250 years in, the work of democracy remains unfinished. And the promise of freedom is highly contested. Race Forward’s DemocracyIs: campaign brings together organizers, advocates, artists, civil servants, philanthropic partners, and storytellers to imagine and build a democracy that’s truly of, by, and for the people.
The colon in the campaign name is intentional. It’s an invitation to collectively define democracy and organize to make it real.
From Wedges to Bridges: Why a Reimagined Democracy Calls for Intersectional Narratives
In this moment, as we face rising authoritarianism in the United States, the solution is clear: when every form of oppression is disabling, disabled people are a key constituency to fight back and win against fascism.
The Relationships That Power Democracy: Organizing for the Long Haul
Glenn Harris, Race Forward President and Sulma Arias, Director for People's Action Institute and People's Action wrestle with the challenge of leading organizations through interconnected struggles, the limits of any one organization trying to meet the scale of this moment, and what becomes possible when movement leaders and organizations work in relationship rather than isolation.
Zines as Creative Defiance
Zines continue the legacy of self-publishing and sharing ideas that push against dominant narratives. How can zines show us how to enter our movements through storytelling?
Evaluation for and in Solidarity: Practicing Narrative Evaluation for Systems Change
How do we measure the impact of our narrative change efforts? We must first reenvision narrative power as a core intervention in systems change.
Faith and Organizing: The Architecture of a New America with Bishop Dwayne Royster
Recorded ahead of Juneteenth and as the nation approaches the 250th anniversary of its founding, the conversation explores the unfinished work of democracy and the role faith communities can play in shaping the future.
250 Years of History and The Next Expansion of Democracy
Glenn Harris, president of Race Forward, explores the tension between Juneteenth and July 4th and argues that democracy cannot be built while avoiding race. He traces how Black freedom struggles are inextricably linked to our collective freedom and makes the case that co-governance is the next democratic expansion.
I Know What It Feels Like to Be Governed and to Be Left Out
Eric K. Ward, executive vice president of Race Forward, reflects on growing up in Los Angeles and what it felt like to be governed without belonging. He argues that today’s racialized authoritarianism is attacking the civic floor, and that the answer is governance with real power, shared decision-making, and movements willing to claim government rather than abandon it.
I was a National Park Ranger for 32 years and Now I’m Speaking Out About Censorship
Elizabeth Kerwin, a former National Park Service Ranger, reveals how her work to showcase and archive our nation's history changed overnight at the turn of the Administration. How is America's true history now being preserved?
#RaceAnd Democracy: (Re)Imagining the Next 250 Years
Five-part conversation series with organizers, scholars, artists, and practitioners interrogating democracy through the lens of race, place, solidarity, and narrative power. One ticket grants access to all sessions and recordings. Sessions run June 18 through July 30.
| Date | Title |
|---|---|
| June 18, 2026 | Repairing Place, Rebuilding Power with Carolyn Johnson, Winta Yohannes, JT Flowers |
| June 23, 2026 | Justice & Belonging with Glenn Harris, Michael McAfee, john a. powell |
| July 1, 2026 | Co-Governing New Futures |
| July 16, 2026 | Global Solidarity with Scot Nakagawa, Bernadett Sebaly |
| July 30, 2026 | Cultural and Narrative Change with Nikko Viquiera, Sughey Ramirez |
The Case for Co-Governance: A Narrative Series
The 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence finds democracy at a crossroads in the United States. How can we defend and reclaim American democracy, and how do we build new strategies and structures that can truly honor its unfulfilled promise of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” for all?
Race Forward and Partners for Dignity & Rights are curating this series from multiple voices looking at how co-governance can offer solutions to this question.
Get DemocracyIs: essays, stories, and actions — delivered throughout the campaign and beyond.