Solstice 2 Solstice Motion
The Summer Solstice is a key time of the year across the world with different peoples holding different beliefs about the day including scientific, cultural and religious. It is a significant moment here on earth for sure. CRAFT believes cycles are a part of the natural world that we all belong to and to move with this world is something we seek.
From the Solstice time in 2025 to 2026 we had quite the good run and while some of you keep up with the monthly newsletter and some of you through social media, those things happen throughout the year and sometimes things don’t get shared. As a small grassroots group CRAFT is always up to something. Tabling at powwows and events, putting on events or attending and speaking at events requires tons of planning, coordination and resources, which we also work to have and do. Sometimes so much is lined up that multiple things are happening at the same time or back-to-back that we get caught up and don’t get to share everything back to the public.
This 2026 Summer Solstice time was a slowing down moment for us after a busy cycle since Solstice 2025. Stretched thin and tested at times, the monthly newsletter came out, events happened and we walked the talk. We put together a little timeline of events in the hopes it will help paint a picture through the group's eyes.
June 7th-14th 2025
Alliance for Nuclear Accountability D.C. Days
Washington DC, Since 1987, the Alliance for Nuclear Accountability has worked to hold the federal government accountable through citizen education, empowerment, and action. Formed by organizations from communities in the shadows of nuclear weapons facilities, ANA includes more than thirty local, regional, and national organizations concerned about the consequences of US nuclear weapons and waste policies. ANA’s leaders are deeply rooted in communities directly affected by these policies, and we bring our experience to bear in addressing issues of government spending; public accountability; nuclear nonproliferation; waste cleanup, treatment and disposition; and the health and safety of workers, the public and the environment.
Last year for DC days was interesting and kind of gave a little bit of hope as to how much the government was still interested in cleanups from old nuclear projects. It also highlighted how much more they know on Capitol Hill about the nuclear issues, whether old or new as compared to hear locally in the state of Michigan.
August 15th 2025
“Wildflower and Nuclear Discussion: Fellowship and Fieldwork at Rouge Park w/ Friends of Rouge Park”
Rouge Park, Detroit, MI. Work, walk and talk around nuclear energy and nuclear bombs. Removing invasive species and helping restore the Rouge River Watershed while finding and checking out the old “Nike missile Silo”, which is on site and we definitely saw it. The missile silo comes from the cold war era and was in place in case the usa had to shoot down any missiles.
This was an important conversation to had considering that this administration talks about making ad testing new nuclear weapons.
September 2025 Begins 2nd CRAFT Fellowship
2025 marks the second offering of this program. We believe that investing in our community and protecting the earth for future generations go hand in hand. We also know that it takes time, energy, and commitment to become educated about the issues that affect our homes, ecosystems, economies, and communities - we want to support the people who care about our future in becoming strong activists. We also want to explore possibilities together! For decades, CRAFT has prioritized building tools, strategies, a clear vision, and a strong team to confront the nuclear industry - and the place we stand in history requires that we all go beyond what we know.
Our expectation for the Fellowship is that yes, we will teach what we have to offer, make connections with fellow activists across the land, and… we will all learn and explore solutions for our future together. Our work has come at the hands of our collective membership and our hope with the fellowship is to share tools and understanding with all concerned citizens.
September 13th
Bonnie Raitt Concert, Detroit Michigan
Bonnie Raitt has long been a peace and anti-nuclear activist and welcomes us to come and have a table when she comes to town. It is usually a good time to give out info and share with folks the current standing of nuke issues, especially in michigan.
October 13th 2025
Indigenous Peoples Day Powwow at Hart Plaza
CRAFT was present and tabling. It was a good day, we had a strong presence. For the first time in decades a powwow happened at Hart Plaza, we talked with and met new people from all over, handed out lots of information, and signed a bunch of people up for the CRAFT Times Newsletter. Also had a reunion of some long time CRAFT Peoples too!
October 16th-18th 2025
Michigan EJ Caucus Upper Peninsula Listening Session
Sault Saint Marie, Michigan. The Environmental Justice Caucus is a program of the Michigan Environmental Justice Coalition with the goal to create bridges between EJ leaders, residents, and members of the Michigan State Legislature to advance a new paradigm of partnership and power sharing between Environmental Justice communities and decision-makers in Lansing.
The listening sessions are a chance to meet orgs in their region and learn deeper on the area and issue.
November 11th-13th 2025
Midwest Environmental Justice Network Gathering
The mission of the Midwest Environmental Justice Network is to connect and strengthen frontline and grassroots organizations to achieve environmental justice in the Midwest. Led by, and accountable to, its members, the Midwest Environmental Justice Network achieves this mission by raising funding, supporting capacity building and building local and regional power.
