Thank you so much for joining the #DriveMichiganForward Week of Action from May 17 - May 21st! Use this toolkit as a reference for what actions are occurring on each day, what our asks are, and how to post about them - both as an individual, and as an allied organization. 

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Campaign Overview + Why This Matters

Drive Michigan Forward (DMF) is a coalition made up of immigrants and allies. Our goal is to restore driver’s licenses to all and pave the way for basic dignity and security for members of our community. By restoring driver’s licenses to all Michiganders, regardless of immigration status, we can make Michigan a place where everyone has the opportunity to thrive and belong.

The Drive SAFE House Bills 4835 and 4836 and Senate Bills 433 and 434 were reintroduced to the Michigan Legislature Tuesday, May 11th. This year, we have a fighting chance at getting Drive SAFE bills into a hearing in the House Rules and Competitiveness Committee. Now, we need to up the momentum and encourage Committee Chair Rep. Jim Lilly to support Drive SAFE House Bills before the legislative session ends! 

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What is the Week of Action?

As part of the Drive Michigan Forward, we are putting together a five day Week of Action to coincide with the Drive SAFE Bill being reintroduced to the Michigan legislature. Our goal is to amplify the campaign and let legislators know that we will not be silenced and that undocumented Michiganders deserve driver’s licenses! Here is a quick overview of the actions:

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Saturday + Sunday, May 15th and 16th

 

Campaign action: Using our sample captions and graphic, post about the week of action to inform your communities/members that it’s happening and get people excited to participate. This is the pre-hype phase where we’re trying to get as many people as possible to like our social media pages. Our Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook pages are where folks can get the latest up to date news about the Week Of Action, the Drive SAFE bills, and how they can get involved. 

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Want to send an email out to your org members or friends? Click here for an email template.

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image id: yellow background with roads and a car. text: drive michigan forward week of action. 5/17: post a selfie with a #DriveMichiganForward Sign & check our our livestream at 3PM EST! 5/18: call and email your legislator, then join our phonebank at 5PM EST! 5/19: sign out petition & join our phonebank at 12PM EST! 5/20: call & email your legislator, then join our phonebank at 5PM EST! 5/21: join our instagram livestream at 11:30AM EST with ACLU Michigan! drivemichiganforward.com 

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Sample Social Media Posts for the Pre-Hype Stage of the Week of Action - don't forget to use our hashtags, #DriveMIForward, and #MILeg.

 

Twitter:

 

• Join the @DriveMIForward Week of Action from May 17 - 21. We’re urging the #MILeg to pass #DriveSAFE bills to restore driver’s licenses to ALL Michiganders, regardless of immigration status! Take action: drivemichiganforward.com

• .@DriveMIForward is launching its Week Of Action from May 17 - May 21 to urge the #MILeg to pass #DriveSAFE bills, so ALL Michiganders have their driver’s licenses restored! Take action: drivemichiganforward.com

• We’re proud to be a part of the @DriveMIForward coalition! Participate in the Week Of Action from 5/17 - 5/21 to urge the #MILeg to pass #DriveSAFE bills so ALL Michiganders have restored driver’s licenses. Follow their account & head to drivemichiganforward.com to learn more! 

• MI Senators @stephanielily + @WinnieBrinks & Reps @PadmaKuppaMI41 + @RachelHood76 agree: Michiganders should be able to lawfully operate vehicles, regardless of their immigration status. Join the @DriveMIForward Week of Action from 5-17 to 5/21. Learn more: drivemichiganforward.com.

