Why Champions for Change and why NEW AND WHY NOW?

Across our communities, people deserve to feel welcomed, valued, and cared for. Yet the persistent racial disparities in health, wealth, education, housing, policing, and political power show how far we still are from that dream. These inequities aren’t accidental; they’re rooted in systems designed for some to thrive at the expense of others – systems that also fuel today’s polarization and backlash against justice movements.

Champions for Change (CFC) exists to build power and strengthen our capacity for racial justice and healing here in our SE Michigan communities. By bringing together community builders, helpers, organizers, caregivers – anyone attentive to collective wellbeing – we can learn and practice new ways of leading towards lasting change. Grounded in NEW’s commitment to justice, liberation, and our shared humanity, CFC offers practical approaches to racial co-liberation that support and restore people as we ourselves, our organizations, and our communities. It’s a space to grow into leadership, even if you don’t yet see yourself as a “leader,” to discover strengths and practice new ways of being in community, and to slow down, reflect, and reconnect to purpose.

Through shared practice, deep listening, and relationship-building, Champions are nourished, supported, and equipped for intentional, sustained action. Together, we cultivate the courage, clarity, and collective power needed to disrupt racism and move toward a future where everyone can thrive.

THE CHAMPIONS FOR CHANGE EXPERIENCE

In CFC, you’ll explore how race has shaped your life and perspectives, practice dialogue across lines of identity, and build skills for connection, influence, and collective action. You’ll learn new ways of showing up in community, experience joy and rejuvenation, and bridge the communities you care about with the communities others are tending to.

Sessions are full-day (7-hour) gatherings, held once or twice a month in Ann Arbor and Detroit, with a few virtual sessions. Each day includes storytelling, deep listening, skills practice, and space for joy, play, and shared meals.

You’ll also join smaller affinity groups organized around identities such as race, gender, generation, or role. These groups offer room for honest reflection, shared experience, lowered armor, and deeper connection. Most sessions include both affinity time and full-cohort dialogue so we can build brave, grounded, and authentic conversations together.

The 2026 cohort will welcome up to 26 participants from across Southeast Michigan: community thinkers, builders, helpers, organizers, activists, nonprofit staff, social workers, and others navigating the complexities and possibilities of this moment.

As part of your journey, you will be invited to work toward a personal fundraising goal of $500 – $1,000. These funds will support the cost of our closing retreat in Idlewild, Michigan, with a portion also benefiting a local racial justice organization. Upon joining the cohort, you will receive clear guidance, materials, and support to help you meet this goal.

Through this experience, we will:

• Deepen our understanding of social and racial justice, equity, and inclusion, while gaining practical skills to advance them.

   

• Strengthen the emotional capacities of courage, resilience, and compassion that sustain long-term justice work.
   
• Honor and learn from the collective wisdom of the CFC community by uplifting each other’s knowledge and lived experiences.

   

• Build lasting relationships with justice-focused leaders across Southeast Michigan who share a commitment to racial equity.

   

• Recognize and challenge unjust policies, practices, and procedures within our spheres of influence.

   

• Help create the conditions for more BIPOC leaders to thrive and expand their leadership across sectors and industries in Southeast Michigan.

SESSIONS

Strategic Opportunities: Influencing Change in Your Circles

Saturday, March 21 (03/21/26), 9am – 4pm
Zoom (Virtual)

In this session, we will explore the changes we hope to see in the organizations and communities we care about, with a focus on advancing racial justice. You’ll have the opportunity to envision a preferred future, identify barriers (structural, cultural, and interpersonal) and reflect on your personal strengths and areas for growth. Through creative exercises and collaborative dialogue, we’ll uncover strategic opportunities for equity-centered change while deepening understanding of co-liberation. Together, we’ll practice doing our part to create the world we want.

Washtenaw & Wayne Historical Journey

Saturday, April 25 (04/25/26), 9am – 4pm
NEW Center (Ann Arbor)

Hop on the bus and journey from Ann Arbor to Ypsilanti, Dearborn, and Detroit as we explore how our liberation is tied to the liberation of others. Along the way, community historians, lifelong residents, and local leaders will share stories that illuminate the human cost of injustice, the resilience of communities, and the legacies of segregation, racism, and settler colonialism. This immersive experience invites Champions to engage in wayfinding: navigating the complex history and present realities of these places as we consider our role in shaping a more just future.

Self-Organizing for Liberation

Saturday, May 9 (05/09/26), 9am – 4pm
TeenHYPE (Detroit)

In this unconference-style session, Champions will practice self-organizing for liberation and have the opportunity to engage in project work, organizing, activism, and taking action toward equity and justice. Participants will shape the agenda and topics themselves, revisiting reflections or ideas from previous sessions and exploring unresolved questions. The session provides open space to make sense of past experiences, advance project work, and collaborate with others in the cohort.

Retreat to idlewild: from seed to bloom 

Friday, June 5  – Sunday, June 7 (06/05/26-06/07/26)

Depart: 8am | Return: 3pm

Start and end at the NEW Center (Ann Arbor)

Step into the vibrant history and spirit of Idlewild, Michigan, Michigan’s “Black Eden”, for a weekend that Champions consistently call the highlight of their cohort experience. Travel around this historic community and hear its stories come alive, grounding in Idlewild’s past, present, and future. Bond over tasty meals and snacks, breathe in the air of the outdoors, and connect deeply with both nature and fellow Champions. Together, we’ll engage in the creative process of futuring, reflect on our shared journey, and celebrate the growth, resilience, and possibilities that have emerged along the way.