The Network seeks to increase the capacity and impact of environmental justice leaders and organizations based in these Midwestern states: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin and the Native Nations that share this geography.
This gathering brought partner orgs together to meet each other and strategize and power maps.
November 15th 2025
Michigan Clinicians for Climate Action Conference
Grand Rapids, Michigan, a coalition of 400+ Michigan health professionals focused on mitigating and preventing the adverse health effects of climate change. MiCCA is a state affiliate of the Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health, which organizes major medical societies representing more than one million health professionals.
They promote the health benefits of decarbonization and climate action through education and advocacy in Michigan. Cultivating a climate in which the health and well-being of all people can thrive.
One of the fellows was accompanied by CRAFT and another fellow to attend and present a posterboard about CRAFT and our work. Fellowship activities were pretty dope for sure.
November 23rd-26th 2025
Food Drive with Talking Dolls Studios, North American Indian Association, and High Rez Designs.
High Rez had a shipment of over 200 food boxes and CRAFT and Talking Dolls helped connect with, deliver and distribute the boxes with the North American Indian Association. It was a collective effort.
December 6th 2025
Lake Erie Field Trip with CRAFT Core Team and Fellows.
It's important for us to be in good relationship with the land. We can't think of ourselves as saviors and must think more like partners. We must ask for and call on help from those we wish to help, in this case the great lakes and particularly lake erie as this elder lake is under threat by fermi two just as much and if not more than us.
January 11th-13th 2026
Michigan EJ Caucus retreat
Mt Pleasant Mi, The Environmental Justice Caucus is a program of the Michigan Environmental Justice Coalition with the goal to create bridges between EJ leaders, residents, and members of the Michigan State Legislature to advance a new paradigm of partnership and power sharing between Environmental Justice communities and decision-makers in Lansing.
The listening sessions are a chance to meet orgs in their region and learn deeper on the area and issue.
A retreat to pull together ideas for the year ahead. Plus meeting with Mt Pleasant Tribal Council and environmental department. Visited the College and met with some staff while attending their environmental fair.
CRAFT Fellowship Ended in January
The fellowship ended with different projects and actions being done by each fellow and a collective sticker campaign idea and designs for stickers.
The projects included:
a fundraiser for CRAFT from an Indigenous Chefs poutine dish at a cafe where the proceeds went to CRAFT.
the MiCCA Conference Posterboard
interviews to capture stories of our CRAFT elders
an Ofrenda that included the names of the nuclear abolitionist ancestors that have walked on
three sticker designs that have a qr code that goes to a link tree with info curated to inform and move
February 14th
Bloody Hearts Bingo Fundraiser
At Ke-nee-go-keshek Studio with Riverwise Collective. A grassroots fundraiser for CRAFT. A smaller gathering with food, bingo and good times. We raised 600+ dollars and were able to bring together many of our different people in Detroit with a good time had by all!
March 14th
Wild Rice Soup Cookoff at NAIA
Manoomin is the name for wild rice in Anishinaabemowin and the Anishinabek Confederacy of the Three Fires located in Michigan continues to have a significant relationship to wild rice. It is a central part of the diet for the people of the land, as well as a part of the Migration Story:
“In the Third Fire, the Anishinaabe will find the path to their chosen ground, a land in the west to which they must move their families. This will be the land where food grows on water.”
This Event was born from the dream of what we are fighting to protect here in Michigama with our with at CRAFT. Acknowledging that Fermi Two is the same Mark-1 reactor model as the Fukushima reactor that melted down in Japan March 13th, 2011.
This years event was lit, 13 soups, lol 1 winner, plenty of raffles and judging!! Lol over 150 people were present and a good time was had.
March 18-20th
Michigan EJ Caucus Kalamazoo Listening Session
The Environmental Justice Caucus is a program of the Michigan Environmental Justice Coalition with the goal to create bridges between EJ leaders, residents, and members of the Michigan State Legislature to advance a new paradigm of partnership and power sharing between Environmental Justice communities and decision-makers in Lansing.
The listening sessions are a chance to meet orgs in their region and learn deeper on the area and issue.
March 21st
American Indian Health and Family Services
Detroit Michigan, There has been a lot of talk about data centers recently. Indigenous Communities are aware of nuclear issues impacting our different homelands but not all of us are up on the connections between tech companies and new small nuclear reactors and uranium mining. Our group has been tracking this and CRAFT shared about it.
