Release Date: 
Friday, October 20, 2023

HFC hosts the 20th Michigan Student Political Issues Convention

Event Date: 
Fri, 10/27/2023 - 9:00am to 1:30pm
Location: 
Andrew A. Mazarra Administrative Services and Conference Center (ASCC) (Bldg. L)
Representative Erin Byrnes (left) and Senator Sylvia Santana (right).
From L-R: Representative Erin Byrnes and Senator Sylvia Santana are two of the elected officials who will attend the Michigan Student Political Issues Convention on Oct. 27. The purpose of this event is to help students become more politically engaged.

HFC and the Michigan Democracy Institute Consortium will host the 20th Michigan Student Political Issues Convention on Friday, October 27, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on the first floor of the Andrew A. Mazzara Administrative Services & Conference Center (ASCC) (Building L on the main campus).

“The purpose of this convention is to promote youth voices,” said HFC political science instructor Dr. Anthony Perry, the convention coordinator. “Students need to be politically engaged. They need to register to vote so their voices will be represented in the next election.”

Political leaders attending include:

Other unconfirmed invitees include Representative Debbie Dingell, Representative John James, and Representative Rashida Tlaib. Please note, this dignitaries list is subject to change based on requirements in Lansing and Washington, D.C.

Students will determine the most important political issues

Students from HFC, Oakland Community College, Macomb Community College, Wayne State University, and the University of Michigan-Dearborn will convene at HFC to discuss the most important issues of our time.

The primary purpose of this convention is to develop a political agenda from the student perspective. Students will determine the most important political issues during their Caucus Voting Sessions. Students will not address specific solutions. They will ask their elected officials and candidates to identify appropriate solutions for their concerns.

"Having informed and engaged citizens doesn't happen automatically,” explained Perry. “Democracy cannot exist without ordinary citizens being informed and engaged. Citizens are the ultimate check on power. The Democracy Institute Consortium at HFC is deliberate in providing students with a safe opportunity to learn about government and to become engaged citizens. The convention is not about partisan nor electoral politics; it's about providing students with an opportunity to use their political voice by expressing their concerns on issues they feel are important.”

Register today

The conference is free and open to the public. Registration is requested. Please register today

For questions or more information, contact Perry at 313-845-6383 or adperry1@hfcc.edu.