(Voting Access for All Coalition) VAAC Friday Community Meeting on April 24th | Beyond Exoneration: From Silenced to Shaping Change

Join us for a powerful VAAC Friday conversation featuring special guests Eric Anderson, Director of Programming and Operations of the Organization of Exonerees and Jennifer St. John, Tri-County Director at A Brighter Way, as part of Second Chance Month, as part of Second Chance Month.

Exonerees are individuals who were wrongfully convicted and have fought to reclaim their freedom.

Exonerees are individuals who were wrongfully convicted and have fought to reclaim their freedom. Eric Anderson is an exoneree who was wrongfully convicted and fought to reclaim his freedom. Jennifer St. John is a reentry leader who, after spending 20 years incarcerated, now supports justice-impacted individuals as they rebuild stability, connect to resources, and move forward after incarceration. You can read more about Eric Anderson’s story here: https://www.michiganpublic.org/criminal-justice-legal-system/2025-11-17/new-report-on-a-wrongful-conviction-highlights-old-missteps-in-hopes-of-preventing-future-mistakes

Their experiences reflect deep failures within our criminal legal system and the lasting impact of wrongful incarceration on individuals, families, and entire communities.

During Second Chance Month, we recognize the importance of restoring opportunity and supporting people as they rebuild their lives. This conversation will explore how civic engagement and voting become critical pathways for reclaiming voice, agency, and power.

Participation in the democratic process is about more than casting a ballot. It is about being heard, shaping change, and ensuring that what happened to them does not happen to others.

This is an opportunity to listen, learn, and deepen our understanding of the connection between justice, democracy, and building civic power, and why those most impacted must be at the center of this work.