By: Kim Jones

Greetings Sisters and Brothers,

Hope everyone had a safe 4th of July holiday. July is a month that brings about a great deal of excitement, as it marks the official start of summer. July also is recognized as National Watermelon Month, National Ice Cream Month, and National Hot Dog Month, in the United States. It’s also a time for outdoor fun in the sun.

July is also National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month is observed each July to bring awareness to the unique struggles that racial and ethnic minority communities face regarding mental illness in the United States.

Racial and ethnic minorities often suffer from poor mental health outcomes due to multiple factors, including lack of access to quality mental healthcare services. Other influences include culture stigma surrounding mental healthcare, discrimination, inadequate health insurance coverage, inadequate transportation, and overall lack of awareness about mental health.

For the month of August, all unit and Joint Council meetings are suspended. Hope to see you in September, when all unit and Joint Council meetings resume on September 14, 2025, unless it becomes necessary to call a meeting.

We still have tickets available for the Detroit Tigers Game on September 7, 2025. For UAW Local 659 members and family members, tickets are $100. That price includes a T-shirt, food voucher, and a bus ride to and from the game. To get tickets, go to the dues office.

Until next time, be safe and enjoy the summer.