MUSKEGON HEIGHTS, Mich. —
Ahead of this year’s election, Thredz wants to tackle issues that matter to people locally.
The Muskegon County-based organization held its second annual “Rap w/ Ya Rep” event in Muskegon Heights on Saturday.
The event brought together community leaders to talk about polarization, lack of trust in the government and leadership, gentrification and affordable housing.
Michigan Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist, Congresswoman Hillary Scholten and State Representative Will Snyder were supposed to be keynote speakers, but with Vice President Harris’ campaign stop in Detroit, they were not able to make it.
President and CEO of Thredz.org Marria McIntosh said these events are especially important to amplify youth and marginal voices within the Black, Indigenous, and Latine majority communities.
“They're feeling like they really don't have a seat at the table,” she said. “And this is an opportunity where we're bringing candidates together, elected officials, community members, nonprofits, different people into one community space where people can rap with your rep, they can listen to a little music, they can have brunch catered by soul field, and they really can just sit down and have that personal one on one conversation with the people that represent them.”
The event featured keynote speaker Attorney Brandon Davis, along with a panel moderated by local youth. That panel included Muskegon County Commissioner Darrell Page, Muskegon Heights City Manager Melvin Burns, Muskegon Heights Public School Academy System Superintendent Reedell Holmes, and Muskegon Public Schools Board of Education President Lynette Marks.
“Leading up to the election, these community these types of community events are extremely important because it gives people an opportunity to really understand the issues that are out there and why participating in their civic engagement and voting is extremely important to them,” McIntosh said. “It brings it home. It makes it personal.”
She said ahead of Saturday’s event, the youth have had five mock panels, training from Davis on civic engagement and intersectionality within the criminal justice system and branches of government training.
Along with that, young Black professionals came into train on Black excellence and imposter syndrome while public speaking.
“They really have been working hard,” she said.
The group has already registered more than 75 people to vote and has given out over 1,000 pieces of voter education literature within marginalized communities.
"We want to make sure that we're thanking them for showing up and being engaged, and then also to our panelists, we want to make sure that we're thanking them and especially our community that comes out and supports us in these efforts, because without community, we're nothing.”
McIntosh encouraged those who want to get involved to go to their website, Thredz.org, or email them at change@thredz.org.