Michigan Municipal League Foundation

Michigan Municipal League Foundation The MML Foundation works to advance community wealth through strategic partnerships and investments i Because we love where you live.

We define community wealth building as strategies that build community and individual assets, creating resilient and adaptable systems to address social and economic needs. The Michigan Municipal League Foundation supports innovative work through partnerships, grants and programming that creatively and intentionally bring people together and build equitable community wealth. We also provide fiscal sponsorship and project support in Michigan Municipal League member communities.

🎉 Meet Our MI Community Contest Winners (Ages 15–18)! 🎉Last, but certainly not least, are our winners for the oldest age...
06/19/2026

🎉 Meet Our MI Community Contest Winners (Ages 15–18)! 🎉
Last, but certainly not least, are our winners for the oldest age category, 15-18 years old! These entries showed off a lot of creative skill that made reviewing an absolute pleasure. It’s amazing to see the kind of talent (and community love) that Michigan youth has! These pieces stood out for their vibrant portrayal of sceneries from their community.

🥇 First Place: Lauren, 15
Lauren’s beautiful painting brings Downtown Northville to life during one of its most beloved seasons. Capturing the energy and charm of October festivities, the piece is rich with atmosphere and detail. In fact, the scene was so thoughtfully rendered that our staff immediately recognized the location.

🥈 Second Place: Angel 16
Using watercolor and pen, Angel illustrated Arcadia Creek in downtown Kalamazoo. The artwork highlights a community gathering space where residents can enjoy nature, local events, and time together, while showcasing strong attention to detail and composition.

🥉 Third Place: Madison, 18
Madison’s artwork celebrates the natural beauty of Lake Orion with a depiction of a local park, complemented by a creative representation of Michigan in the background. The piece combines a sense of place with a fun and imaginative approach.

A big thank-you to everyone who submitted artwork in this category. We were inspired by the creativity, care, and community pride reflected in every entry. Congratulations to these winners!

To see all the winners in one spot and read more about them, visit: https://mmlfoundation.org/micommunity-youth-art-competition/

🎉 Meet Our MI Community Contest Winners (Ages 11–14)! 🎉This category was a delight to review, and we are so grateful to ...
06/19/2026

🎉 Meet Our MI Community Contest Winners (Ages 11–14)! 🎉
This category was a delight to review, and we are so grateful to every young artist who shared their creativity with us. The winning pieces stood out for the thoughtful ways they captured the unique character of their communities and the places that make them special.

🥇 1st Place: Sonja, age 11
Sonja’s stunning painting beautifully captures the heart of Marquette, weaving several beloved local landmarks into the shape of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The artwork is both visually striking and deeply meaningful, showcasing a strong sense of place and a clear love for the community.

🥈 2nd Place: Zadah, age 14
Zadah’s incredibly detailed illustration of Mason, Michigan is filled with thoughtful touches that highlight the community’s character. From iconic visual elements to the traditions and festivities that bring residents together, the piece demonstrates exceptional creativity, precision, and community pride.

🥉 3rd Place: Annika, age 11
Annika’s vibrant and imaginative artwork brings together some of Marquette’s most recognizable landmarks in a creative celebration of the city’s beautiful shoreline. The piece captures not only the natural beauty of the area, but also the connections and shared experiences that make the community such a special place to call home.

A big thank-you to everyone who submitted artwork in this category. We were inspired by the creativity, care, and community pride reflected in every entry. Congratulations to these winners!

To see all the winners in one spot and read more about them, visit: https://mmlfoundation.org/micommunity-youth-art-competition/

🎉 Meet Our MI Community Contest Winners (Ages 5–10)! 🎉After reviewing so many creative and heartfelt entries, our judges...
06/19/2026

🎉 Meet Our MI Community Contest Winners (Ages 5–10)! 🎉
After reviewing so many creative and heartfelt entries, our judges had the difficult task of selecting just three winners from this age category. Each artwork showcased not only incredible talent, but also a deep appreciation for the places and people that make their communities special.

🥇 1st Place: Aniksha, age 8
Aniksha created a wonderful depiction of Troy, Michigan, highlighting community spaces such as the library and community center that bring people together.

🥈 2nd Place: Anvi, age 8
Anvi also depicted Troy, Michigan, capturing the beauty of the community throughout all four seasons—fall, winter, spring, and summer.

🥉 3rd Place: Ariel, age 9
Ariel’s colorful artwork showcased Northville, Michigan, with a special focus on the natural beauty of Maybury State Park.

A big thank-you to everyone who submitted artwork in this category. We were inspired by the creativity, care, and community pride reflected in every entry.

To see all the winners in one spot and read more about them, visit: https://mmlfoundation.org/micommunity-youth-art-competition/

🎉 We’re thrilled to introduce the winners of the MI Community Youth Art Competition! 🎉First up is our Community Pride Aw...
06/18/2026

🎉 We’re thrilled to introduce the winners of the MI Community Youth Art Competition! 🎉

First up is our Community Pride Award winner—the only award chosen by public vote!

