The many community leaders and citizens working with the Center for Michigan to build a citizen vision for a better future got noticed in recent days by reporters across the state. Here’s what they had to say:
DETROIT NEWS: “Citizens can fill state leadership void.”
CRAIN’S DETROIT BUSINESS: “Ann Arbor think tank wants nonpartisan vision for the state.”
GRAND RAPIDS PRESS: “Advocate tries to mobilize citizen movement.”
BATTLE CREEK ENQUIRER: “Want to save our state? Here’s how.”
3 Comments
How are the citizens/leaders selected who will draft a vision and a plan for a better Michigan? There was a meeting here in Petoskey, but the report was that it was private. Is that the definition of civic engagement?
Ken,
Good question! Here’s how it works.
More than 80 local leaders in communities across the state have volunteered to host these meetings. Those local conveners, in turn, are asked to recruit a broad cross section of other leaders and engaged citizens in their own communities. We who staff the Center for Michigan do not prescribe who should be in the local meetings.
HOWEVER, we’ve also issued a very broad appeal, through more than 130 media representatives, for any citizen or state representative to participate. All interested parties have to do is send an email to us at info@thecenterformichigan.net. In the past few days, we’ve compiled more than 200 citizens who wish to participate. Based on their interest, we’re scheduling ADDITIONAL community conversations. Those will be scheduled in the next few days. FURTHER, for those who can’t make the in-person meetings, we replicate key parts of the in-person meetings in our online community conversations. PLEASE JOIN IN! You can take part right now, in a matter of minutes, by going to http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/community-conversations/
Thanks for your interest.
John Bebow
Executive Director
The Center for Michigan
Any meeting that turns down a citizen because he didn’t give prier notification makes me Leary of their intentions for a better Michigan. Why not make the meetings open to the public as is. I would think a lot of people that want change in this state, would like to hear some of your local leaders before taking the plunge into a new political party. Not everyone has the internet to send e-mail.