Category: In The News
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VAAC in the News: Amplifying Every Voice on Election Day
Executive Director Angela Davenport Shares Why Voting Access for All Matters On Election Day, Voting Access for All Coalition was featured on FOX 2 Detroit, where Executive Director Angela Davenport spoke about the critical importance of civic education, outreach, and year-round engagement across Michigan communities. In the interview, Angela emphasized how VAAC works to ensure…
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Standing With Women at the Valley: Support Freedom and Second Chances
Responding to Ongoing Abuse With Action and Care Earlier this month, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced that a former officer at the Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility has been charged with second-degree criminal sexual conduct. The news underscores what many have reported for years—systemic abuse, neglect, and unsafe conditions inside the state’s only women’s…
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“I Don’t Understand”: Prison Video Exposes Abuse of Writer Demetrius Buckley
A rare glimpse behind Michigan’s prison walls A newly released Detroit Free Press video shows Michigan prison staff in riot gear twice spraying chemical agents on award-winning writer Demetrius Buckley—while he was handcuffed and confined inside a shower cage. The disturbing footage, now part of a federal civil rights lawsuit, was made public only after…
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Expanding Electoral Engagement Among Justice-Impacted People
What the research says — and how VAAC puts it to work A new policy brief (10/29/25) reviews strategies that help justice-impacted people participate in our democracy. An estimated 4 million Americans remain disenfranchised due to felony convictions — down from 5.9 million in 2016 after advocacy restored rights in many states. But even when…
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Take Action: Protect Your Freedom to Vote
Urge the Election Assistance Commission to reject proof-of-citizenship requirements Voting Access for All Coalition stands with the League of Women Voters (LWV) in calling on the U.S. Election Assistance Commission to reject a petition that would require documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote in federal elections. This harmful change would create new barriers…
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Building Civic Engagement from the Start
VAAC joins community leaders for story time and civic connection in Detroit Our Executive Director, Angela Davenport, was thrilled to attend Community Conversation + Family Story Time with Rep. Stephanie Chang in Detroit. It’s never too early to begin learning about civic engagement. Events like this remind us that democracy is built across generations—by creating…
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Building Civic Engagement from the Start
VAAC joins community leaders for story time and civic connection in Detroit Our Executive Director, Angela Davenport, was thrilled to attend Community Conversation + Family Story Time with Rep. Stephanie Chang in Detroit. It’s never too early to begin learning about civic engagement. Events like this remind us that democracy is built across generations—by creating…
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Know Before You Sign – Protect Our Communities From Harmful Petitions
Learn what’s behind the ballot initiatives circulating in Michigan Ballot petitions are being passed around across Michigan — some may sound harmless, but they could create serious new barriers to voting and limit the rights of our neighbors. Before signing any petition, it’s critical to know: What it actually proposes (beyond the headline) Who is…
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Michigan’s August 5 Primary: Key Results Across the State
Detroit and beyond — voters shape local leadership for the years ahead On August 5, Michigan voters took to the polls to decide critical municipal races and local ballot measures across the state. From Detroit to New Baltimore, communities selected candidates who will advance to the November general election — and set the tone for…
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VAAC Friday Community Meeting
Join us this Friday, August 15, for an important VAAC Community Meeting featuring Kathryn Ellywicz from HPCAN (Historic Preservation Citizens Action Network). She’ll walk us through the petitions currently circulating — including: What they really propose Who’s sponsoring and funding them How they could create new barriers for our communities This is a chance to…