DJJnik Andrea van Leeuwen tells us about a statewide coalition meeting that we attended as part of our work with Fund MI Future.

A couple of weeks ago, Laura and I had the privilege of attending an in-person Michigan for the many pod, in Lansing. One of the first things that struck me was how kind and welcoming everyone was-- when I told everyone I had recently moved to Michigan, I received an unexpected round of applause!

Throughout the day, we got to know members of other progressive cohorts from around the state, each bringing vital and unique perspectives on how to best tackle the task of gathering signatures for and spreading the word about the three upcoming ballot measures.

We discussed things like canvassing strategies, how to connect with our audiences, messaging, and training options, and we strategized about how to bring other groups into the coalition.

It was inspiring to see so many folks coming together for a common cause, and I think the kind of unity that I experienced in that room is what progressive thinkers should be focused on right now. We truly cannot do it alone.

I would encourage anyone who has the opportunity to attend something like this to do it. I attended as a relative novice, and was still able to keep up and didn't feel out of place at all. Please join us in the future, we need your help and would love to hear your thoughts! RSVP for the May 20th Fund MI Future Team Meeting or reach out to Laura if you're interested and can't attend the meeting.