Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. • Theta Zeta Lambda Chapter

Empower: Our Voice. Our Power. Our Future.

The official civic engagement initiative of the Theta Zeta Lambda Chapter, strengthening voter registration, voter education, civic participation, public policy awareness, and community engagement across Washtenaw County and Western Wayne County.

Register the eligible. Educate the registered. Mobilize the voters.
Empower logo
70%Turnout Benchmark
7Service Areas
2County Focus

Program Overview

Building informed, engaged, and active citizens.

Empower increases civic participation by educating residents, strengthening voter engagement, promoting informed decision-making, and encouraging active participation in the democratic process. The initiative identifies barriers to participation and creates meaningful opportunities for residents to become informed, engaged, and empowered members of their communities.

01

Voter Registration

Support eligible residents, new voters, students, and new community members in becoming registered and election-ready.

02

Voter Education

Provide clear information about elections, early voting, candidate forums, public issues, and civic responsibilities.

03

Community Engagement

Build year-round relationships with neighborhoods, schools, faith institutions, civic groups, and nonprofit partners.

04

Voter Mobilization

Deploy reminders, outreach teams, canvassing, digital education, and election-week engagement to help residents participate.

Mission & Guiding Principle

Strong communities are built through active civic participation.

When residents are informed, engaged, and empowered, communities become stronger, safer, and more responsive to the needs of the people they serve.

InformProvide education, election information, and public issue awareness.
EngageConnect residents with civic institutions, elected officials, and community partners.
EmpowerEncourage active participation in local, state, and national elections.

Strategic Benchmark

70 percent voter turnout is the minimum target.

Empower tracks registered voters, votes cast, turnout percentage, new voter registrations, population growth, and community engagement participation. Precincts below the 70 percent benchmark are identified as Priority Engagement Precincts and receive additional outreach and educational support.

Priority Levels Green: 70%+

Yellow: 60%–69% • Orange: 50%–59% • Red: Below 50%

Empower Service Area Framework

Seven operational Areas across Washtenaw County and Western Wayne County.

Each Area contains municipalities with similar geographic, demographic, and civic engagement characteristics. Each Area operates under local leadership while remaining connected to the overall Empower strategy.

Empower service area map for Washtenaw County and Western Wayne County

Area 1

Ann Arbor

Municipality: City of Ann Arbor

Focus: University students, graduate students, apartment communities, young professionals, new residents, and first-time voters.

Objective: Increase civic participation among transient populations while maintaining high engagement among students and young professionals.

Area 2

Ypsilanti Area

Municipalities: City of Ypsilanti and Ypsilanti Township

Focus: Historically underrepresented voters, renters, young adults, community organizations, and faith institutions.

Objective: Increase voter turnout and strengthen year-round civic engagement.

Area 3

Southern Washtenaw

Municipalities: Saline, Milan, Pittsfield Township, Augusta Township, and York Township

Focus: New homeowners, young families, school communities, and growing subdivisions.

Objective: Track population growth and engage newly eligible and newly relocated voters.

Area 4

Western Washtenaw

Municipalities: Chelsea, Dexter, Manchester, Scio Township, Lima Township, Lyndon Township, Freedom Township, and Sharon Township

Focus: Long-term residents, civic organizations, township communities, and community centers.

Objective: Maintain strong voter participation and support ongoing civic education.

Area 5

Western Wayne Central

Municipalities: Westland, Garden City, and Inkster

Focus: High-density neighborhoods, community organizations, faith institutions, and working families.

Objective: Identify lower-turnout precincts and deploy targeted engagement strategies.

Area 6

Western Wayne South

Municipalities: Romulus, Belleville, Van Buren Township, and Sumpter Township

Focus: New developments, newly registered voters, young families, and growing communities.

Objective: Engage new residents and increase voter participation.

Area 7

Canton

Municipality: Canton Township

Focus: Residential neighborhoods, school communities, new homeowners, and diverse cultural populations.

Objective: Maintain strong civic engagement while supporting one of the region’s fastest-growing communities.

Empower Information Packet

Review the full initiative packet.

The Empower Information Packet provides the complete program reference, including the service area framework, civic engagement strategy, precinct performance dashboard, Area structure, leadership model, councils, and success metrics.

Open Empower Information Packet Opens the packet in Google Drive.

Community Focus Councils

Focused outreach for residents, families, and partners.

