Local democracy in action tonight: packed Planning Commission meeting on new apartments and data center ordinances. Nothing is final yet. If these issues matter to you, keep an eye out for the next round of meetings.

If you’ve got thoughts about housing, trees, or how/where data centers belong, this is a good chance to get your views on the record. #datacenters #rochesterhills #michigan

Last day to get on the August 4th ballot as a Precinct Delegate in Oakland County 💙 If you’ve ever said “we need better representation,” this is your chance. DM me and I’ll help you file today.

Time is ticking. Deadline is May 5 at 4 p.m.

Here's what precinct delegates actually do: vote on party leadership, help choose candidates, shape the issues the party stands for. You're the grassroots voice connecting your neighbors to the party and the party to your neighbors. @miprogressive.bsky.social @michigandems.bsky.social

Deadline is Tuesday, May 5 at 4 p.m. for Michigan residents. If you can vote, you can serve. Please consider filling out the paperwork!

Real change starts below Congress. It starts with school boards, city councils—& the precinct delegates who help choose our leaders. In a lot of Oakland County communities, zero Democrats have filed for precinct delegate so far. @mi10thdistrictdems.bsky.social @mi11thdems.bsky.social

It's time to sign up to be a precinct delegate. @michigandems.bsky.social

Proud of what we built. Grateful for every person who showed up, supported, and believed in this. Still here. Just in a different way. #Michigan

Honored to earn the endorsement of Her Bold Move. This race is about affordability, education, healthcare, accountability, and protecting reproductive freedom and workers’ rights. There’s a lot at stake, and I’m ready to do the work. Join us: secure.actblue.com/donate/rhond...

Met with Rochester Hills firefighters yesterday. Short staffing isn’t just a numbers problem: it’s a mental health crisis. More calls, more trauma, less time to recover. HB 4688 could help. It’s sitting in the House waiting. We can do better. #nurses #police #firefighter #UnionStrong

Wishing a meaningful Passover to those celebrating. A story about liberation, survival, and questioning power — still very much unfinished work.

Honored to have the endorsement of @milistpac.bsky.social. MI List supports pro-choice Democratic women & strengthening women’s leadership across Michigan. This one means a lot. If elected, I would be the first woman in a generation to represent this community. We’re building something strong here.

As a nurse, I’ve seen how hard it can be for families to navigate our healthcare system. Today I signed the Patients Over Profits pledge and committed to refusing money from corporate healthcare executives, lobbyists, and PACs. Patients should come before profits. patientsoverprofits.org

Honored to earn the endorsement of the @miprogressive.bsky.social. Together we’re fighting for affordable living, strong public schools, healthcare access, and a future young people can actually believe in. Let’s win District 55.

Standing with Teamsters nurses at Corewell Health East fighting for their first fair contract. Safe staffing and fair wages shouldn’t be controversial. Michigan’s legislature has 110 members. Only one is a nurse. We need more frontline voices in Lansing. rhondayates.com

I met Danielle Drouillard when we both showed up to support nurses fighting for a fair contract in Rochester. I stand with nurses across our region because safe staffing and fair working conditions are patient safety issues. We need leaders in Lansing who understand healthcare from the inside.

International Mother Language Day is about more than “language.” It’s about whether immigrants and refugees are allowed to feel safe, keep their mother tongues, and fully belong. I stand with every student and family fighting to keep their words alive.

If you agree, make sure you’re registered to vote, talk with your neighbors, and let’s work together to support leadership that shows up for everyone in this community. We cannot afford another term of politicians who treat some of us as expendable. secure.actblue.com/donate/rhond...

World Cancer Day. Sharing my cancer story in photos so someone out there feels less alone. #WorldCancerDay #UnitedByUnique

High school students in MI's District 55 are showing up for their classmates and their community. Gen Alpha doing us proud.

If the MI House feels like Groundhog Day, you’re not imagining it. We keep sending the same “moderate” voice to Lansing, and getting the same status‑quo votes while costs rise and the planet warms. I’m in this race to move Michigan forward. #MILeg #MI55

Korematsu Day is a reminder that fear often shows up as policy, and that civil liberties disappear when no one pushes back. Fred Korematsu spoke up when it was unpopular. That courage still matters. #michigan #justice

Honored to earn LGBT&A’s endorsement. My core belief is simple: all people deserve respect and the chance to be heard, including our LGBTQ+ neighbors, coworkers, students, and family members. I’ll work for laws that reflect dignity, safety, and fairness for everyone.

International Holocaust Remembrance Day marks the liberation of Auschwitz‑Birkenau and honors 6 million Jews & millions of others murdered by the Nazis. As the granddaughter of a WWII veteran and as a nurse, linguist, and educator, I believe remembrance means confronting hate and defending history.

