The mission of Ann Arbor Tonight is to create inclusive, empowering, and community-based media.

We achieve our mission through the production of Ann Arbor Tonight and intentional efforts behind the camera to foster equitable career pathways for people of all abilities.

About the Organization:

Launched in 2012 by broadcaster and disability advocate Zach Damon, Ann Arbor Tonight features interviews with leaders, entertainers, and comedians making an impact on the local community. The production has received seven Philo Media Awards in the areas of Arts & Cultural Awareness, Empowerment & Inspiration, Underserved Voices, and Best in Entertainment. Ten years into the show’s production, Ann Arbor Tonight transitioned into a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization as a way to expand the platform and fuel the talent pipeline for inclusive media arts in Ann Arbor. Core to the mission is the opportunity for our neighbors of all abilities to learn the basics of media production, gain technical experience behind the camera, and promote greater accessibility in Michigan’s art and entertainment sector.


Press:

About Zach Damon:

Born in California and raised in Ann Arbor, Zach began as an ambassador for the March of Dimes at age six. He has since built a career in media, advocacy, and entertainment, including his current work as a national voice talent for iHeartMedia. Zach has worked alongside such figures as Carl Lewis, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Mia Hamm, Archie Manning, Eli Manning, Drew Brees, Terry Bowden, Steve Yzerman, Scotty Bowman, Charles Woodson, Juwan Howard, Bill Laimbeer, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Frank Beckmann, Mitch Albom, Greg Gumbel, Richard Petty, Shane Battier, Kathy Ireland, and Dorothy Hamill. He is a member of the National Academy of Television and Sciences, the Detroit Sports Broadcasters Association, and the National Broadcasting Society. Zach’s role as a nationally recognized disability advocate emerges from his own lived experience with cerebral palsy (CP) and seeks to make a difference in the lives of communities worldwide. He currently serves as the Chairman of the City of Ann Arbor’s Commission on Disability Issues, where he promotes systems change fo people with disabilities in his local community.