Our future is better together.
Here at Groundwork, we get excited when people and communities have a voice in shaping the decisions that affect their lives.
For too long, many people have been left out of important decisions about food, energy, transportation, and the future of their communities. We love seeing people get involved, share their perspectives, and help shape what comes next.
That’s a big part of what our work is all about.
We see it happening across so much of our work. We’re helping members of rural electric cooperatives get more involved in electing the people who make decisions about their energy future. More than 21,000 Michiganders shared their thoughts through our passenger rail survey. People continue to show up at public meetings and make their voices heard about the future of the Great Lakes. And we’re bringing together farmers, schools, families, and policymakers to strengthen programs like 10 Cents a Meal for Michigan’s Kids & Farms.
These are very different projects, but they have something important in common. They’re all about bringing people together and giving communities a greater say in the decisions that affect them.
Our Board’s Equity Committee recently reflected on this idea, reminding us that meaningful civic participation is essential to building healthy, equitable, and resilient communities. When people are informed, engaged, and have opportunities to participate, the decisions affecting our communities can better reflect the needs and experiences of the people who live there.
Voting is one of the most fundamental ways people exercise that voice. Groundwork supports broad and equitable access to voting and believes everyone should have an opportunity to participate in the democratic process.
But civic participation goes well beyond elections. Whether it’s serving on a local board, participating in a community planning process, speaking up about an issue that matters to you, or getting involved with Groundwork, there are so many ways to help shape what comes next.
Thank you for being part of the Groundwork community and for helping us build stronger, healthier, and more resilient communities across Michigan! 
Thanks for all you do,
Jim Bruckbauer is Groundwork’s CEO.
jim.bruckbauer@groundworkcenter.org
