Throughout June, July, and August, VAAC ambassadors have been meeting people where they are, at neighborhood festivals, resource fairs, community conversations, early voting events, block parties, and gatherings focused on issues that affect people’s everyday lives.

At these events, we provide voter and civic education, answer questions, help people understand their voting rights, and connect voting to the decisions that affect housing, jobs, public safety, health, transportation, reentry, and community resources.

We’ve been sharing photos and highlights from these events on social media. Take a look at some of the places VAAC has been this summer, then visit our Facebook and Instagram pages to see more.

Stand on Business

VAAC joined Stand on Business at Detroit Got Talent Artistry Social Club, a community event centered on Black men, their families, and the people who support them.

The afternoon brought together conversations and resources around mental health and wellness, community violence intervention, creativity and healing, civic engagement, performances, food, games, vendors, and family activities. VAAC provided voter and civic education, answered questions, and connected voting to issues people were already talking about, including safety, family, community resources, and local decision-making.

Much appreciation to Detroit Got Talent Artistry Social Club, Speak Life, Hooked on Books Childcare, F.A.I.R., TIPS Trauma Intervention Programs & Services, and everyone who helped bring the event together.

View, like, and share the Stand on Business event post on Instagram and Facebook.

National Night Out at Bailey Park

VAAC spent National Night Out at Bailey Park in Detroit with neighbors, community organizations, food, games, vendors, and resources.

Hosted by the Detroit Police Department’s 7th Precinct and supported by community partners including Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries, the 7th Precinct Citizens Police Community Relations Council, SMART, and Bailey Park Neighborhood Development Corporation, the evening gave VAAC another opportunity to provide voter and civic education and remind people who is eligible to vote in Michigan.

Much appreciation to the 7th Precinct, the community partners and sponsors, and everyone who stopped by the VAAC table.

View, like, and share the National Night Out at Bailey Park event post on Instagram and Facebook.

Avalon Village Community Resource Fair

At Avalon Village’s Community Resource Fair in Jakobi Ra Park, VAAC connected with Highland Park residents while families met organizations providing health, legal, housing, food, education, and other community resources.

VAAC ambassadors shared voting information, answered questions, and helped community members understand their voting rights in Michigan.

We appreciate Avalon Village, the participating organizations, and everyone who stopped by to connect with us.

View, like, and share the Avalon Village Community Resource Fair event post on Instagram and Facebook.

Juneteenth Community Festival

At the Juneteenth Community Festival hosted by UAW Local 22 and the Metro Detroit A. Philip Randolph Institute in Detroit, families gathered for a Juneteenth history program, food, health services, job resources, free haircuts, youth activities, Secretary of State services, voter registration, expungement support, and more.

VAAC was in the mix sharing voting information, answering questions, and helping community members understand their voting rights.

Much appreciation to UAW Local 22, Metro Detroit APRI, the volunteers, participating organizations, and everyone who connected with VAAC.

View, like, and share the Juneteenth Community Festival event post on Instagram and Facebook.

Midnight Freedom Ride Block Party

The Midnight Freedom Ride Block Party in Pontiac, hosted by The Change Up Midnight Coalition, brought community members together around civic education, voter registration, free food, music, giveaways, and local resources.

VAAC joined the gathering to provide voter education, answer questions, and share information about voting rights in Michigan.

We appreciate The Change Up Midnight Coalition, the volunteers and community partners, and everyone who stopped by to talk with VAAC.

View, like, and share the Midnight Freedom Ride Block Party event post on Instagram and Facebook.

Get Out to Vote in Detroit

VAAC spent the start of Michigan’s mandatory early voting period at Get Out to Vote in Detroit, where residents gathered for voting information, community resources, activities, and time together ahead of Election Day.

Throughout the day, VAAC answered voting questions, shared information about voting rights in Michigan, and helped residents understand their options for casting a ballot.

We appreciate the City of Detroit Department of Elections for creating an opportunity to bring election information directly into the community and everyone who stopped by our table.

View, like, and share the Get Out to Vote in Detroit event post on Instagram and Facebook.

Valley Girls Annual Barbecue

At the Valley Girls Annual Barbecue in Palmer Park, VAAC connected with Detroit residents around the issues that shape everyday life.

At our table, ambassadors provided civic and voter education and talked with community members about how voting connects to reentry, housing, jobs, and public decisions affecting families and neighborhoods.

Much appreciation to the Valley Girls, everyone who helped bring the barbecue together, and every person who stopped by to ask questions, share their experiences, and connect with VAAC.

View, like, and share the Valley Girls Annual Barbecue event post on Instagram and Facebook.

Party Rides to the Polls

VAAC joined Party Rides to the Polls in Detroit, presented by When You Vote I WIN, bringing early voting information directly to residents at apartment and senior housing communities.

The event paired food and transportation to the polls with practical voting support. VAAC provided voter education, answered questions, and helped residents get the information they needed to participate in early voting.

We appreciate When You Vote I WIN for organizing the effort, providing rides and food, and making voting support available where people live.

View, like, and share the Party Rides to the Polls event post on Instagram and Facebook.

In Michigan, YES YOU CAN VOTE, even if:

One of the most important messages VAAC ambassadors carry into communities is that having contact with the criminal legal system or facing other barriers does not necessarily take away your right to vote.

🗳 You Have a Felony or Misdemeanor
🗳 You Are On Probation, Parole, or Tether
🗳 You Are Awaiting Arraignment, Trial, or Sentencing
🗳 You Do NOT Have a Michigan ID
🗳 You Have Unstable Housing
🗳 You Have a Disability
🗳 You Are a Naturalized Citizen

Support VAAC on social media

Follow VAAC on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and LinkedIn to see more photos, learn where our ambassadors will be next, and receive accurate information about voting in Michigan.

You can help this work reach more people by:

• Liking and commenting on VAAC’s posts
• Sharing posts with your friends and community
• Following VAAC’s social media pages
• Inviting VAAC to participate in a community event. Reach us at contact@votingaccessforall.org