For priority consideration, apply ASAP. Sessions are May 16th, May 23rd, and May 30th 2026 from 10am - 11am.
You’re invited to apply to participate in the Empowering Communities: Solutions to Michigan’s Biggest Problems webinar series — a four-part educational training designed specifically for candidates for state and local office, state and local elected officials, and activists who want practical tools to advance their agendas and better serve their communities.
Local leaders are often on the front lines of residents’ most urgent concerns — housing affordability, infrastructure, economic development, public health, and municipal finances. Yet too often, state preemption laws quietly limit what cities, counties, and townships are allowed to do. This series is designed to make those constraints clear, actionable, and navigable – and provide Michigan’s rising leaders with the tools they need to address problems at the state and local level. This webinar series is useful for both state and local elected officials.
Session 1: Actual Affordable Housing
State and local leaders are constantly saying that they’re creating affordable housing, and residents continue to say housing is unaffordable. What’s happening? How can we address these problems through local development processes and state law? Join community groups advocating for safe, affordable housing and learn about policy solutions to address the affordable housing shortage while protecting tenants and preserving our communities.
Session 2: Development for People’s Sake
Michigan’s rustbelt towns have plenty of space for more neighbors. Development is necessary to address our infrastructure problems and create jobs in Michigan. But too often, residents feel pushed out and left behind by development projects meant to bring jobs. Hear from union and community partners to hear about solutions to ensure that developments meant to bring jobs and residents to our cities develop for people, not corporate profits.
Session 3: Fixing the Roads, Funding Your Agenda, Fiscal Crisis
Once you win, you’ll be faced with the most essential question: how are you supposed to get work done and fund your policy agenda? Everybody wants to fix the roads, reduce transportation costs, reduce property tax burdens on low-income residents, make water affordable, create more jobs, address public health crises, and increase services. Get the low-down on Michigan’s incredibly unique road funding situation, municipal finance situation, and potential state and local ways to raise revenue. Hear about how to apply for state grants and innovative taxation solutions from partners like the Home Rule Project and American Heart Association.
Michigan’s Emergency Management laws were a massive experiment in governance. Ask most Michiganders who lived under Emergency Management, and they’re not pleased with what happened. Worse yet – Michigan’s cities have been in crisis before, and may one day be in crisis again (more about Michigan’s unique municipal finance system in Session 3). Learn what really happened with Emergency Management, its consequences, and how cities and the state can work together to protect Michigan cities from the disastrous impacts of emergency management laws in the future.
This is a nonpartisan, C3 educational program created to support informed leadership — whether you are preparing for an upcoming election or governing right now.
We hope you’ll consider applying and joining a growing network of local leaders committed to building communities for people, not corporations.
What this series offers:
A clear, practical understanding of how state preemption laws affect local policy-making
Concrete tools you can use during campaigns and when in office
Examples from Michigan and other states where local leaders have successfully advanced people-centered policies
Direct access to trusted statewide policy and advocacy organizations working on these issues
Who should apply:
Sitting local elected officials (cities, counties, townships)
Candidates for state legislature or local office
Community activists
Legislative staffers
Aspiring politicos
Format:
Four 60-minute Zoom trainings (recorded and captioned)
Breakout discussions and optional 30-minute office hours after each session
Participants who complete all four sessions will receive:
Questions? jasmine@homeruleproject.org
Local Voices, Local Choices is part of the Home Rule Project – a national 501c3 initiative dedicated to restoring and strengthening local democracy to hold developers accountable, create good-quality jobs, and lower housing costs.