• Michiganders should be able to drive regardless of their immigration status. That’s why we’re fighting to pass #DriveSAFE bills in the #MILeg. Join the @DriveMIForward Week Of Action from 5/17 - 5/21 & make your voice heard. Learn more: drivemichiganforward.com

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Facebook Week of Action Livestream 5/17 Pre-Promotion

• Come celebrate the kick off the @DriveMichiganForward Week of Action during our Facebook Livestream on May 17th @ 3PM EST! RSVP now to learn how you can get involved: https://fb.me/e/1prRXsNhn

 

Facebook + Instagram:

 

• Join the #DriveMichiganForward campaign May 17 - 21 for a Week of Action. We’re urging the #MILeg to pass #DriveSafe bills & restore driver’s licenses to ALL Michiganders, regardless of immigration status Follow @DriveMichiganForward here on Facebook and head to Drivemichiganforward.com to take action!

• We’re proud to be a part of the @DriveMichiganForward coalition! Participate in the  Week Of Action May 17th through May 21st to urge the #MILeg to pass #DriveSafe bills so ALL Michiganders have restored driver’s licenses. Follow their account @DriveMichiganForward + head to DriveMichiganForward.com to participate!

• Michigan State Senators Stephanie Chang and Winnie Brinks alongside State Representatives Padma Kuppa and Rachel Hood agree: Michiganders should be able to awfully operate vehicles, regardless of their immigration status. Join the @DriveMichiganForward Week of Action May 17th through May 21st to help pass #DriveSAFE legislation. Click here to learn how you can get involved: drivemichiganforward.com

• Michiganders should be able to lawfully operate vehicles, regardless of their immigration status. That’s why we’re fighting to pass #DriveSAFE bills in the #MILeg. Join the @DriveMichiganForward Week Of Action from May 17th to May 21st and make your voice heard. Click here @DriveMichiganForward on Facebook and head to drivemichiganforward.com to get involved.

 

Facebook Week Of Action Kickoff Livestream 5/17 Pre-Promotion

• Come celebrate the kick off the @DriveMichiganForward Week of Action during our Facebook Livestream on May 17th @ 3PM EST! We’ll be discussing why we’re excited to support Drive SAFE bills and fight to restore legal driver’s licenses to all Michgianders regardless of immigration status. RSVP now: https://fb.me/e/1prRXsNhn

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Monday, May 17th

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Campaign Action: 

1. post a selfie in support of our campaign

2. attend our kickoff livestream at 3PM EST! 

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Want to send an email to your org members or friends? Click here for an email template. 

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image id: yellow background with a road and paper car cutout. text: drive michigan forward week of action, monday 5/17. Paper camera cutout and yellow star behind it to represent the camera snap. text: "Post a selfie: Show your friends that you support drivers licenses for all & help promote our campaign! Post a picture of yourself with a #DriveMichiganForward sign, or just a photo of you, then tag us! Find sample captions on the week of action toolkit on our website." Below that is a cutout of the facebook live logo. Text: "Watch our livestream at 3PM. We're kicking off our week of action with a Facebook livestream at 3PM EST! Join our coalition members, learn about the bill and why we're fighting, then take action with us. Learn more & check out the stream: https://bit.ly/dmfkickoff (case sensitive). www.drivemichiganforward.com"

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image id: yellow background with a road and paper car cutout. Text: drive michigan forward week of action livestream kickoff, 5/17 at 3PM. We're kicking off our week of action with a Facebook livestream at 3PM EST! Join our coalition members, learn about the bill and why we're fighting, then take action with us. Check out the link below for more info: https://bit.ly/dmfkickoff." There are pictures of the 5 speaks in yellow circles: Nelly Fuentes from We the People MI, Simon Marshall-Shah from Michigan League for Public Policy, Oscar Castañeda from Action of Greater Lansing, Gaby Santiago-Romero from We the People-MI, Fatou-Seydi Sarr from African Bureau for Immigration & Social Affairs.

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Action 1: Post a selfie 

Post a selfie with a #DriveMichiganForward sign, along with our week of action graphic. We'd suggest posting a selfie or picture of you to beat the algorithm and boost engagement. 

