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Strengthening DEMOCRACY

Access to accurate and independent information is essential to ensuring freedom and future democratic governance.

3 key things you can do directly to ensure democracy prevails in 2024*:

1. Know the rules for voting in your state— and help others know them, too.

2. Call out lies about our elections when you see them and help us rise above the noise.

3. This election will define who we are as a country for decades to come. Make your vote a reflection of that.

“Democracy is a decision. Let’s all decide to do our part. Because it will take all of us working together to make sure it can work for everyone.”

*by Jocelyn Benson, Michigan's 43rd Secretary of State, excepted from Maria Shriver’s Sunday Paper:

The 2024 Civicas Fall Forum Focused on Pillars Of Democracy

A video recording of it can be found @ Civicas Events

Civic Information Networks/Democracy Groups:

(please let us know about more organizations to add to our growing list)

Information:

  • Brennan Center for Justice (nonpartisan law and policy institute, striving to uphold the values of democracy. standing for equal justice and the rule of law, crafting and advancing reforms that will make American democracy work, for all.)

  • Bridge Entertainment Labs (working with the entertainment industry here in LA to put out better content that narrows rather increases partisan divides and animosity.)

  • Business for America (coalition of businesses and business leaders who are taking a stand for democracy.)

  • Center for Public Integrity (nonprofit newsroom investigating inequity and holding powerful interests accountable.)

  • Civilization Works (research organization defending the pillars of civilization: Free Speech, Cheap Energy, Meritocracy, Law and Order, Equal Justice, Free and Fair Elections, and Childhood through Investigations, Documentaries, and Movements)

  • Future Caucus (nation's largest bipartisan organization for Gen Z and millennial lawmakers. Formerly known as Millennial Action Project)

  • German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF is a non-partisan American public policy think tank that seeks to promote cooperation and understanding between North America and the European Union)

  • icivics (provides educational online games and lesson plans to promote civics education and encourage students to become active citizens. iCivics was founded in 2009 by retired Supreme Court of the United States Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.)

  • Institute for Strategic Dialogue (independent, non-profit organization dedicated to safeguarding human rights and reversing the rising tide of polarisation, extremism and disinformation worldwide.)

  • Issue One (the leading crosspartisan political reform group in Washington, D.C.)

  • Los Angeles Public Library (free programs, resources, and services available to the millions of adults, children, and youth of Los Angeles)

  • Pen America (stands at the intersection of literature and human rights to protect free expression in the United States and worldwide. See A Journalist’s Guide to Combating Disinformation and Facts Forward)

  • Public Broadcasting System (helping citizens and communities understand the issues they face locally and regionally)

  • NPR (non-profit media organization)

  • THE 19th* (independent, non-profit newsroom at the intersection of gender, politics and policy)

  • The Future US (nonprofit, nonpartisan organization based in the nation's capital, deploying tomorrow's breakthroughs to shape policy today, guided by 100+ technologists, CEOs, civil society experts, investors, former senior government officials, best-selling authors, researchers, media personalities, and other leaders.)

  • Thinking Nation (empowers students to become thinking citizens by providing schools with innovative data-driven curriculum, assessments, and professional support.)

  • USC Schwarzenegger Institute (advancing policy not politics to seek real world solutions to the challenges facing society, including election reform, voting rights, primary and redistricting reform.)

  • Wilson Center (chartered by Congress as the official memorial to President Woodrow Wilson, is the nation's key non-partisan policy forum for tackling global issues through independent research and open dialogue to inform actionable ideas for Congress, the Administration and the broader policy community.)

Participation:

  • Philanthropy for Active Civic Engagement (PACE is a philanthropic laboratory for funders seeking to maximize their impact on democracy and civic life in America)

  • Athena Strategies (advises and collaborates with organizations, academic institutions, and government officials to strengthen democracy, fortify election security, and amplify understanding and civil discourse about elections in the United States.)

  • Braver Angels (citizens' organization uniting red and blue Americans in a working alliance to depolarize America.)

  • Center for Civic Design (believes that democracy is a design problem, strives to make every interaction with the government easy, effective, and pleasant.)

  • Civic Alliance (a nonpartisan coalition of businesses united by commitment to a thriving democracy; organizes for paid time off to vote and/or volunteer as election workers.)