Congratulations to Eily, age 8, from Ferndale! 🏆🎨

Eily shared this about her artwork:
"Ferndale is a place where everyone is loved and no one is left out. My art shows how everyone is different, but we all still love Ferndale and each other." ❤️

Thank you to everyone who cast a vote and helped celebrate the creativity, talent, and community spirit of these incredible young artists.

We’re also deeply grateful to our generous sponsors for making this competition possible: Double Haul Solutions, Giffels Webster, Miller Canfield, the Wade Against... Foundation, and Wightman.

👏 Join us in congratulating Eily on this well-deserved recognition!

If you'd like to skip the wait and see all the winners in one spot visit: https://mmlfoundation.org/micommunity-youth-art-competition/

Winners will be announced soon—but first, we'd like to recognize the generous sponsors who helped make MI Community happ...
06/18/2026

Winners will be announced soon—but first, we'd like to recognize the generous sponsors who helped make MI Community happen.

These organizations stepped forward to support the next generation of Michigan leaders and artists from communities across the state.

A sincere thank you to:

✨ Double Haul Solutions (https://www.doublehaulsolutions.com)
✨ Giffels Webster
✨ Miller Canfield
✨ The Wade Against… Foundation
✨ Wightman

Your commitment to investing in young talent helps create opportunities, inspire creativity, and strengthen Michigan's future.

Time is running out!There is only ONE hour left to vote for the Community Pride Award winner.We asked Michigan's younges...
06/04/2026

Time is running out!

There is only ONE hour left to vote for the Community Pride Award winner.

We asked Michigan's youngest artists to show us what makes their city, township, or village special and they delivered. Now it’s your turn to experience these powerful expressions of community, belonging, and pride—and show that love right back

This is your final chance, don't miss out!

VOTE: https://mmlfoundation.org/micommunity-youth-art-competition/

🌞 Summer is here and your next great Michigan adventure might be closer than you think!Explore the MI Community submissi...
06/04/2026

🌞 Summer is here and your next great Michigan adventure might be closer than you think!

Explore the MI Community submissions and discover destinations through the eyes of the state’s youngest artists. Each piece captures what makes a city, township, or village special—from beloved landmarks to stunning shoreline views. 🎨

You just might find inspiration where you least expect it.

When you spot your favorites, show them some love by voting for the Community Pride Award!

⏰ Voting closes tonight—don’t wait!
👉 Cast your vote now: https://mmlfoundation.org/micommunity-youth-art-competition/

Have you voted for your favorite artwork in the MI Community: Youth Art Competition yet?Nine winners will be selected by...
06/04/2026

Have you voted for your favorite artwork in the MI Community: Youth Art Competition yet?

Nine winners will be selected by an internal jury but there is one lucky winner waiting to get chosen by YOU! The Community Pride Award winner is selected by public vote because we want to give these young artists the chance to see the communities they illustrated show them the same love.

Voting ends at midnight so don't wait: https://mmlfoundation.org/micommunity-youth-art-competition/

⏰ Final Countdown! Less than 5 hours left to vote!Take just 5 minutes to check out the incredible entries from across Mi...
06/03/2026

⏰ Final Countdown! Less than 5 hours left to vote!

Take just 5 minutes to check out the incredible entries from across Michigan and pick your favorites.

How to vote:
👉 Visit the page
👉 Scroll past the top voting section to explore all entries
👉 Choose your top FOUR favorites

That’s it—quick + impactful!

🚨 Don’t wait—vote NOW:
https://mmlfoundation.org/micommunity-youth-art-competition/

Today, the MML Foundation and the League Policy Research Labs teams hosted a Housing Incentives Workshop at the Saginaw ...
06/03/2026

Today, the MML Foundation and the League Policy Research Labs teams hosted a Housing Incentives Workshop at the Saginaw Art Museum.

Foundation President Helen D. Johnson welcomed the group and facilitated the agenda.

Richard Murphy started off the conversation talking about investing in housing and tapped into the knowledge we’ve gained through our ongoing housing work.

We then jumped into hearing from each of the communities that participated in our housing deep dives (Bay City Government9420655], and City of Saginaw Government) as well as Melissa Milton-Pung, Giffels Webster41], and Alden B. Dow Home and Studio.

Over lunch, our friend and housing superstar Jen Acosta led a panel of housing developers (Shawn P. Pnacek, Sam Shaheen, and Mara Stewart) talking about partnering with community stakeholders including local government.

This pilot initiative was made possible with funding from the Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation.

Thank you to everyone who made today a success!

P.S. Look what book we found in the library of the museum! America’s Favorite Homes is by a Michigan author and source material for our Pattern Book Homes project.

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1675 Green Road
Ann Arbor, MI

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