As Voters Not Politicians continues to expand and evolve, we’re always working to grow our circle of volunteers and supporters. Board member Ed Aboufadel recognizes that our Board of Directors should be just as diverse as the Michiganders we represent. He’s working to help make that happen.
When Ed first joined the Board of Voters Not Politicians, his focus wasn’t on the governance of VNP, but instead on the implementation of Proposal 2. He was committed to seeing that the redistricting initiative was implemented properly.
Since joining the board, he has leaned into governance.
My primary focus on the board has been to chair the Governance Committee. That committee started with the writing of bylaws for the board, and then turned to recruiting new board members.
As a west Michigander, Ed recognizes that Voters Not Politicians appeals to and includes a broad base of supporters. And he wants to make sure the Board reflects those different voices.
Voters Not Politicians didn’t exist five years ago, and the initial board appointments were driven partially by who was already connected to VNP. Now that we are established, we have the time and people to build a team of board members that represents all of Michigan, whether that is geographically, ethnically, or politically. As the VNP board becomes more diverse, it will be more effective at understanding and advancing the needs of the voters (rather than the politicians).
And understanding the diversity of Voters Not Politicians is key to understanding the power of our grassroots pro-democracy movement.
I wish more people understood the volunteer energy that fuels VNP, that we’re not just another non-profit involved in politics. Strengthening the freedom to vote ultimately helps our whole society.
I would like to explore possibilities for serving on the board, or in its standing committees. How can I help?