  • Civic Nation (a nonprofit ecosystem for high-impact organizing and education initiatives working to build a more inclusive, equitable America.)

  • Committee for Safe and Secure Elections (brings together election workers and law enforcement to ensure safe and secure elections.)

  • Global Cyber Alliance (free and effective tools for election officials to take immediate action to improve the cybersecurity and integrity of our elections.)

  • ElectionDay.org (asking Companies to take a stand in support of American voters.)

  • LA Forward Institute and LA Forward (community of people fighting for policies to make Los Angeles County a more fair, flourishing place for everyone.)

  • Movement Voter Project (funds progressive local organizing to win elections and transform policy.)

  • People for the American Way (national progressive advocacy organization that inspires and mobilizes Americans to defend our democracy from authoritarian threats by advancing America’s promise that everyone will enjoy freedom, justice, and a vote that counts.)

  • Rank the Vote (leading grassroots efforts to advocate for Ranked Choice Voting.)

  • Resolutionaries (nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to bringing Americans together. We aim to inspire respectful conversation, nurture common civic values.)

  • Vote.org (Register to vote, check your registration, vote by mail, view voter ID laws, find all the dates, deadlines, and forms you need.)

  • Vote Save America (is a website, an initiative, and a community designed to help guide each step people need to take throughout the year for more impact.)

  • We The Action (Through We The Action, lawyers volunteer with leading nonprofits to use their time and talent for good, one project at a time.)

Representation:

  • Leadership Now Project (membership organization of business professionals concerned about the future of our democracy.)

  • Berggruen Institute (developing ideas and shaping political, economic and social institutions for the 21st century, “Renovating Democracy” is one of their core themes.)

  • Braver Angels (citizens' organization uniting red and blue Americans in a working alliance to depolarize America.)

  • Common Cause (fighting for an accountable government, equal rights/opportunities/representation and empowering voices to be heard)

  • CORO Southern California (strengthening the democratic process by preparing individuals for effective and ethical leadership.)

  • DemNext: (international non-profit, non-partisan research and action institute.)

  • DemocracyR&D (empowering diverse groups of citizens to reach informed judgements and share decisions with governments.)

  • DemocraSHE (nonpartisan nonprofit offering FREE online training to female-identifying high school teens in evidence-based resiliency skills, leadership & civic engagement.)

  • F.I.D.E. (activating Citizenship and Democratic Renewal through Deliberation.)

  • Healthy Democracy: (US-based nonpartisan nonprofit that works to elevate people in public decision making using democratic lotteries to empower new voices and guarantee representation.)

  • Institute for Responsive Government (helps policy makers find solutions that make government more efficient, accessible, and responsive to the needs of real human beings.)

  • Mikva Challenge (develops youth to be empowered, informed, and active citizens who will promote a just and equitable society.)

  • OECD’S Innovative Citizen Participation: (explores the innovative ways that governments can effectively engage with citizens and stakeholders to source ideas, co-create solutions, and tackle complex policy problems.)

  • OF BY FOR (non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to creating a government that truly reflects and serves its people. It is producing a soon-to-be-released documentary of democratic lotteries, titled Goodbye Elections. Hello Democracy.) 

  • Public Access Democracy (California-based, non-profit, public benefit corporation promoting public engagement through deliberative citizen groups chosen by lot. As part of its advocacy work, PAD catalyzed the “What if the People Governed” teach-in and the Petaluma Fairgrounds Assembly.)

  • Public Democracy LA (promoting Citizens' Assemblies to reimagine democracy, putting people at the center of governance.)

  • Represent US (America's leading anti-corruption organization working city by city, state by state to fix our broken political system.)

  • Stanford’s Deliberative Democracy Lab: (devoted to research about democracy and public opinion obtained through Deliberative Polling®. housed within the Center on Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law at Stanford University.)

  • Union of Concerned Scientists (as part of their Science for a Healthy Democracy Campaign, the Center for Science and Democracy at UCS has assembled an Election Science Task Force, bringing together more than 20 top experts from across the United States who are actively working to make our electoral system as representative and reflective of our society as it can be, and to create a more accountable and fair electoral process.)