Interfaith Council for Peace & Justice

10/08/2026

As a proud co-sponsor of the AAPS and YCS School Board Candidate Forums, the Interfaith Council for Peace and Justice (ICPJ) encourages voters to learn more about the candidates running for the Ann Arbor Public Schools (AAPS) and Ypsilanti Community Schools (YCS) Boards of Education.

The Student Advocacy Center has brought together valuable voter education resources to help community members make informed decisions at the ballot box.

These resources include:

Videos from both school board candidate forums

Candidates' responses to audience questions

A special video featuring AAPS students interviewing candidates and asking questions that matter to them

School board elections matter! The decisions made by these boards directly affect students, families, educators, and the future of public education in our communities.

ICPJ is grateful to have helped support these important opportunities for civic engagement and community dialogue.

We encourage you to explore the resources, hear directly from the candidates, and share this information with your networks.

🔗 Explore the voter education resources: https://www.studentadvocacycenter.org/you-can-be-an.../



https://www.studentadvocacycenter.org/you-can-be-an-informed-voter-school-board-elections/

We have put a BUNCH of details into one place to help you decide who to vote for in November in the AAPS and YCS school board candidate races. Please visit and share out this resource: https://www.studentadvocacycenter.org/you-can-be-an-informed-voter-school-board-elections/

You will find videos of both forums AND answers to audience questions (finally!!!). Some of our AAPS students also interviewed candidates and posed a question to them -- and we have a compilation video up so you can see how AAPS candidates answered that particular question.

10/08/2026

Existing, new, and prospective circle members are invited to join us for a potluck and general circle meeting! We will formalize each circle’s needs, identify roles for each circle, and nominate members for the mission circle.

📅 Thursday, October 22, 6-8pm
📍 Hybrid (1420 Hill St, Ann Arbor, or Zoom)

RSVP on Givebutter: https://givebutter.com/general-circle-meeting
More info about circles: https://www.icpj.org/blog/circles/

10/08/2026

AAPS Students wanted to hear from school board candidates on several questions and took some time to interview them before the recent forum. We weren't able to get interviews to work with everyone — but thankfully, many candidates were able to send in videos to answer the question:
"What will you do to gain a comprehensive understanding of what the district's classrooms are truly like?"

https://youtu.be/ErF2V6foksI

Special thanks to our students for coming up with many good questions that informed the forum and for spending time with our candidates. And thanks to our candidates for sharing their answers.

Candidates in order of appearance:
Aaron Puno, Kelley Ellis, Carolyn Siebers, Rima Mohammad, Kevin Hudson, Becca Hogan, Brandon Smith, John Benson, Andy Spencer, and Jennifer Oldham, Lyndon Dibble.

10/07/2026

Tune into WEMU (89.1) right now to hear our director Desirae Simmons discussing environmental justice in Washtenaw County!

10/06/2026

10/06/2026

In solidarity with the coalition supporting Krystal Clark, the ICPJ Care and Freedom Circle would like to initiate a “Say Her Name” campaign. We invite you to turn an everyday coffee or takeout order into a visible act of solidarity that keeps Krystal’s name, and the call for her care and freedom, in our community’s consciousness.

Krystal is in agony right now with pain in her head, chest, and other areas while receiving inconsistent pain medication. Her next court date is on October 16, but she is struggling to breathe RIGHT NOW! This is why we want to keep her name lifted to spark attention, but also as a collective prayer for her survival.

Participation is simple:

1. Use her name. When ordering coffee, takeout, or another item that requires a name, give Krystal Clark. If only a first name is accepted, use Krystal.

2. Take a photo. Photograph the cup, bag, receipt, or other item displaying her name.

3. Share and connect. Post the photo on your social media account with and her campaign Linktree: https://linktr.ee/fightingforkrystalclark . Encourage others to learn more and participate.

You can also participate by text. If you prefer not to post on social media, or would like to do both, text your photo to us at (734) 707-7537. If you do not indicate otherwise, we will accept this as your permission to share it on campaign or organizational accounts.

A suggested caption:

“I’m saying her name: Krystal Clark. This everyday act is a reminder that her life, dignity, care, and freedom matter. Learn more and take action: https://linktr.ee/fightingforkrystalclark "

Together, these small acts can create a sustained public presence for Krystal and connect more people to the WHV Needs Us Coalition’s work. We hope you will join us and invite others to participate.

-ICPJ Care and Freedom Circle

09/24/2026

WCSO Dashboard Training

09/24/2026

Join Ann Arbor solid waste staff at the Zero Waste Fall Festival this Sunday! We will be sharing information about the More Life, Less Stuff campaign, how to reduce food waste and fall composting! https://trashtalktour.org/programs/trash-talk-tour/events/27

09/24/2026

Non-partisan candidate forum co-Sponsored by SAC, AASPIRE, AAEA, PT...