September 21, 2020

SVSU Writing Center project allows community members to address future president

Saginaw Valley State University’s Writing Center will host its third postcard writing campaign allowing community members to address their future elected leaders in 200 words or less. This time, participants can write the leader elected president of the United States in November.

The nonpartisan project — also sponsored by the YWCA Great Lakes Bay Region and the U.S. Department of Arts and Culture Saginaw Outpost — collects the postcards prior to the election, with the promise of mailing the messages to the winning candidate in January. The approach allows community members to focus on issues that are important to them when writing the postcard messages, organizers say.

“We believe people’s individual voices matter,” said Helen Raica-Klotz, director of SVSU’s Writing Center. “We’re pleased to support this project, which allows people to share their hope, concerns, and goals for our country with our future leader.”

The SVSU Writing Center previously coordinated similar postcard-writing campaigns prior to the 2016 election of the U.S. president and the 2018 election of Michigan’s governor. Over 200 postcards were collected in 2016 and more than 1,500 postcards were collected in 2018.

Community members can participate in the “Dear Future President” postcard project in several ways. Postcards will be available throughout the Great Lakes Bay Region at Midland, Saginaw, and Bay county public libraries, including multiple coffee shops throughout the area. Residents can also fill out an electronic postcard online at www.svsu.edu/communityengagement/communityoutreach.

Teachers can request postcards for their students by emailing writingcenter@svsu.edu.

All postcards must be received no later than Sunday, Nov. 1.

“We’re excited to be a part of the postcard campaign,” said Moira Branigan, executive director of the YWCA Great Lakes Bay Region. “Our hope is everyone who participates is motivated to vote in November. For students – our future voters – it’s an introduction to civic engagement.”

For more information, please contact the SVSU Writing Center at (989) 964-6062.