It’s 2009, the nation is reeling from the emerging financial crisis, and extremists are lamenting the election of the first Black president in our country’s history. In a time rife with confusion and dispersion, co-founders Ryan Friedrichs and Tracy Sturdivant forged a new path for our democracy by launching the State Voices network in Detroit.
Their vision and work in creating a hub for organizers and advocates from across backgrounds and issues have blossomed into the flourishing State Voices Affiliated Network we know today.
With 24 State Tables, eight emerging states, and over 1200 state and national partners, it was more than serendipitous that we celebrated our 15th anniversary at home in Detroit, Michigan.
Over two and a half days in early June, we brought together our movement family to strategize for critical moments ahead, celebrate where we’ve been, and take time to honor the leaders who inspire change and transformation.
Tuesday: State Tables Come Together
“Live freely. Live joyfully. Live as unapologetically as you can, because the forces around us want us to shrink. As the poet Maya Angelou once said, “I can be changed by what happens to me. But I refuse to be reduced by it.”
– Alexis Anderson-Reed
On day one of the convening, State Voices CEO and President Alexis Anderson-Reed opened the space by welcoming our internal network and setting the tone for grounding and reflection as a collective. The primary discussion, “For the Love of Culture”, is yet another milestone in the State Voices’ Strategic Direction that was designed and implemented in 2018. The discussion focused on individual and group reflections on four core values identified by the National Coordinating Committee born out of their research and audit of the SV Network. Developing movement-owned data and tools, investing in leadership pathways cross-organizationally, and launching network-wide campaigns were resoundingly amplified across the Mackinac room as core values that the network would like to prioritize.
We ended the day at the historic Detroit Foundation Hotel with dancing, spoken-word poetry, and a real Detroit welcome from local council member Gabriela Santiago-Romero.
Wednesday: A Community Celebration
Day two of the event marked the first time in ten years that the State Voices Network and external partners, vendors, and funders had all been together in person. Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson’s opening keynote address served as a fierce reminder that our work to ensure every voice is heard, every vote counts, and every need is met is a radical goal to many. Every day, our work makes the radical and seemingly impossible possible.
“You all should incorporate the saying those closest to the pain should be at the table making the decisions….when I speak with my colleagues, I’m often reminding them we’re not elected to do a job, but to represent the voices of our communities.”
– Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib
The spirited energy continued during Congresswoman Tlaib’s remarks, with her personal reflections on her and her family’s journey from Palestine to Michigan, and currently at the Capitol in Washington D.C. As trusted messengers, changemakers, and culture shifters in our communities, State Voices proudly announced our new campaign, Vote for Something. This campaign was created to acknowledge the journey many voters are on right now to find a path that recognizes our current democracy’s shortcomings and amplifies the power we all have in forging a new path where everyone can live in their full dignity.
To commemorate the 15th anniversary of State Voices and the leaders who helped create this network, Ryan Friedrichs and Tracy Strudivant were awarded the Founders Award during the evening gala. Our network stepped out in their evening best for this black-tie optional festivity. Joy was in abundance around the room as fellow State Table Leadership awardees Oriana Sandoval and Melanie Aranda, Co-Directors of the Center for Civic Policy accepted alongside their staff and table partners. Sue Van, the President and CEO of the Coulter Foundation, was awarded the Legacy Award in recognition of their support and dedication to empowering communities across the nation.
Thursday: Collective Lessons
“The current power structures are not inevitable and can be transformed.”
– Karundi Williams, Executive Director, re:power
The final day of the State Voices National Convening was a day of reflection and re-imagination. In the opening panel, “Radical Imagination,” Alexis Anderson-Reed, Karundi Williams from re:power, Taifa Smith Butler from Demos, Alicia Garza from JPB Foundation, and Juanica Fernandes from State Voices Florida explored how radical imagination challenges entrenched power structures and promotes more inclusive and equitable democracy.
We were also joined by LaTosha Brown from Black Voters Matter, who shared an invigorating speech and rallying cry for us to rebuild democracy in a way that works for all marginalized people. Finally, Luis Montero Adams from Engage San Diego and Maya Neal from Wisconsin Civic Power Table conducted our closing, reminding us of the work ahead to build the world we want to see.
“We are not doing easy work. We should not expect easy. Every day we should understand that this is hard work. And we know that hard does not mean hostile. We’re okay with hard because we have strategy, we have plans, we have people willing to work hard.”
– Aisha Wells, Director of Organizing, Mothering Justice
Bonus Content — June 7 through June 9: Communications Choir Practice
Before the National Convening, we brought together our communications staff and storytellers from across the State Voices Affiliated Network in Detroit to build relationships, skills, and inspiration as we head into the 2024 General Election season.
There was representation from the Nebraska, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, Ohio, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Alabama, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and New Mexico State Tables!
What’s Next?
We’re launching the Vote for Something campaign in early August! In 2024, as distrust and anxiety grows among voters, we have an opportunity to relate to voters while empowering each of us to paint our vision for the future. We’re joining with our movement community to reach out to voters over text, phone, and canvassing to share that our communities don’t have to vote for everything, but we should all vote for something.
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Thank you to all of our movement community for helping raise inspiration and motivation for the work we have ahead at our National Convening.
Our movement isn’t just about what we’re fighting against — oppression, bigotry, and domination. It’s about what we’re fighting for — freedom, liberation, and a world where we can all thrive and live in our full dignity.
Categories: Civic Tech and Innovation, Integrated Civic Engagement