This issue is all about advocacy and action. Unmarried people don't vote or participate in civic debates as much as married people do, and we aim to change that.

Among the many public policy topics affecting unmarried people, this issue of Update addresses:

Executive Director Nicky Grist leads a workshop about spreading AtMP's message.

• Health insurance policies that dispense access to care based on marital status
• Political schemes that embed marital status discrimination into state constitutions
• Housing policies that exclude unmarried families from local communities
• Government-funded programs that push low-income people to get married
• AtMP's position on ending marital status discrimination in immigration

Public policy is the fastest-growing section of our website – if you haven't visited lately, check it out! AtMP's policy analysis starts with ideas from interns, volunteers and members of our board of directors – if you're good at research and excited about social change, contact us.

This issue introduces a new feature: WHAT YOU CAN DO. I hope our newsletter and website will inspire you not only to act, but also to tell us about your actions. Do our suggestions work? What future topics should we address? We look forward to learning from you.