December November Newsletter

Jen S
5 hours ago
12 min read

Merry Resistmas Edition

WHERE WE GET OUR NEWS FROM MATTERS

Our strength comes from having facts when we engage in discussions where we may have an opportunity to persuade independents. Make sure your facts come from a reputable news sources.

DEMOCRACY MOVEMENT BUILDERS TRAINING

February 27-March 1, 2026

If the last year has taught us anything, it’s this: organizing works — when we do it well and when we do it together.

Across Michigan, everyday people have stepped up to defend democracy: organizing No Kings protests, stopping harmful ICE agreements, and protecting vulnerable communities. That didn’t happen by accident. It happened because people built relationships, learned skills, and stayed in it for the long haul.

Now it’s time to level up.

From Friday, February 27 through Sunday, March 1, 2026, the Michigan Freedom Coalition and partners are hosting a free, three-day Democracy Movement Builders Training at the Hilton Garden Inn in Novi. This is an in-person, hands-on training for people who are serious about winning — locally and statewide.

What you’ll get out of the weekend:

Practical training on how to build strong organizations and winning campaigns
A clear, shared theory of change grounded in real organizing wins
Real-world skills to strengthen your organizing, including data management and media training
Time to plan real local campaigns with support from experienced organizers
Opportunity to build relationships across Michigan’s pro-democracy movement (yes—this matters)

Who is this for?

This training is for people who have already taken on some leadership -- whether you've helped organize local events or protests, carried petitions for ballot initiatives, or are active in local organizations -- and are now ready to deepen your skills and commitment.

Logistics

Hilton Garden Inn 27355 Cabaret Dr., Novi, MI
February 27 (6:00 PM) - March 1 (noon), 20
Cost (training, hotel stay and meals are included with registration at no cost to participants , donations are optional)
Hotel rooms are included but space is limited. You can register here:

Register here: MOVEMENT BUILDERS TRAINING WITH MI FREEDOM COALITION

Spots are limited, and we expect this to fill quickly. If you’ve been looking for a place to sharpen your skills, deepen your relationships, and recommit to the long game — this is it.

KEEP TELLING OUR SENATORS HOW WE FEEL

Join us when we meet with representatives from our Senator's Teams. It is more important than ever to stay connected to our representatives to hold them to the course and make sure our concerns are heard. We encourage you to send your questions ahead of time. This will allow us to send them to senator's staff prior to the meeting so they can do their research.

January 7, 4:00-5:00 PM ET

Join us when we meet with Kevin Hrit from Senator Gary Peter's team. You can sign up for this Zoom meeting here. Please send your questions by Jan. 5 to i nfo@statewideindivisiblemi.com.

January 14, 4:00-5:00 PM ET

Join us when we meet with Ann Brown from Senator Elissa Slotkin's team. You can sign up for this Zoom meeting here. Please send your questions by Jan. 12 to i nfo@statewideindivisiblemi.com.

MOBILIZE FOR CHANGE WITH THE PEOPLE'S COALITION

On Tuesday January 20th at 6:30 PM the People's Coalition is hosting a Convention 101 session for everyone who’s not familiar with the way the convention races work. Click here to let them know you will attend.

In Michigan you only have to be a member of the MDP to vote at the Convention, where the candidates for Secretary of State and Attorney General are chosen. Want to have an impact? Join up!

You can learn about all candidates here for MI Secretary of State and MI Attorney General, and if you want to meet them, it’s possible, too: on January 25th, from 2 to 4 PM in Dearborn (RSVP here).

Check this document for more information.

SUPPORT OUR IMMIGRANT NEIGHBORS

January 12, 7:00-8:30 PM ET

We recognize the significant challenges faced by our immigrant community. In collaboration with Fighting 9 Indivisible, Indivisible Huron Valley, and Kids Empowered On the Move, we are launching the "Empowerment Through Resistance" initiative. We are hosting an in-service session to foster respectful engagement and deepen our understanding of these issues. Members of the Immigrant Support Team and civil rights leaders will provide updates on the current situation and share actionable ways to support immigrant families. Our objective is to build a sustainable and mutually beneficial partnership. You can register here.

November 24

SWIM & STRANGERS NO LONGER: LOCAL TO LOCAL TRAINING

Join us on Monday November 24 from 6:00-7:15 pm for a community virtual training event, organized by Statewide Indivisible Michigan (SWIM) and Strangers No Longer. The focus will be on resisting local police collaboration with ICE through 287(g) agreements. Learn more about the Local to Local program here.

We will explore how such partnerships harm both immigrants and citizens by enabling racial profiling, eroding trust, silencing crime victims, and diverting resources from public safety. The training aims to educate and empower residents, faith leaders, and officials to advocate for safer, more welcoming communities for all. You can register here.

February 27-March 1, 2026

MOVEMENT BUILDER TRAINING WEEKEND sponsored by the Michigan Freedom Coalition (formerly the Resistance Coalition).

Statewide Indivisible Michigan and its member groups are an active part of this coalition, and we encourage you to take advantage of this unique opportunity to build power, strengthen connections, and lead with purpose.