New Voter Council

High school seniors, college students, newly registered voters, and first-time voters.

Faith & Community Council

Churches, mosques, community organizations, and nonprofit partners.

Senior Engagement Council

Senior citizens, retirement communities, and long-term residents.

Family & Neighborhood Council

Homeowners associations, parent organizations, and neighborhood groups.

Civic Education Council

Candidate forums, public issue discussions, community education events, and election information.

Committee Leadership Structure

Clear roles create accountability and follow-through.

Committee Chair

Provides strategic leadership and organizational oversight.

Vice Chair

Supports implementation and operations.

Data & Research Coordinator

Maintains voter turnout data and precinct analytics.

Community Outreach Coordinator

Leads community engagement activities and outreach efforts.

Youth & New Voter Coordinator

Focuses on youth and first-time voter initiatives.

Communications Coordinator

Manages messaging, outreach materials, and digital engagement.

Volunteer Coordinator

Recruits, trains, and manages volunteers.

Area Teams

Each Area includes an Area Lead, Data Coordinator, Outreach Coordinator, Volunteer Coordinator, and Community Liaison.

Precinct Performance Dashboard

Every municipality is tracked by precinct.

Empower monitors registered voters, votes cast, turnout percentage, new voter registrations, community engagement contacts, and outreach events conducted. This dashboard helps identify Priority Engagement Precincts and evaluate the effectiveness of outreach.

  • Registered voters
  • Votes cast and turnout percentage
  • New voter registrations
  • Community engagement contacts
  • Outreach events conducted

Door-to-Door Toolkit

Volunteer-ready materials for neighborhood outreach.

The expanded canvassing packet gives volunteers a practical field guide for voter engagement, including opening scripts, suggested questions, nonpartisan conduct standards, safety guidance, quick response language, tracking fields, follow-up priorities, and a printable tracking sheet.

Expanded Field Guide

Empower Door-to-Door Canvassing Packet

Use this PDF for volunteer training, neighborhood assignments, and post-canvass reporting.

Open Expanded Packet
Editable Version

Canvassing Packet Word Document

Use the editable version to add election dates, clerk information, QR codes, team assignments, and Area-specific instructions.

Download Editable Packet
Field Use

Recommended Canvassing Workflow

Assign teams, review the script, canvass in pairs, record contacts immediately, collect sheets, and debrief to identify follow-up needs.

View Outreach Strategy

Voter Education Resource

Educated Voting

Educated Voting is linked as a helpful civic education resource for residents, volunteers, and community partners. Use this resource to support informed participation, strengthen voter awareness, and help community members prepare before election day.

External Resource

Open the Educated Voting website for additional voter education information and tools.

Visit Educated Voting

Civic Engagement Strategy

Outreach guided by research, education, and mobilization.

Voter Registration

Support eligible residents, high school seniors, students, and new residents.

Community Education

Share election information, issue awareness, candidate forums, and early voting education.

Door-to-Door Outreach

Confirm registration status, identify barriers, document contacts, and provide follow-up.

Election Mobilization

Use digital education, community reminders, and election-week outreach to increase participation.

Election Cycle Engagement Timeline

A structured plan for each election cycle.

90 Days

Analyze Data

Review turnout data, identify Priority Engagement Precincts, and develop Area outreach plans.

60 Days

Register & Educate

Conduct voter registration drives and increase civic education efforts.

30 Days

Canvass & Promote

Deploy canvassing teams and promote early voting options.

Election Week

Mobilize

Share community reminders, encourage voter participation, and complete final outreach.

Program Success Metrics

How impact is measured.

Success is measured through voter turnout increases, new voter registrations, households engaged, civic education participation, community partnerships formed, volunteer engagement, and precinct benchmark improvements.

  • Voter turnout increases
  • New voter registrations
  • Households and residents engaged
  • Civic education participation
  • Community partnerships and volunteer engagement

Partnership Opportunities

Empower welcomes partners committed to community participation.

Partnership opportunities include educational institutions, community organizations, faith organizations, municipal governments, nonprofit organizations, civic groups, and business partners.

Empower logo

Contact Information

TZL Empower

Website: www.tzlempower.org

Email: matthew.mm.coats@gmail.com

Phone: (734) 634-2140

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. – Theta Zeta Lambda Chapter

Website: www.annarboralphas.org

Email: annarboralphas@gmail.com

First of All, Servants of All, We Shall Transcend All.