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​Facebook & Instagram sample posts

• All people in Michigan should have the right to move freely. And in a driving state, that means we need driver’s licenses for all. Prior to 2008, citizenship status wasn’t a requirement to obtain a driver’s license or state ID card. We need to restore driver’s licenses to all Michiganders regardless of their immigration status. Join me and @DriveMichiganForward to urge the Michigan Legislature to pass #DriveSAFE bills now!

Twitter Sample Posts

• Immigrants in Michigan deserve to drive without fear of deportation. That’s why I’m supporting #DriveSAFE bills. If you agree, take a selfie with a poster and mention @DriveMIForward. Let’s make our voices heard to the #MILeg 

• I'm so excited to be part of the #DriveSAFE bill package to ensure that Michigan residents are able to obtain a state-issued driver's license or identification card regardless of immigration status.

• From stakeholders such as faith leaders, law enforcement, and representatives from the agriculture and labor community, we all agree: it's time we stop holding Michigan's residents and economy back, it's time we #DriveMichiganForward!

• 1000s of immigrants in Michigan can't legally obtain state-issued driver’s licenses. This prevents folks from safely driving to work, grocery shopping, etc. I support #DriveSAFE bills to restore driver's licenses to all. Follow @DriveMIForward & post a selfie if u agree!

• In 2008, the #MILeg made it illegal for 1000s of immigrants to have state-issued driver’s licenses. Support #DriveSAFE bills to restore driver’s licenses to ALL. Post a selfie w/ a poster, tag @DriveMiForward & RT if you agree!

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Action 2: Attend our kickoff Facebook Livestream! 

We're kicking off our week of action with a Facebook livestream at 3PM EST! Join our coalition members to learn about the bill and why we're fighting, then take action with us. View the facebook event here.

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Live stream guests:

• Nelly Fuentes, Michigan Immigrant Justice Coordinator, We the People MI

• Simon Marshall-Shah -- State Policy Fellow, Michigan League for Public Policy

• Gaby Santiago Romero -- We the People MI

• Oscar Castañeda, Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation

• Seydi Sarr -- Founder, ABISA

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Post about our livestream on your socials, using our day of graphics:

• Facebook & Instagram : Come celebrate the kick off the @DriveMichiganForward Week of Action today @ 3PM. We’ll be discussing why we’re excited to support Drive SAFE bills and fight to restore legal driver’s licenses to all Michgianders regardless of immigration status. RSVP now -> https://fb.me/e/1pQE2pnQ8

• Twitter:

  • Today’s the first day of the Week of Action. Tap in & learn how YOU can get involved by joining our livestream today @ 3PM. RSVP now: https://fb.me/e/1pQE2pnQ8

  • Twitter: Happening NOW: Join the Week of Action kickoff livestream. Click the link to join https://fb.me/e/1pQE2pnQ8

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Tuesday, May 18th through Thursday, May 20th

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Want to send an email to your org members or friends? Click here for an email template for each day. 

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Campaign Action: 

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1. Call and Email Rep. Sarah Anthony, urging her to become a champion of the cause and help get these bills a hearing!

     CALL:     

     (517) 373-0826

     "Hi, my name is {name] from {city or county}. I'm calling to urge you to support the Drive SAFE House Bills 4835 and 4836 - and become       a champion of the cause by urging committee chair Rep. Lilly to grant our bills a hearing before the end of the year. Your support is key       to restore the right of all Michiganders to access a state ID or drivers license with proof of identity and Michigan residency, regardless of       citizenship status. There is urgency to give these bills a hearing. We know that this legislation will have clear, tangible, and positive                 impacts on hundreds of thousands of Michiganders - including the lives of your constituents.  Right now, too many Michiganders cannot       engage in their communities, participate in our state economy more fully and complete everyday tasks with dignity and without                   fear. Please act now!

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2. Attend a Drive Michigan Forward phonebank, where we'll be calling our neighbors to talk to them about drivers licenses for all! 

        Tuesday: 5 - 8PM

        Wednesday: 2 - 3PM

        Thursday: 5 - 8PM