Nurses are calling for justice for Alex

“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” — Martin Luther King Jr. Power does not belong to institutions or titles. It belongs to us - the people. #MLKDay #PeoplePower #Michigan

Organizations like Hope Against Trafficking in Pontiac show what survivor-centered care looks like: long-term housing, counseling, and real pathways to stability. Sustained support and public investment are what make recovery possible. Help is available: 1-888-373-7888 | Text 233733 #humanrights

I believe rights should not depend on who you are, where you came from, or who you voted for. After a fatal ICE shooting in Minneapolis and Border agents shooting people in Portland, that belief is not theoretical. It is about accountability, dignity, and equal protection under the law.

School funding is not just about buildings or test scores. It is about whether we treat educators as skilled professionals with the time and support to do their jobs well.

Decisions made in Washington often have real consequences here. That’s why listening locally matters. #michigan

Michigan's data centers - what do you think?

Just posted a new talk connecting #nursing, #politics, and #immigrant health. If you’re interested in health equity, language access, or structural competency, I’d be grateful if you’d watch and share: youtu.be/lECsiO25TVc More of my work and a newsletter signup are at rhondayates.com.

Tree lighting at The Village ✨ Celebrating community and family. #michigan #community

Words from leaders shape what’s acceptable in our society. When hate or threats become routine, our democracy is at risk. I’m speaking out. Silence isn’t an option. #Michigan #Leadership #WordsMatter

International Students’ Day is rooted in the bravery of Prague students who, in 1939, protested Nazi oppression. Their stand inspires us today. Student voices create change across borders and generations. #InternationalStudentsDay #StudentVoices

SNAP is paused. Urge Congress: fully fund food assistance and protect the ACA. Don’t let our families go hungry or lose coverage in D.C. dealmaking. #SNAP #ACA #Michigan

If you trust data more than drama, we need you in office. There’s a shortage of evidence-based decision making in politics, and it’s showing. #science #nurses #educators

Nearly 3/10 nurses are living with PTSD symptoms, a higher rate than the general population and even war veterans. Nurses are experiencing trauma and still show up for their patients. We need lawmakers to treat this like the public health crisis it is. Safe care starts with supported nurses. #Nurses

Wynett Guy is the write-in candidate for Southfield City Clerk, and what happens in one city affects us all. She’s a Navy veteran who believes in fair elections and upholding results. That’s integrity. If you live in Southfield, write in Wynett Guy Nov 4.

This year, Michigan shifted $400 million from K-12 to higher ed to fill funding gaps. Our campuses need support, but so do our classrooms. We can strengthen both at the same time because every great teacher starts in a classroom and a university that believed in them. #EducationForAll

May the Festival of Lights bring peace, prosperity, and hope into every home and remind us that light triumphs over darkness, even in the hardest times. Let’s keep finding ways to share that light through kindness, courage, and community. #HappyDiwali #festivaloflights #Mi55

Over 2,600 neighbors stood together at two No Kings rallies for democracy, equity, and community values. We’ve been showing up in rain, snow, and heat. Showing up all year and voting up & down the ticket is how we make change stick. #NoKingsDay #StandUpForDemocracy #MI55

Walked with hundreds at Making Strides Against Breast Cancer of Oakland & Macomb Counties — proof that community and science still matter. 💕 Early detection saves lives, but access saves more. #MakingStrides #HealthEquity #MichiganStrong

Visited Van Hoosen Farms for the Stone Wall Pumpkin Festival in Rochester Hills 🎃 Such a great community night! Kids showed off their carving skills, and proceeds supported Neighborhood House, which helps local families year-round. 🍂 #RochesterHills #CommunityStrong

Today is #NationalComingOutDay. Years ago, a $25 train ticket to an acting class in NYC changed my life. I met people who lived openly, courageously, and without apology. Coming out shouldn’t have to be brave — it should just be living. 🌈 #LoveIsLove #LGBTQRights #Allyship

Today is #WorldMentalHealthDay — a reminder that every family is touched by mental health. Care should meet crisis, not handcuffs or stigma. Let’s enforce insurance parity, support clinicians, and connect care with housing so every Michigander can be safe and stable. 💚

Proud to be endorsed by @314action, the leading voice for electing scientists & healthcare professionals who use facts to guide policy. As a nurse & educator, I know science saves lives. 314 believes in this campaign—and I know you do too. 💙 Join us: secure.actblue.com/donate/rhond... #nurses

Political games impact teachers and students. Our community deserves better. #Education #RochesterSchools #BudgetTalk youtube.com/shorts/gtz6J...