This intensive, hands-on training weekend will equip participants with transferable organizing skills, real-world strategy, and statewide connections to strengthen our collective impact in 2026 and beyond. Expect authentic conversation, practical learning, and the kind of community that fuels staying power.

They are in the planning stages now, so the agenda may change, but you can access the current proposal h ere.

New Resource--Help to Improve Messaging

How often have we all wondered where the opposition is getting their information? How do we tailor our messaging if we do not know what database they are using? AllSides is a balanced news service that reviews articles from various sources and ranks them as right, left, or center. You can check them out at their website.

UPDATES FROM NATIONAL

If you love being in the know, join the weekly Indivisible National Updates from Ezra and Leah. Register here for the 2026 weekly updates.

NATIONAL STRIKES AND BOYCOTTS

We are fed up.

And we are taking action with our wallets.

Let's all be conscious consumption consumers this holiday season with this handy tool from our friends and activists in Virginia. They put together a document outlining ideas on where to buy, what to buy, who's on the 'Nice' and 'Naughty' list, and even mindful gift wrapping.

Check it out for ideas by clicking here: Conscious Consumers for the Holidays

Indivisible National encourages everyone to boycott the Spotify platform until it stops running recruitment ads for ICE.

Here are helpful actions:

If you're paying for Spotify Premium, cancel your subscription.
Don't use the free Spotify version either.
Share Indivisible's Spotify Wrapped graphics for posts with your friends and social networks. Use this link.
Have gentle, non-shaming conversations with friends about the Spotify boycott.

Shared on the SWIM Slack Amplify channel: "Someone we know posted about using this app to help import playlists from Spotify so you can save them before cancelling your Spotify account. I did it and it worked!"

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/playlisty-for-apple-music/id1459275972

Did we miss any? Post them to our social media pages - see below for direct links.

NEW RESOURCES

The American People's Compact -

People-First Policy Platform

Americans have watched as politics puts power and profit before people and progress. Yet in every corner of our nation, we are bound by a common dream: that everyone—no matter where they live or who they are—can build a good life, care for their loved ones, and shape their own future. The American People's Compact is a people-first policy platform that reflects the will of the people: to work together, bridge divides, and renew the foundation of opportunity and trust for every community.

The APC is a research-backed, nationally tested policy platform to rebuild and renew America, by the people, for the people, and with the people.

SWIM has signed onto this compact as a vision of what our tomorrow should be. We encourage all of our member groups to sign on as well—go to the home drop-down menu on the link above; it's a fast and easy way to commit to a clear vision of our shared goals and path ahead! And a great foundation for building our collective and individual group visions for 2026!

Here's the link:

The American People's Compact | People-First Policy Platform

RURAL ORGANIZING

Our Partners at Rural Organizing have compiled a comprehensive list of their resources. This includes everything from past debriefs to how-to steps for organizing mutual aid events. You can access it here:

Rural Organizing, Rural Host Network Resource Document

FOOD BANK INFORMATION

Here is an updated link for food bank information created by Macomb Defenders Rising.

PROTECT THE BALLOT

Protecting the ballot will be even more vital in 2026. If you missed the seminar, you can access the recording here. You can also access the Q & A, and slide deck for this webinar. This could be a great discussion starter for a meeting!

The American People's Compact | People-First Policy Platform

The APC is a research-backed, nationally tested policy platform to rebuild and renew America, by the people, for the people, and with the people.

The American People's Compact | People-First Policy Platform

ENVIRONMENTAL CORNER

SPEAK OUT ABOUT SALINE DATA CENTER

In Saline, MI, concerned citizens are fighting DTE's proposed 1.4 gigawatt data center. Last week's public hearing drew 800 people who logged in to oppose the project--many of them Indivisible members. As a result, the data center vote was removed from the agenda.

But the fight is not over. We need to stay vigilant and be ready to mobilize again. Please consider joining this effort.

Here's how you can help.

Submit public comments -- The Sierra Club is collecting comments in opposition to the Saline Data Center. Submit here.

Sign the petition -- Action Network is circulating a petition to oppose another data center project on Oakland University's Campus. Sign here.

Submit comments to EGLE -- Deadline is December 28, 2026. Submit here.

Learn more -- Read Third Act's comprehensive overview of this issue. Click here. There are 23 proposed data centers in planning stages in Michigan!! This is a long fight!

SPEAK OUT AGAINST DANGEROUS EPA PROPOSALS

Proposal 1: Lower Fuel Efficiency Standards

The Trump administration has proposed lowering fuel efficiency standards, which will result in more air pollution and higher costs to consumers at the pump. Read more here.

Deadline: January 20, 2026 You can submit your objection to this proposal here.

Proposal 2: Weakened PFAS Reporting Requirements

The Trump administration has proposed loosening PFAS data reporting and record-keeping standards when these “forever chemicals” comprise 0.1 percent or less of a company’s product. While this may sound like a low level, PFAS chemicals are dangerous even in very small amounts, and the public deserves to be informed about them. Read more about PFAS chemicals here.

Deadline: December 29, 2025 to speak out against this proposal, click here.

