BLSA's 2026 Black History Month programming will examine the central role that Detroiters and Michiganders play in shaping the present and future of democracy. The panel will explore how election law, administration, litigation, and grassroots organizing operate in practice, and how decisions made at the local and state levels directly affect access to political power in our communities. Panelists will discuss Detroit’s unique position in statewide elections, the legal and administrative pressures placed on Black-led jurisdictions, and the ways in which Michigan’s election system both relies on and scrutinizes Black political participation. The conversation will also address how recent legal, political, and social developments are reshaping democratic institutions, and what those changes mean for voters, election officials, and advocates on the ground.

Invited panelists: Norman Clement, Detroit Change Initiative - Andre Gilbert, Deputy City Clerk, City of Detroit - Khyla Craine, Chief Legal Director, Secretary of State - Bonsitu Kitaba, ACLU MI Legal Director

Food and beverages provided.

RSVP by February 18, 2026.