Quick facts about Detroit Action
About Detroit Action: Detroit Action is a union of Black and Brown, low and no-income, homeless and housing insecure Detroiters fighting for housing and economic justice. The organization is a grassroots and member-led, multigenerational, community-based organization fighting for real political power. Detroit Action provides opportunities for individuals and families to develop as full human beings through leadership development workshops, organizer internships, nonpartisan voter education and mobilization drives, direct action, and collaboration with allied organizations locally, statewide, nationally, and even internationally.
In 2020, Detroit Action helped drive up voter turnout in Metro Detroit, leading to decisive victories for the Biden-Harris and Senator Gary Peters campaigns. Detroit Action:
Built a team of highly trained outreach canvassers, made up almost entirely of Black and Brown Metro Detroiters, that completed over 1,112 hours of phone calling from mid-August to Election Day. They made over 979,000 calls, contacted 86,845 community members to move the vote, and successfully completed 20,792 conversations with voters.
Ran a voter education and engagement program called “Don’t Quarantine My Vote” focused on COVID-19 relief and educating voters about absentee and early voting.
With Michigan Asian American Progressives, launched the Michigan Action SuperPAC and ran an aggressive persuasion campaign that targeted low-propensity Black, LatinX, and Asian American voters in Metro Detroit and key Red-To-Blue districts.
Led an election protection and de-escalation program that recruited and trained 30 poll workers and dispatched folks trained in de-escalation to polling sites across the county.
Developed a mutual aid fund that allocated $135,000 to over 200 Wayne County households that were directly impacted by the pandemic.
In 2021-22, Detroit Action will:
Invest in Dismantling Racism. In 2020, Detroit Action found that constituents’ greatest concern is dismantling racism and electing leaders who are directly accountable to their communities. As such, the organization will invest in advancing policies aimed at dismantling systemic racism.
Defend Democracy through Community Organizing. Detroit Action will engage its base and mobilize Black voters to organize and demand that every vote is counted. It will also focus on winning critical statewide elections, including Governor (2022), Attorney General (2022), and the U.S. Senate (2024).