We’re bridging divides to ensure peace for all Michiganders. Supported by The Gerald R. Ford Foundation and The Carter Center, Michiganders for Civic Resilience welcomes participants from across the political spectrum, from every corner of the state, and from every walk of life.
Michiganders for Civic Resilience is for dedicated political, business, faith, and civic leaders and community members who want to improve the quality of our democracy and who agree with our three principles.
State of Michigan Senior Advisors
Tonya Schuitmaker
Republican
Republican
Tonya Schuitmaker served in the Michigan Senate from 2010-2018 and was chosen by colleagues to serve as the Senate’s President Pro Tempore, the second woman to hold the position. She served on the Senate Appropriations Committee and as Chairperson of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Higher Education. She was also a member of the Senate’s Judiciary, and Energy & Technology committees.
She is a practicing attorney at Schuitmaker Moraitis Law in Paw Paw, Mi. She also is co-Director of the Michigan Political Leadership Program at Michigan State University. Previously, she was a member of the Van Buren County Community Corrections Advisory Board, Paw Paw Rotary, the Paw Paw Optimist Club, Daughters of the American Revolution, and the Van Buren County Farm Bureau. She served as president of the Van Buren County Bar Association, the Van Buren County Republican Women and as Vice-Chair for Van Buren County Republicans. Schuitmaker was named a 2014 Aspen Institute Rodel Public Leadership Fellow. She currently is a Community Board member for Sturgis Bank & Trust Company.
Schuitmaker earned her Juris Doctor and graduated Cum Laude from the Detroit College of Law/Michigan State University in 1993. She became a partner at the Paw Paw law firm Schuitmaker, Cooper and Schuitmaker, concentrating on family, estate, business, and municipal law.
Christine Greig
Democrat
Democrat
Christine Greig was elected in 2014 to serve as State Representative for Farmington and Farmington Hills and served as the Democratic Floor Leader from 2017-2018 and the Democratic Leader from 2019-2020. As a lawmaker, she championed legislation on economic development, public education and reproductive rights. She was a 2015 Fellow for the Council of State Government (CSG) Midwest’s Bowhay Institute for Legislative Leadership Development Program. She received numerous awards including the National PTA Lifetime Achievement Award, AAUW Michigan Martha Griffiths Equity Award, and numerous Legislator of the Year recognitions.
Post-Lansing, Chris served as Senior Advisor to The Lawmaker Network, a nonprofit organization supporting state lawmakers across the country. She retired in January 2023 but continues to mentor aspiring candidates and community advocates. Prior to serving in the legislature, Chris worked for Andersen Consulting (Accenture) as a business software expert and project manager in payroll, human resources, and benefits administration. In 1994, Chris became co-owner and lead consultant for Fulcrum Computer Services, a small business based in Farmington Hills; she also worked in non-profit management, including launching and leading the Farmington/Farmington Hills Education Foundation.
Chris grew up in rural Indiana with her eleven brothers and sisters before moving to Chicago and then Michigan. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Notre Dame, majoring in American Studies and Computer Applications. In her leisure time, Chris is a tennis enthusiast and world traveler recently experiencing the beauty of Australia, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.