Schor will hold first constituent coffee at Avenue Cafe

Lia Kananipuamaeole Kamana

Journalism 300 - Online newspaper, Ingham Country Chronicle, article

This Saturday, Feb. 16, 9-10 a.m. Andy Schor, state representative for District 68, will hold his first “Coffee with Andy” at The Avenue Café in Lansing.

“My community coffee gatherings will provide me with the opportunity to introduce attendees to my staff and to the services my office provides to the community, and will give me a chance to talk to residents about what’s going on at the Capitol,” said Schor.

Coffee with the State Representative isn’t new in the Ingham County area according to Colleen Kelley, a worker at The Avenue Café. Schor’s predecessor, Joan Bauer, had her coffee hours at The Avenue Café and Kelley is happy to see Schor continuing the tradition. Kelley mentioned that “Coffee with Joan” had started awhile ago but she could not remember when exactly.

“Joan’s coffee hours progressed as years went on,” said Kelley. “I’d like to say she had about 100 people around the end.”

Currently, Schor has scheduled “Coffee with Andy” gatherings bi-monthly and plans town hall events and community meetings as various issues arise.

“I may increase the gatherings to monthly next year, but want to see the turnout and interest at the events this year,” said Schor.

Schor was elected in November, but this isn’t his first occupation within the community. He was a founding member of the Ingham County Land Bank, is a former board member of the South Lansing Community Development Association, served on the Tri-County Office on Aging, was a county commissioner, has been involved with two Parents Teacher Student Associations and has served in the Michigan Legislature for 15 years.

Alyssa May, a sophomore at Michigan State University, says that having coffee with the community allows him to get the people’s perspective and shows that he truly cares about the community.

According to Kelley, Schor has already held a couple events at The Avenue Café and she says he seems like a “lovely fellow.”

“Hearing regularly from my constituents about the issues important to them helps me better represent the interests of Lansing and Lansing Township in the Michigan House,” said Schor. I look forward to using my community coffee hours as a space to gather feedback from the community and to having the chance to communicate regularly with residents about what’s happening in the Michigan Legislature.”

#text