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• 1 Crystallee Crain // Jul 1, 2008 at 9:36 pm

  Dear Friends,

  The state of Michigan is at a pivotal point in showing the nation our ability to be politically engaged. We have the opportunity to shape the nations perception of mid-western politics and to shape our ability to make real political strides for underrepresented groups in Michigan. Now in 2008 is when we must register, engage and sustain community initiatives that foster engaged minds.

  We live in one of the most dynamic states in the union. As Michigan residents we should be proud to have the Great Lakes, our vast land and forests as well as our economic, cultural and social connections to our Canadian neighbors and the rest of the world. We are rebuilding our states economic resources and that also means we must regain our political momentum.

  There is so much we can learn from each other, even outside of election years. This election year we have been mentioned in national media for our primary dates being scheduled early as well as the lack of attention the candidates gave us in the national primary season. I feel that regardless of our national media coverage, or the number of times a political candidate visits our state we should be thinking about politics and how it affects our daily lives. We need to participate to get our voices heard.

  That is why I created the Michigan Voter Engagement Project (MIVEP). MIVEP is a non partisan effort to register and engage Michigan voters. We need to engage our neighbors, friends, families and significant others in the political process that we all pay taxes to support. It is our given right to vote, lobby and organize on grass roots levels to make change in our communities. I take this right of political participation to heart and I hope to share that with other people in my great state.

  My hopes for the MIVEP is to show people that during election years we can come together and make the change we wish to see in our hometowns. But I also want to stress the importance of participating and learning more in non-election years, which is when we have the most power in holding our elected officials accountable. This means creating and training new leaders, while consistently cultivating new ideas, programs and policies on local levels to meet the needs of Michigan community’s state wide.

  My heart and soul are in this project and I hope to share my enthusiasm, strength and endurance with all of whom I know and will work with in the future. MIVEP is geared towards engaging those who have been classically disenfranchised from the political system in the past. We are focusing on racial minorities, people in low socio-economic statuses, new citizens, ex-felons, women, young people, the elderly and those who have been discriminated against due to their sexual orientation. Our target cities are Benton Harbor, Flint, Kalamazoo, Saginaw and Ypsilanti, MI. We will have statewide and city wide field days during the months of July, August, and September. Please contact ccrain@transformativestudies.org for more information. We are looking for volunteers, some stipend funds are available.

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