CARING FOR YOURSELF AND OTHERS

As activists, we spend so much time carrying for our communities both local and beyond that we sometimes forget we need to care for ourselves. We can't help others when we are personally overwhelmed and overcommited. We will be starting to regularly post links to resources that are available to help you help yourself. Check out these two amazing videos:

From Indivisible Metro Detroit : How to Outlast Maga and Stay Sane.

From the Solidarity in Action Program at Indivisible National: Resilence for Sustainable Action.

And here's a super helpful list from Cara Erskine from Great Lakes Democracy Action Indivisible: self-care tips and resources

INDIVISIBLES WORKING SMARTER NOT HARDER IN 2026

Indivisible Tech Users: As you prepare for 2026 and the work ahead, the Indivisible Tech Team continues to work diligently to respond to your requests and provide you with the necessary tools.

To help expedite the response time, Indivisible National is sharing a new support resource available to you, which is an exclusive inbox managed by Indivisible's tech staff, tech@indivisible.org.

You can send questions about tools, troubleshooting issues, additional user requests, and more to this inbox. Use this inbox to communicate about all your needs for the following tools: EveryAction, Mobilize, VAN, and BallotReady. For the prompt completion of requests, communication should be sent by the group's main users of the relevant tool(s).

SWIM IS GROWING

We are now at 113 local Indivisible groups in the state, an increase of 85, or quadrupling from this time last year! We want to make sure everyone has the information they need!! If you are a group leader and have questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out at info@statewideindivisiblemi.com. That’s what we’re here for!

LEADERS' LITTLE HELPER

New graphics are continuing to pop up both on Slack and our SWIM Google Drive. You can access these easy to adopt visuals – our local group teams are super productive and share everything! Not on Slack yet? Email info@statewideindivisiblemi.com with your name and group and we’ll send you an invitation.

This holiday season, if you find yourself sitting around the holiday table with MAGA relatives who are beginning to change their tune about Trump policies -- whether because their SNAP benefits were cut or their careers downgraded -- you can tell them about LeavingMAGA.org. Started by a former MAGA Republican, it offers help without the shaming "I told you so" approach.

RESOURCES TO AMPLIFY YOUR MESSAGING

PARTNER TOOL KITS

HERE IS A GREAT CALLING REFERENCE GUIDE and MUTUAL AID PRIMER courtesy of Indivisible Metro Detroit.

PROTECT YOURSELF

As protests gear up, it's important to keep yourself and other protestors safe. This document has a bunch of resources to help you do just that! Share with your crew! Updated safety protocols are posted on the SWIM Leader Slack site! Here is another l ink to a document for general emergency and disaster preparedness.

OPTICS ARE IMPORTANT

The American public judges who's right and wrong almost exclusively based on the images they see on the news and on social media. This makes managing protest optics absolutely critical for movement success. This document has many suggestions on how to put our best foot forward.

POLITICAL ACTION ROADMAP FOR MICHIGANDERS

Political action is a way to support your community and fight for a society that is feminist, anti-racist, and pro-democratic. Casting your vote is just one of the many tools at your disposal! Here are some additional ways you may already be engaging in political action. This resource can be used to help scaffold new people to the movement - share with your community members.

CHECK OUT FIVE CALLS

Many local groups are having their members use this great tool to contact their legislators about the hot topics in front of them. This could not be easier. Sign up here.

CARD CAMPAIGN FOR DEMOCRACY makes it easy for even the shyest activist to get their voice heard. Here is a downloadable postcard protesting Donald Trump and "his rape of our democracy and country." Sign up for their emails here and pick up the 2025 Card campaigns.

USE THE POWER OF YOUR SPENDING!

Check out Goods Unite Us (link here; there is also an app) for verifying who the merchant may be supporting before you purchase!

COLLABORATION IS THE NAME OF THE GAME!

WANT MORE? Check out more toolkits on our website here!

SWIM WEBPAGE AND SOCIAL MEDIA

Bookmark our Website: www.statewideindivisiblemi.com. The website is a repository of resources and network partners amassed since 2017.

Members: Send us your announcements, events, photos or writings to our email at info@statewideindivisiblemi.com! We need to share our successes - we're better together!

SOCIAL MEDIA

BlueSky: @mi-swim.bsky.social

Facebook: SWIM (StateWide Indivisible Michigan) Members

Instagram: statewideindivisiblemichigan

YouTube: newly available for groups to post to @SWIM-StateWideIndMI

For the time being, we maintain our Facebook & Instagram accounts, but foresee a time in the not-distant future when we will leave these platforms like we (and many others) did X.

Join us on BlueSky!

USING THE POWER OF SOCIAL MEDIA TO AMPLIFY GOOD NEWS

Truth Bomb Toolkit – this is a very comprehensive toolkit with EVERYTHING you might want to know about Truth Bombs and how to do them.
Into Action Labs allows you to download hundreds of gifs and add your own message(s).
Indivisible's Trainings-to-Go - Slides, handouts, discussion questions, as well as notes/directions for the person leading the space. Start with a pilot batch of 3 Trainings-to-Go: Recruitment 101, Indivisible 101, and Tools for Building Inclusive Groups! These are located in the Support Hub along with a lot more! Questions or suggestions can be sent to training@indivisible.org.