Category: In The News
-
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…
-
Prison Gerrymandering in Michigan: Distorting Democracy
How counting incarcerated people in prison districts shifts political power In Michigan, thousands of incarcerated people are counted in the population of the communities where they’re imprisoned—not where they actually live and will return after release. This practice, called prison gerrymandering, gives extra political clout to districts that host prisons while reducing representation for the…
-
What You Need to Know Before the August 5 Primary
Voter registration deadlines, ballot drop guidance, and threats to your rights With the August 5 primary election just weeks away, now’s the time to make a plan, get informed, and take action to protect your vote. Here’s everything you need to know — including key deadlines, disinformation risks, and how you can fight back. Upcoming…
-
ALERT: Voter Suppression Petition Approved to Circulate in Michigan
New initiative threatens voting rights for thousands — here’s what you need to know On June 27, the Michigan Board of State Canvassers approved the 100-word summary for a constitutional amendment proposed by Americans for Citizen Voting — also promoted under the name Prove It, Michigan. This approval means circulators can now start collecting signatures…
-
Share Your Thoughts on Elections — Get a $20 Gift Card
Take a short survey to shape Michigan’s voting future Click here for survey At VAAC, we know that hearing directly from Michigan voters is vital to building a more accessible and equitable democracy. That’s why we’re excited to partner with Promote the Vote MI, a leading pro‑voter coalition working to advance voting rights in our…
-
Tell Congress: Protect Medicaid. No Cuts. No Barriers.
Urge your U.S. Representative to vote NO on a bill that slashes health care and increases poverty The shock of this bill is hard to overstate. These leaders just voted to spend trillions of dollars to increase poverty and hunger, to strip away health coverage, and to create the biggest redistribution of wealth from poor…
-
Flip the Script: Pontiac Comes Together to Build Power at the Ballot Box
A community-led night of connection, conversation, and civic action On June 9th, justice-impacted leaders, neighbors, and change-makers gathered in Pontiac to Flip the Script on civic engagement. From community members and candidates to judges and faith leaders, the event spotlighted the power of collective action and democratic participation. Hosted in collaboration with the full Community…
-
Linkage Community Launches as Independent Organization
On August 1, Linkage Community will begin operating independently from the University of Michigan’s Prison Creative Arts Project, where the group got its start as a space for formerly incarcerated creatives to thrive during the transition from prison back to their Michigan communities. This is a major milestone, marking growth of the group beyond its…
-
Vote Early, Vote Informed: What You Need to Know for Michigan’s August 5 Primary
Early voting starts June 26—make your plan now! At Voting Access for All Coalition (VAAC), we believe in breaking down barriers to the ballot and making sure every eligible voter knows their rights. The August 5, 2025 Primary Election is coming up fast, and you don’t have to wait until Election Day to cast your…
-
A Massive ICE Detention Center Just Opened in Michigan. Here’s Why That Matters for All of Us.
This week, the North Lake Correctional Facility in Baldwin, Michigan, officially reopened—not as a prison, but as one of the largest ICE detention centers in the country, with 1,800 beds. This is a huge expansion of Michigan’s immigration detention system, and it’s happening in a facility run by GEO Group—a private prison corporation with a…