The U.S. Government may have been shut down on the first anniversary of President Trump’s inauguration by a huge political divide in Congress , but hundreds of thousands of women across the country marched to prove that they have become a potent political force for 2018.

What may be lesser known than the televised view of women marching in New York, LA, Las Vegas  and dozens of other American cities including Detroit, is the importance of the Motor City in hosting a crucial convention last October for women leaders.  More than 4,000 people heard speakers there such as Me Too campaign founder Tarana Burke and Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Ca) and also participated in panels and training sessions on topics like running for office and confronting racism. *

On Sunday, an event in Las Vegas kicked off a nationwide voter registration initiative call #Power to the Polls that has a goal of signing up 1 million voters.  More than 26,000 women have signed up to run for office, according to Emily’s List, which aims to put pro-choice Democratic women in power.   Organizers have identified battlegrounds in districts in Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Wisconsin and yes, Michigan, as well as other states.

So even if the dysfunction in Washington DC needs to play out further this year, don’t lose hope. Motown  is joining cities across America to help women bring new energy to the nation’s  Capitol.  For more information, read the links below.

*https://www.vox.com/identities/2018/1/19/16905884/2018-womens-march-anniversary

https://www.cnn.com/2018/01/22/politics/womens-march-political-goals/index.html