March 28-29th
Ann Arbor Dance For Mother Earth Powwow
The Ann Arbor Powwow is usually a sign of our spring kickoff much like our Wild Rice Soup Cookoff. Its a little more like us getting out and getting with the people in our community. Its usually a really good time by our team and we give out tons of info and have really good conversations with people. Its a favorite for most of our team that tables.
April 8th-10th
Southwest Uranium Gathering
Alberquerque, New Mexico.
https://www.shutdownfermi.org/blog/southwest-uranium-gathering-report-2026
April 18th
Pax Christi Michigan Gathering
UD Mercy, Detroit Michigan. Pax Christi Michigan works to bring about peace locally, nationally, and globally through Prayer → Study → Action. We are rooted in spirituality, dedicated to studying issues of justice from the vantage point of all those involved, and espouse working for peace with justice through nonviolent conflict transformation. We invite you to learn more about "Pax Christi"
We had the privilege and honor to be called forward to fill in some big shoes for one of our Anishinabe Friends. Jesse was welcomed by Pax Christi to speak on some of the works we do and Indigenous Issues. The best we had was the nuke issues, boarding schools and cultural restoration here in Michigan. Jesse left them with some ideas and actions and also met some new folks as well. It's pretty cool to be trusted, called on and be able to do it. Wado Pax Christi and UD Mercy for welcoming us. A good space to also connect around nuclear weapons issues too.
April 19th-24th
United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
New York City, New York. What an opportunity.
https://www.shutdownfermi.org/blog/adventure-time-with-craft-and-our-journey-to-the-united-nations
April 25th
Michigan EJ/AI/Data center Summit
Ann Arbor Michigan, The Michigan Environmental Justice Data Center Summit brought together people from across the state including the communities and folks on the front lines of the data center fight.
CRAFT presented on the connections between Tech companies, ai, data centers and nuclear power. We also learned from people as well.
May 15th-18th
Small Modular Nuclear Reactor Summit
The Great Lakes SMNR Summit came out of the idea that there's new nukes and uranium mines being pushed heavily right now, creating a whole new generation of people fighting against the issue. The old guard from the original anti-nuke movement is getting older and a new movement is making its way in and there needs to be a medium to transfer old knowledge and experience to this next movement. This was the opportunity for that. The Summit was organized by Don't Waste Michigan, Coalition for a Nuclear Free Great Lakes, Nuclear Energy Information Service (NEIS), Ohio Nuclear Free Network and CRAFT. We brought together over 90 people total online and in person for this gathering. We covered issues like old/new nukes, mining, bomb testing and the connections to tech giants/data centers. Speakers from front line communities and technical/legal experts were sharing and learning the whole time. While it was heavy on the technical information there was plenty of space for Cultural wisdom and shared heart space and strategic planning. While our plans have not been finalized and shared with the public yet I feel confident we came up with effective ideas and plans for sure.
May 30th-June 5th
Alliance for Nuclear Accountability DC Days
Alliance for Nuclear Accountability groups focus on: Stopping new nuclear weapons design, engineering, production, and testing. Addressing challenges from cleanup and waste management, processing, storage, and disposal. Stopping the creation of new nuclear waste. ANA's collaboration of grassroots groups has worked for 39 years at local, regional, state, and national levels to address health and safety issues at Department of Energy (DOE) and National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) sites for workers, the public, and the environment.
This year was interesting as well with the uptick in the concerns and push for data centers. Highlighting the connections between data centers, small modular nuclear reactors, and tech companies was a big move. Many people are concerned with tech overreach.
June Begins Internships
A partnership with Michigan Climate Action, U of M and CRAFT brings two masters students to CRAFT from June 4th-August 4th.
Friday June 12th
Michigan Climate Action (MICAN) Summit
East Lansing, Michigan. Each year, the summit brings hundreds of changemakers together to tackle the issues and build the grassroots energy our movement runs on. This year, with attacks on clean energy standards, federal rollbacks, and a critical election ahead, that energy matters more than ever.
June 16th
Data Center Cohort
1 yr learning and sharing to build a stronger more informed movement
June 27th
Peoples Hearing
Detroit Michigan, A traveling listening session which brought our Environmental Justice leaders from the midwest to give testimony on the EJ impacts the experienced and work on.
150th year commemoration of the Battle of Greasy Grass
Monroe Michigan at the site of the Custer Monument. 150 yrs since the great battle that took place that wiped out the 7th calvary. CRAFT was present to support this rally and speak out against monuments to white supremacy like the Custer statue and the Fermi Two reactor……
We do our best and watch the best get better is a saying I like. Wado and Migwetch to all that support and help, this work is very important.