As we close out another year, we’d like to express gratitude to our VAAC family.  We know that Civic Engagement is more than just voting … coalition building is power!  It’s been a transformative year and we could not have done this work without you. We’re constantly impressed and inspired by this community.  VAAC is so grateful to have partners, friends and allies like you. 

Reflecting on the past year, we are so proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish. 

As we prepare to ring in the new year, we reflect on 2024 and remember those that we lost and continue to hold dear.

Together, we made history.

All of our efforts to empower people and build communities began with a vision—that anyone with a felony or criminal record should have the knowledge and opportunity to vote. Through community organizing, we made sure Michiganders were informed and empowered to cast their vote in this year’s election.

We are proud of all we’ve achieved:

• Knocked on 8,710 doors.
• Made 892,253 phone calls.
• Hosted or participated in 354 events.
• Held or participated in voter education sessions at 28 facilities across Michigan.
• Provided 440 rides to the polls.
• Mailed 3,200 postcards to voters in jails across Michigan.
• Displayed 210 posters in community settings and jails.
• Registered 190 first-time voters or voters who hadn’t participated in over a decade.

As part of our mission to build a more vibrant and inclusive democracy, and ensure that all persons in pretrial situations, individuals about to be released from prison, and those formerly incarcerated have the opportunity and knowledge they need to exercise their right to vote in every election— we organized to make a difference in our communities by reaching out to friends and families to make sure they were registered and had a plan to vote on or by Election Day. VAAC also hosted voter education initiatives for advocacy and organizing, including coordinating grassroots action to build civic participation, register voters, turn out voters, and to pass legislation to protect voting rights.

From continuing the critical conversations that have always been at the heart of this network to connecting with each other in new ways, 2024 has been a remarkable year, and we’re so grateful to every person who was part of it. Peace and love to you all and thank you for fighting with us another year. We wish you and your loved ones a wonderful 2025! Happy New Year! And as we look ahead to 2025, we recognize the many challenges that lie before us. While there exist extremist, anti-democratic policies that prevent anyone in our community from having the knowledge and opportunity they need to be able to cast their ballot—we will continue to organize for policy changes driven by ideas, and we won’t rest until justice is made real and every justice-impacted Michigander has access to the resources and support they need to successfully vote. 

As we say goodbye to 2024, we also want to honor the lives of Daniel Jones and Earl Burton. These fearless leaders fueled our fight to dismantle systemic disenfranchisement, disinformation, and voter suppression, ensuring voting rights for all, particularly our justice-impacted community. We celebrate their lives and carry on in their spirit to achieve their goals. Please view our special tribute to our chair, Danny, and a special video dedication to Earl.

Their legacies live on in our work. With gratitude and every warm wish for LIGHT and PEACE and SOLIDARITY for each and all.

In partnership with you, we accomplished so much.

We thank you for your role in our mission to seek justice, love mercy, and restore hope. We pray that 2025 is filled with health and blessing for you and your loved ones!

Thank you again for walking alongside us in this work and for your commitment to our mission to build healthy, vibrant communities.

We thank you for your role in our mission to seek justice, love mercy, and restore hope. We pray that 2025 is filled with health and blessing for you and your loved ones!

P.S. We organize 365 days a year to keep our communities engaged in civic education and are asking for your continued support as we expand our work. If you want to help us start the new year strong, there’s still time to contribute to our end-of-year campaign. Your gift will help fund our vital in-jail voter registration drives and community outreach initiatives. There’s much more to be done—will you join VAAC in this important work and help expand voting access for all justice-impacted Michiganders?