Partner Spotlight: Building the future of democracy with Detroit students and BuildOn
At Michigan LCV, we believe democracy is strongest when the next generation is involved in leading it. Last fall, that belief took shape through a collaboration between our Democracy For All (DFA) team and BuildOn, an organization dedicated to empowering youth through service and community leadership.
Together, we helped expand a hands-on civic engagement initiative that BuildOn started – a postcard project where students wrote and designed hundreds of postcards to be distributed around the city and to Detroit voters ahead of the election. Each message was handwritten – personal, thoughtful, and rooted in a simple truth: democracy belongs to everyone, even those still waiting for their first ballot.
Voting Rights Coordinator Nina Wimberley giving a voting rights presentation.
These postcards read like letters to the future – reminders that voting is powerful, that young people are watching, and that their community deserves full participation. Students who could not yet cast a ballot used their words to encourage someone who could, proving that democracy is not defined by age but by participation.
Postcards encouraging Detroiters to vote written by high school students.
In addition to the incredible postcards, our team and BuildOn engaged students at Detroit high schools, getting them involved in voter engagement work. Led by Voting Rights Coordinator Nina Wimberley, we hosted educational sessions for students to learn about voter registration, voting rights, voting options, and the importance of getting out the vote. On several occasions, we coordinated door-to-door canvassing opportunities for students and trained them on how to have meaningful conversations about participating in local elections. For many, it was their first time canvassing, and for some, the first time realizing their generation could influence the future of their city.
A postcard left at a door during a neighborhood canvass.
Unsurprisingly, they didn’t just participate – they led with confidence. Out knocking doors, students spoke with residents in their own communities about how to update voter registration, where to access early voting, and the importance of municipal elections. Neighbors answered their doors to find not political operatives, but the future of the city showing up to encourage civic participation. The impact was clear – almost everyone we spoke with was moved, energized, and grateful, with many voters sharing how meaningful it was to see young people taking initiative and leading by example, even if they couldn’t vote this year themselves.
The 2025 Democracy For All team.
Our collaboration with BuildOn helped provide Detroit high school students the opportunity to help shape the 2025 Detroit municipal election, even while many of them are not yet old enough to vote. With the help of these young leaders, we were able to engage more Detroiters in our democracy, sparking conversations about voting and uplifting student voices in the fight for a more accessible democracy that people feel confident participating in.
After Detroiters turned out in historic numbers in November, it’s inspiring to know that the city’s future leaders are not waiting for permission to shape their community– they’re already engaging their neighbors, educating their friends and families, and building power that will sustain far into the future. Their voices, energy, and commitment remind us that the next generation is not just the future of democracy – they are democracy.