Reflecting on 2025 to Build Power for 2026

We look forward to seeing you join us today at 12:30 PM for our final VAAC meeting of the year. We are thrilled to welcome our special guest presenter, Heaster Wheeler, a powerful advocate and leader who has dedicated his life to strengthening democracy in Michigan.

Today we will take an in depth look at what the 2025 elections revealed about our communities and the work ahead. We will look at turnout in Black and Brown communities, the barriers voters faced, and the conditions that shaped participation, especially for people impacted by incarceration, poverty, and homelessness.

This conversation matters as we prepare for the 2026 midterms. We’ll explore what our communities need to know, the biggest threats to voter access, and what it will take to organize, mobilize, and build power in the year ahead. We will identify key lessons from 2025 and the steps we must take now to ensure every eligible voter can participate in 2026.

This is our last meeting of the year, and your voice and perspective are essential. We hope you will join us as we reflect on 2025 and map out the path toward 2026. Join us at bit.ly/VAACFridays on Friday, December 12th at 12:30 PM. We look forward to being in community with you.