I’m

ADO'er

Admins, Do’ers, Organizers

This collaboration began when Hector “the connector" Solon from Common Defence Michigan and Saugatuck Douglas Area Indivisibles connected a few of us from different groups. We quickly discovered a shared interest in supporting each other and decided to meet to exchange ideas, surface common challenges, and find collective solutions.

2026 Tentative Meeting Schedule

Standard Day: Second Thursday unless it conflicts with a major holiday week. Time has been fluctuating based on what works for the group.

  • Thursday, February 19 - 9:30 am

  • Thursday, March 12 - 8pm

  • Thursday, April 9 - 7:30 pm

  • Thursday, May 14

  • Thursday, June 11

  • Thursday, July 9

  • Thursday, August 13 (Possible in person meeting)

  • Thursday, September 10

  • Thursday, October 8

  • Thursday, November 5

  • Thursday, December 3 (Possible in person PARTY)

How was the first Summit? Based on 23 responses.

What Worked Well?

  • Strong overall organization, clear focus, and staying on schedule.

  • Breakout groups were highly valued for sharing experiences, ideas, and role-specific collaboration.

  • Networking and relationship-building across groups was one of the biggest benefits.

  • Effective facilitation and moderation (especially Erin and Mary) kept things moving and productive.

  • Guest presenters and voting/GOTV discussions were inspiring and informative.

  • Participants were engaged and appreciated being brought together in one room.

What Could Be Improved?

  • More time: longer summit overall, more breathing room in the schedule, and more unstructured networking time (especially at lunch).

  • Breakout groups could benefit from clearer facilitation, smaller sizes, and stronger participation balance.

  • Improved A/V and clearer structure or goals for breakout work.

  • Better advance preparation so attendees arrive with specific information and questions.

  • Clarifying expectations around nonpartisan vs. partisan work.

  • More focus and narrowing of topics, particularly for communications discussions.

Additional Themes & Suggestions?

  • Desire for clearer follow-up, coordination, and next steps—especially around GOTV and communications.

  • Interest in continued collaboration, but less frequent meetings (quarterly or semi-annual preferred by some).

  • Consider hybrid or virtual participation if attendance limits remain.

  • Strong appreciation for the organizers, logistics, and food.

  • The summit was energizing, affirming, and a valuable first step toward deeper collaboration.

Bottom Line
The summit was widely viewed as a successful, well-run, and energizing first gathering. Future summits could be even stronger with more time, clearer structure for collaboration, improved facilitation tools, and expanded opportunities for networking and follow-through.

Quick Links to Original Summit Docs

These are PDF’s formatted to print large scale for the event. I will be updating the groups and this list and giving you access to it on the shared google drive.

Registration List
Slides
doa blog - stay connected with your breakout group

Our first Summit

January 10, 2026

Based on the feedback from our first meetings, here’s a ranked list of what we collectively hoped to work on together

1. Collaboration, Coordination & Collective Action 

  •  Coordinating events and actions across groups

  •  Coordinated state actions (e.g., Lansing protests)

  •  Joining forces to build the movement and increase impact

  •  Participating in events with other Indivisible groups

  •  Fixing cross-group issues, sharing best practices

  •  Website and tools to help collaborate efficiently

  •  Preventing siloed work; creating a stronger front

  •  How to collaborate while supporting diverse group goals

  •  How collaboration might be enacted across regions

2. Growing & Sustaining Membership / Recruitment

  •  Growing membership to have more impact

  •  Ideas and strategies for recruiting volunteers who actually show up

  •  Encouraging active participation from existing members

  •  Keeping people engaged and motivated

  •  How to reach young people and underrepresented groups

  •  Why our base is often older, white, privileged—and how to change that

  •  Creating more diversity and inclusion in membership

3. Messaging & Public Awareness

  •  Clearer, stronger messaging statewide

  •  Messaging to members and to the public

  •  Raising awareness of threats to democracy and local impacts

  •  How to get public attention for events

  •  Getting the message out in rural/red areas

4. Organizing, Leadership, and Internal Operations

  •  Managing internal conflicts and making group decisions

  •  How to structure priorities and work efficiently

  •  Frequency and format of meetings

  •  Media lists, tech tools, and trainings

  •  Learning how other groups operate (structure, history, successes)

  •  Tracking involvement and participation

5. Creative and Impactful Actions

  •  Creative actions beyond traditional protests

  •  Ideas for impactful events that channel people’s desire to act

  •  Effective resistance activities

  •  Shared activities and rallies

  •  How to pull off a Town Hall

  •  Texting tools and cost-effective communication methods

6. Education, Support & Inspiration

  •  Hearing from other groups—what they’re doing, what’s working

  •  Stories of issues and successes

  •  Understanding group histories

  •  Supporting vulnerable populations (e.g., immigrants)

  •  Being around like-minded people to stay motivated

  •  Training (media, tech tools for activism)