Last week, at the Michigan Voices 20th Anniversary Gala, Voting Access for All Coalition was honored to receive the Partner of the Year Award from Michigan Voices. Being nominated alongside organizations we deeply admire made the award particularly special.
A large group of our team, many of whom have been part of VAAC since the early days, came together to celebrate as our Executive Director, Angela Davenport, accepted the award on behalf of our organization. Sharing that moment as one made the night even more meaningful and served as a striking reminder of what coalition work can make possible.
As was reflected at the gala, this work is not always easy. When the commitment is real, there will be differences, disagreements, and difficult moments along the way. But those moments are part of what makes coalitions strong. Real collaboration requires honesty, trust, and the willingness to keep showing up for each other even when the road gets difficult. We keep returning to the idea that our shared effort is strongest when we focus on fighting the forces that threaten our communities and democracy, not each other.
Moments like this also remind us of the people who helped build VAAC from the beginning. Over the five years since VAAC was founded, our organization has experienced profound loss. We lost two of our founders a few years ago, and this year we lost someone who worked closely with the organization from the very beginning. Their absence is deeply felt across our community. During the award presentation, Lynna Kaucheck took a moment to acknowledge and honor them, which meant a great deal to our team. Continuing this work is one way we carry forward the vision and commitment they brought to building something larger than any one of us.
Michigan Voices has supported VAAC in countless ways over the years. Their partnership goes far beyond funding. They have provided training, mentorship, strategic guidance, and opportunities for collaboration that strengthen organizations across Michigan. They help create spaces where groups working toward shared goals can learn from one another, challenge each other, and continue building as a community.
Receiving this recognition from Michigan Voices was personally powerful because of who delivered it. Lynna Kaucheck, Michigan Voices’ Director of Communications and Coalitions, was the one who presented the award. Lynna has championed VAAC’s work from the very beginning, and having her do so made the moment even more remarkable.
We also want to thank Sommer N. Foster, Executive Director of Michigan Voices; Nicole Denson, Director of Development; Lena Alhanooti, Partnerships Coordinator; and Jade Grey, Digital Content Strategist for their collaboration and support. We appreciate the ways each of you contributes to strengthening this work and the broader movement.
The award was an honor, but it also renewed the energy and commitment of our team and reinforced the importance of continuing this organizing together.
We appreciate Michigan Voices and the many organizations across our state doing the hard work of organizing, collaboration, and building civic power.
Here’s to real relationships, real coalition, and the path ahead.
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