Reimagining Democracy for a Good Life

Almost 250 years ago, this nation was founded under the revolutionary idea that all are created equal. The Constitution that followed this Declaration of Independence offered us the invitation to bring this idea to life under the mantle of “We, the People.” But, the promise of a nation for all remains unfulfilled because the democracy designed was only intended to serve some. It is now the work of our generation to take up the promise of “We, the People,” and re-found a country that truly serves all. It is precisely at this moment, when democracy is being challenged from all sides, and the limitations of our nearly 250 years of governing are coming to a breaking point that we must fulfill this mandate. This can only happen if we do the generational work of building a truly multiracial democracy––one that has not yet existed but is ours to create. Today is a great day to revisit Dr. Michael McAfee's piece – We Must Be Founders – in Stanford Social Innovation Review. https://lnkd.in/gmxpmyw5

The Founding Fathers never intended to include people like them in representative governance. In that way, the framers of democracy punched above their moral weight. Now, racially diverse leaders are breathing life and justice into principles that have been mere words until this point. The generosity of their vision is pushing the nation to deliver on the ideals that are enshrined in its foundational documents but have yet to be realized.

We need to value voting. #Voting is not the end of democracy – it is the beginning. It is how we give people a way to be all in, then when we hear their voices, that begins to allow #democracy to flourish.

No debate about it. We need to reimagine our democracy. Host Angela Glover Blackwell speaks with Baratunde Thurston about her thoughts on #voting. Watch the full video on the PolicyLink LinkedIn page here: https://lnkd.in/gnXKqsBM

Reimagining Democracy for a Good Life explores how we can realize the fullest potential of a multiracial democracy. It offers a vision of hope for those who feel anxious or dispirited in the current political climate. Baratunde Thurston speaks with #podcast host Angela Glover Blackwell about the podcast and dives into all the episode summaries. This podcast is excited to share how people are coming together across racial lines to seize this moment and stretch democracy to serve all.

One of the things that I've learned is how important joy and hope are. We're not just here to solve problems, we're here to invest in joy. It takes a lot of discipline to be hopeful.

Hope is not fanciful thinking or sitting around wishing for something better. The discipline of hope has you doing the research to understand the history and how we got here. It has you gathering the data to understand the problems. It has you finding examples of what works, and the people who are making a difference, and then stepping into your role in the struggle. Hope is cultivated through the work of transforming a vision of a fair, just society into real-world results.

We don’t know what the future holds for the growth of a radically inclusive #MultiracialDemocracy but the questions we raise in this series are more than just thought experiments. 2024 is an important election year for many countries all over the world and we ask you, dear listener, how are you participating in democracy in your own life? https://lnkd.in/gjRt6BjR

In this chapter, we look at a new generation of elected leaders of color who came from grassroots organizing. We’ll explore how the power of government can be used to help all Angelenos flourish, and what can happen when it is misused. I speak with Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, President and CEO John Kim of Catalyst California, California State Senator Maria Elena Durazo, and President-CEO Alberto Retana of Community Coalition. Tune in to the conversation.

As community organizers and activists move from the grassroots to positions of power in city and state politics, how do they use their backgrounds to make democracy a tool for the people? We explore this in the latest chapter of the #ReimaginingDemocracy podcast: https://lnkd.in/ghcCBPjZ