Community Corner
Grand Rapids Cohosts Your City, Your Vote Virtual Event
Residents interested in learning more about the upcoming election are invited to an upcoming virtual event Wednesday.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Residents interested in learning more about the upcoming election are invited to an upcoming Your City, Your Vote virtual event, Wednesday, Oct. 21. The West Michigan Chapter of the National Forum for Black Public Administrators (West MI NFBPA), in partnership with the City of Grand Rapids Office of Equity and Engagement and the City of Grand Rapids Clerk’s Office hosts the 6 to 7:30 p.m. online discussion. The event will be simulcast on both the West MI NFBPA and Office of Equity and Engagement Facebook pages.
The Your City, Your Vote panel consists of community experts – Joel Hondorp, city clerk; Milinda Ysasi, city commissioner; Wesley Watson, NextGen Michigan regional director; Cordell Zachary, social justice advocate; and Raven Odom, Urban Core Collective data analyst. Jordoun Eatman, neighborhood connector with the City’s Office of Equity and Engagement and West MI NFBPA chapter president will moderate the event. The team is hosting the event to build awareness of voting rights, the secure voting process and to build confidence in the upcoming election.
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Viewers can ask questions of the panelist via Facebook comments on either the West MI NFBPA or the Office of Equity and Engagement Facebook pages where the event will be live streamed. Questions in the comments will be collect and presented during the Q&A portion.
Hondorp said participants who log on will get a detailed accounting of the voting process and the steps his office is taking to secure a safe and secure election.
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“I recognize the concerns surrounding this year’s election,” Hondorp said. “That’s why civic accountability and transparency is more important than ever. This event will help us share factual information to build confidence in the election process.”
Cordel Zachary believes that this election is one of the most important elections of his lifetime. “When citizens are well informed, that’s when you see a real shift in power and this is what this event aims to do. Policy reform, advocating for equality and protesting are vital in catalyzing change in our country, but without our vote, we fail to amplify and solidify our efforts,” he said.
This press release was produced by the City of Grand Rapids. The views expressed are the author's own.
