Local Units
The ACLU is committed to a strong local presence in communities across Michigan. We believe that our members should be empowered to address key civil rights and civil liberties issues that matter most to them. We are committed to building an effective local, grassroots presence to generate networks that are engaged with the ACLU mission, reach into a broad swath of communities, and help inform our work. Most importantly, the expertise and connections members bring to bear are invaluable to our organization. To further these important goals, the ACLU is sponsoring volunteer activity through the development of Local Units. The primary purpose of a local unit is to advance the priorities of the ACLU at a local level across the state through outcome-focused advocacy work.
Volunteers are critical to the ACLU because they enhance our work in a variety of ways. Volunteers play an important role as opinion leaders in their communities where they can advocate for local ordinances, document civil liberties violations, generate story-telling content, assist with legislative outreach, build influential local coalitions, raise public awareness about emerging issues, and build leadership skills. A group of ACLU members may apply for status as a local unit of the ACLU to the ACLU State Board. For more information on volunteer opportunities with the ACLU of Michigan and how to apply for local unit status, contact ACLU of Michigan Field Director, Rodd Monts at rmonts@aclumich.org.
Local Unit Activities
Greater Flint ACLU Local Unit
Public Education and Awareness Activities
- This unit collaborates with community partners to promote awareness of student rights, the rights of LGBT people, racial, ethnic and religious minorities and those accused by law enforcement through periodic community events and seminars annually.
Engagement and Recruitment Activities
- Law Day “Know Your Rights” events for local students and parents; and Constitution Day “Know Your Rights” events for students and community residents concerned about interaction with police.
- Annual dinner event for networking with residents across the state, promoting the work of the ACLU, and recruiting new members.
Lansing Area ACLU Local Unit
Public Education and Awareness Activities
- This unit’s Racial Justice Committee partners with various community organizations to host forums and events that focus on police/community relations and policing policies that ensure the protection of civil liberties and civil rights.
- The School-to-Prison Pipeline (STPP) Committee organizes panel discussions on school discipline, student rights and alternative behavior management strategies, as well as “Know Your Rights” events in Lansing area communities.
Metro Detroit ACLU Local Unit
Public Education and Awareness Activities
- The ACLU Detroit Metro STPP Committee works to educate students, parents, educators and other concerned adults about STPP issues. Through public awareness “Know Your Rights” events and social media, members aim to reach hundreds of families over the next year.
- Through a series of “Friday Forums” the unit seeks to increase public awareness of local and national civil rights and civil liberties issues. The events are organized and run by volunteers typically feature prominent local leaders as participants, and provides residents an opportunity to engage in frank dialogue on issues of the day.
- Marriage equality and religious freedom is another public education project Metro Detroit unit members are undertaking. The unit has a project focused on increasing awareness among faith leaders and religious groups about their freedom to exercise their rights and meet obligations of anti-discrimination laws related to same-sex marriage through a series of public forums.
Engagement and Recruitment Activities
The unit’s Special Events Committee organizes and hosts a variety of fun social functions throughout the year for members and supporters, as well as individuals interested in networking or learning more about our work. These include an annual Thanksgiving Parade viewing party, outings to sporting events, and gatherings at local eateries.
Oakland County ACLU Local Unit
Public Education and Awareness Activities
- ACLU Oakland STPP Committee works to educate students, parents, educators and other concerned adults across the county about STPP issues. Through public awareness “Know Your Rights” events and social media, members aim to reach hundreds of families over the next year.
Engagement and Recruitment Activities
- The unit’s ACLU in the Town Square project team conducts public education and outreach activities at multiple events in the Oakland County area to increase knowledge of civil rights and liberties issues and to engage more people in our work.
Tuition Equality Local Unit
Activism
- Through this statewide project volunteers in multiple communities, including undocumented students, their parents, and many concerned activists working collaboratively to change tuition policies at community colleges and universities across Michigan to allow resident undocumented students to pay in-district tuition.
ACLU of Michigan Western Local Unit
Activism
- The Western Local Unit identifies pressing civil rights and liberties issues that threaten certain residents and work to change policies. For instance, the unit launched a successful campaign to get the Grand Rapids City Commission to introduce a policy better protect citizens’ privacy. The unit frequently engages residents and community groups in these efforts.
Public Education and Awareness Activities
- The unit has an active Events Committee that organizes and hosts a number of forums and presentations on police-community relations, immigration, LGBT rights, the mass incarceration crisis, education, women’s rights and other issues throughout the year. The committee works to tackle community concerns and partners with local groups to organize events on subjects that matter to residents, and puts on an event honoring the Civil Libertarian of the Year for the region.
Engagement and Recruitment Activities
- The Western Local Unit is also active in several cool and creative community engagement activities including a benefit concert in collaboration with radio station WYCE, and co-sponsorship of a social justice-themed exhibit at ARTPRIZE, in coordination with the Fountain Street Church, to increase awareness of the organization’s work and to connect with people who want to be involved in some way.
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