disabled and those who have fallen on temporary hard times. Since the Great Depression, Americans have been assured that, no matter how hard times get, our basic nutritional needs would be met by our government.

But 2025 has been a head-spinning and traumatic year for the 750,000 Alabama recipients of SNAP food assistance (commonly called Food Stamps), a stable pillar in America’s response to poverty and hunger. For 60 years, through multiple federal shutdowns, budget crises and wars, SNAP assistance has reliably fed hungry Americans. 2025 was different. 

Southwest Alabama organizer Bernadette Allen brings new energy to Alabama Arise

Bernadette Allen is one of Arise’s newest staff members, joining our team as the Southwest Alabama organizer in May 2025. Like many other staff members, she began her career in a different field before joining Alabama Arise.

Bernadette worked in the federal government for 18 years, retiring last May. In her free time, she sought opportunities to serve her community by volunteering with Stand Up Mobile and Black Voters Matter. Her colleagues and friends suggested she apply at Arise. And as she says, “The rest is history.”

My trip to South Africa: learning from another young democracy

I was fortunate this fall to join a unique learning exchange of 10 leaders from across the U.S. and 9 colleagues from South Africa. We spent a week traveling in their country and meeting with grassroots leaders, starting in Johannesburg and later moving to the coastal town of Durban to learn from their nation’s struggle to defeat an apartheid government and establish a multiracial, multifaith and multiethnic democracy. 

Join us this holiday season

We know people are struggling because of bad public policies, especially this year. We’re grateful to our partner organizations leading the charge with direct services. At Alabama Arise, we are focused on the root of the problem – improving policies for all Alabamians. 

Because you’re a member, you know that you can go to alarise.org/donate to make a one-time gift. But there are other ways to give that you may not have thought about.

Thank you for a great year!

As a statewide organization, the staff of Alabama Arise rarely are parked in an office setting. From listening sessions, to meeting with lawmakers, to community trainings and meetings (and a lot in between!), we love the opportunity to interact with people all over the state!

Worker Power Campaign Director Adam Keller speaks to University of North Alabama social work students.

Worker policy advocate Dev Wakeley, right, and Legislative Director David Stout, left, met in Mobile with Rep. Barbara Drummond, Rep. Napoleon Bracy, Jr., and Rep. Adline Clark.

Alabama Arise

P.O. Box 1188, Montgomery, Alabama 36101

(334) 832-9060  ·  [email protected]

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