Enter Van Buren Forward, a new 501(c)(4) chapter designed to activate residents across the county. By hosting civic workshops, voter guidance sessions, and public forums, it will ensure leadership is truly accessible—meeting people where they are, in community centers, schools, and online.
ABOUT US
Van Buren Forward
Van Buren Forward’s mission is threefold: engage residents by building grassroots networks; build political power through capacity-building and coordinated advocacy; and educate on civic duties, illuminating how local laws, elections, and public offices directly affect daily life. Mirroring the success of Indivisible Southwest Michigan’s model of local activism , this initiative aims to forge a new generation of leaders who are not only informed and accountable but deeply connected to the communities they serve.
Our Issues
HOUSING
ECONOMIC MOBILITY
STABLE LEADERSHIP
By easing restrictions on housing density and permitting mixed-use projects, zoning reforms allow more quality homes and businesses to be built in Van Buren County. Housing is a non-partisan issue plaguing our communities, with the population leaving Southwest Michigan, we need to invest in good-paying jobs, recreational activities, and
By easing restrictions on housing density and permitting mixed-use projects, zoning reforms allow more quality homes and businesses to be built in Van Buren County. Housing is a non-partisan issue plaguing our communities, with the population leaving Southwest Michigan, we need to invest in good-paying jobs, recreational activities, and affordable housing that will retain talents in our communities. These policies attract residents, new businesses, and stimulate local economic activity – leading to expansions and growth.
STABLE LEADERSHIP
ECONOMIC MOBILITY
STABLE LEADERSHIP
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Van Buren County is at a pivotal crossroads where leadership must be stable, accessible, and effective—capable of uniting a diverse population spread across small towns, rural communities, and agricultural areas. Michigan State University Extension’s “Governing Essentials” and “Leadership Intensive” programs highlight the essential ne
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Van Buren County is at a pivotal crossroads where leadership must be stable, accessible, and effective—capable of uniting a diverse population spread across small towns, rural communities, and agricultural areas. Michigan State University Extension’s “Governing Essentials” and “Leadership Intensive” programs highlight the essential need for transparent, skills-based leadership that understands local issues like the Open Meetings Act, zoning, civic ethics, and budgeting. However, bringing these values into the broader community requires more than occasional training—it demands sustained engagement driven by a purpose-built civil society organization.
ECONOMIC MOBILITY
ECONOMIC MOBILITY
ECONOMIC MOBILITY
Van Buren County faces growing economic disparities that hinder residents’ ability to achieve upward mobility, access good-paying union jobs, and build generational wealth—especially in its rural and working-class communities. Decades of disinvestment and a lack of responsive leadership have left too many families struggling to meet basi
Van Buren County faces growing economic disparities that hinder residents’ ability to achieve upward mobility, access good-paying union jobs, and build generational wealth—especially in its rural and working-class communities. Decades of disinvestment and a lack of responsive leadership have left too many families struggling to meet basic needs while wealth and opportunity remain out of reach. Van Buren Forward exists to change that trajectory by empowering residents to organize, vote, and elect representatives who believe in fair wages, union protections, affordable housing, and pathways to homeownership. Through civic education, strategic engagement, and local coalition building, Van Buren Forward will help foster a political landscape where economic dignity is prioritized and families can thrive—not just survive—across generations.