We combine mutual aid—like meals, hygiene kits, transportation, and voter support—with deep civic education, advocacy, and leadership development. Whether we’re registering someone to vote for the first time, training youth to lead change in their neighborhoods, or supporting civic engagement behind jail walls, we show up with care, consistency, and community.
This approach is at the heart of our program, Your Voice, Your Value, Your Vote: a commitment to honoring people’s lived experiences and helping them become the architects of a more just and inclusive democracy.
Mission
Our mission is to ensure that all persons in pretrial situations, individuals about to be released from prison, and those formerly incarcerated, along with their families and community members, have the opportunity and knowledge they need to exercise their right to vote in every election.
Our Core Values
- Inclusivity: Ensure every community member feels seen, heard, and valued, regardless of background or circumstances.
- Empowerment: Equip individuals with tools, knowledge, and confidence to advocate for themselves and their communities.
- Respect: Honor each person’s unique experiences and perspectives, emphasizing mutual understanding.
- Accessibility: Remove barriers to participation, whether physical, economic, or informational, making sure everyone can engage fully.
- Community Building: Foster strong, interconnected communities where people support each other and celebrate collective achievements.
Who We Reach
VAAC’s programs are designed for:
- Individuals in jails or on parole/probation,
- People reentering society post-incarceration,
- Unhoused and housing-insecure individuals,
- Low-income Black and Brown communities,
- People with literacy, disability, or technology access challenges,
- Youth in foster care or justice-impacted systems,
- Families of incarcerated people.
Where We Work
VAAC’s work is statewide, with core programming rooted in Wayne (Detroit), Oakland, Washtenaw, Genesee (Flint), and Kent (Grand Rapids) Counties. We have emerging outreach in Macomb, Ingham, and Berrien Counties.
Why It Matters
Many people in Michigan do not know they are eligible to vote after incarceration or have never received accurate information about how to participate. Misinformation and distrust are common, particularly in historically excluded communities. VAAC meets people face-to-face, offering clear information, answering questions, and creating space for civic conversation. We believe that power-building and mutual aid must go hand-in-hand; you can’t ask people to engage civically if they are worried about basic needs. Our model meets people where they are—with food, dignity, and knowledge. When people are equipped with resources, information, and a sense of belonging, they become powerful agents of change.
In Memory of Two of Our Founding Leaders
We mourn the passing of our beloved leaders, Danny Jones and Earl Burton. We are grateful for all that they accomplished for those impacted by the criminal legal system. VAAC was built upon their vision and commitment to make a kinder, more just world. We cannot overstate what these giants meant to our VAAC family. Their light will live in our hearts as we continue to serve the community as they envisioned. Learn more about their lives and work.
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