Diana Youssef Faraj Email & Phone Number

Detroit, Michigan, United States

With the passage of major structural reforms in 2018 (an effort I began working on in 2016 when it was a ballot initiative), a more cross-organizational coordinated, long-term and sustained approach had to be taken to ensure that Michigan’s democracy worked for everyone and that voters had full access to the new tools provided under the recent constitutional amendment that allowed for the first time in Michigan all citizens the right to same-day voter registration and vote by mail. (Proposition 3 2018) In my capacity as Program Manager, I led a coalition for dozens of organizations and over 70 volunteers in a coordinated community clerk engagement effort that spanned across over 50 historically disenfranchised jurisdictions. I worked to provide historically disenfranchised communities with the resources necessary to allow them to lead these efforts in each jurisdiction knowing that they were the best messengers for expanded education and engagement on voting rights. I provided resources, training's and led strategy sessions with key partners to form community-led teams who spent the year meeting, preparing and aiding City and Township Clerks within the process of implementing the new rights to ensure that Michigan elections were administered to serve the BIPOC and Disability communities of Michigan who have been most impacted by voter suppression.

Greater Detroit Area

As Voting Rights and Southeast Michigan Regional Coordinator, I led local organizers in building people's power, presence, and relationships to organize citizens to get involved and make the protection of Michigan’s vote, land, air, and water a political priority. Specifically building a strong team to lead volunteers and voter education events and training. Another major aspect of my work here included holding accountable and building relationships with key, local opinion leaders, including elected officials, who could play pivotal roles in passing stronger laws to protect vote, land, air, and water. Organizing town hall forums, mobilizing volunteers to connect with lawmakers' events, etc. As Voting Rights Coordinator I assist in supporting voting rights campaigns and efforts in Michigan through mobilizing MLCV membership and providing them with volunteers and resources and various forms of voter education and advocacy.