Direct Democracy Diaries

In this episode of Direct Democracy Diaries, Chris and Caroline speak with Krithika Harish, Senior Program Officer for Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies, about philanthropy’s role in building lasting movements. Krithika shares her path from civic engagement and international development to advocacy and institutional funding, then explains how transparency, and long-term relationships shape strong funder-grantee partnerships. They examine the role of ballot measures in advancing reproductive freedom, why early and sustained investment matters across the full life cycle of a campaign, how the funding landscape has shifted since the 2024 election, and why funders must reflect on the power they hold in shaping movements.

Learn more about Krithika Harish's work supporting movement-aligned philanthropy and democracy-building efforts at Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies

Learn more about BISC’s 2.5 Project that engaged funders in a demonstration project to address key challenges in the ballot measure campaign ecosystem. —---> BISC’s 'Building Power Beyond the Ballot Box' Report

• Chris Melody Fields Figueiredo on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-melody-fields

• Caroline Sánchez-Avakian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolineavakian

• BISC Official Website: https://ballot.org/

• BISC on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ballotstrategy/

• BISC on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ballot-initiative-strategy-center

In this episode of Direct Democracy Diaries, Chris and Caroline speak with Andy Marra of Advocates for Trans Equality and Jaelynn Scott of Lavender Rights Project about coordinated ballot measure and legislative attacks targeting transgender people. Andy and Jaelynn connect today’s fights to lessons from the marriage equality movement, discuss the importance of centering trans leadership, and examine what effective coalition work requires. They also explore cross-movement solidarity, storytelling rooted in freedom, sustained investment in movement infrastructure, and the need to build lasting political power while responding to immediate threats.

Learn more about Advocates for Trans Equality and the work they're doing to advance equality, safety, and justice for transgender people across the country.
Learn more about The Lavender Project and their work building Black trans political power and leadership.
Leticia Martinez on LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/leticia-martinez-1b7a6b10⁠ 

Jess Grennan on LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicagrennan⁠ 

Chris Melody Fields Figueiredo on LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-melody-fields⁠

Caroline Sánchez-Avakian on LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolineavakian⁠

BISC Official Website:⁠ https://ballot.org/⁠

BISC on Instagram:⁠ https://www.instagram.com/ballotstrategy/⁠

BISC on LinkedIn:⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/company/ballot-initiative-strategy-center

In this episode of Direct Democracy Diaries, Caroline Sanchez-Avakian and Chris Melody Fields Figueredo speak with Leticia Martinez, partner at Mission Control, and Jess Grennan, founder of Simple Majority, about the role consultants play in ballot measure campaigns and movement work. Leticia and Jess discuss what makes consultant partnerships effective, where trust can break down, and why transparency, legal counsel, compliance, research, and early collaboration matter. They also examine the tension between campaign messaging and long-term movement goals, the importance of knowing when to lead or push back, and how campaigns can build lasting organizational capacity, skills, relationships, and infrastructure beyond Election Day.

Learn more about Mission Control and the work they're doing to support movement organizations and campaigns.

Learn more about Simple Majority and their work helping progressive organizations build stronger strategy, messaging, and organizational capacity.

Leticia Martinez on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leticia-martinez-1b7a6b10 

Jess Grennan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicagrennan 

Chris Melody Fields Figueiredo on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-melody-fields

Caroline Sánchez-Avakian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolineavakian

BISC Official Website: https://ballot.org/

BISC on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ballotstrategy/

BISC on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ballot-initiative-strategy-center

In the season two opener of Direct Democracy Diaries, Chris Melody Fields Figueredo and Caroline Sánchez Avakian speak with Kelley Robinson, president of the Human Rights Campaign and Human Rights Campaign Foundation, about the state of American democracy and what it takes to build lasting power. Kelley reflects on her family history, the fragility of civil rights, and why local organizing matters—from school boards to block parties. They discuss interconnected attacks on LGBTQ+ people and other communities, the need to move beyond defense, the role of storytelling and listening, and how organizers can stay focused amid constant crisis. Kelley also shares why joy, belonging, and community are essential to sustaining movements and creating a more inclusive democracy.

To learn more about Kelley’s work - go to Human Rights Campaign One Year Into Trump Administration & LGBTQ+ Messaging Playbook for the Midterms
BISC’s new Substack - Direct Democracy Dispatch
BISC Report: Attacks on the Ballot Measure Process

In the season finale of Direct Democracy Diaries, hosts Chris Melody Fields Figueredo and Caroline Sanchez-Avakian sit down with Maurice Mitchell, National Director of the Working Families Party. Maurice shares how his Caribbean immigrant upbringing and lifelong organizing work shape his political vision.

Together, they explore the role of ballot measures in building movements, the 2025 election outcomes, and the critical need to fight not only against fascism but for dignity, affordability, and power for working people. This episode offers a call to action to build authentic, connected, and community-rooted political power.

If you’re interested in the work that Maurice Mitchell and the Working Families Party are doing, you can learn more at:

http://workingfamilies.org/

BISC on Instagram:

⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/ballotstrategy⁠⁠⁠⁠

BISC on LinkedIn:

⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/ballot-initiative-strategy-center/⁠⁠⁠⁠

BISC on YouTube:

⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@ballotinitiativestrategycenter

In this episode of Direct Democracy Diaries, Chris and Caroline are joined by Richard von Glahn, a longtime ballot initiative strategist with Missouri Jobs with Justice. Together, they explore what happens after the win—when implementation battles begin and the work of organizing deepens. From California’s Proposition 50 and Maine’s defense of voting access, to Colorado’s tax reforms for school meals, they trace 2025 ballot trends that shape the road to 2026.

Richard shares stories from Missouri’s fight to uphold Proposition A, lessons from campaigns won and lost, and how movement-building becomes the foundation for long-term power. This episode highlights why organizing doesn’t end at the ballot box—and how every campaign is a step toward collective agency. 

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

[00:00:00] Intro

[00:01:13] Discussion of California's Proposition 50 and its implications on gerrymandering. 

[00:02:24] Introduction of Richard von Glahn and the significance of Maine's ballot measures. 

[00:04:35] Overview of Colorado's Measures LL and MM and their impact. 

[00:06:03] Richard’s advocacy background and ballot initiative involvement. 

[00:10:34] Missouri’s coalition building and strategy after winning ballot measures. 

[00:14:24] Implementation challenges of Proposition A in Missouri. 

[00:20:31] Power building lessons from union and worker organizing. 

[00:23:33] Lessons from failed campaigns and the importance of movement building. 

[00:27:31] Powerful stories that shaped campaign narratives. 

[00:31:04] Gerrymandering and initiative process threats in Missouri. 

[00:33:09] BISC's role in ballot measure strategy and campaign support. 

[00:36:20] Importance of early campaign funding for power building. 

[00:38:47] Lessons from organizing against authoritarian structures. 

[00:41:33] Advice for new and seasoned advocates in ballot measure work. 

[00:46:24] Ballot measures as love letters to communities. 

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

If you’re interested in the work that Richard and Missouri Jobs with Justice are doing, you can learn more at:

https://mojwj.org/ 

To learn about the effort to stop gerrymandering in Missouri, check out https://peoplenotpoliticiansmo.org/ 

To learn more about ‘Building Power Beyond the Ballot Box’, go to:

https://ballot.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/The-Building-Power-Report.pdf 

BISC Official Website: ⁠

https://ballot.org/⁠ 

BISC on Instagram:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/ballotstrategy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

BISC on LinkedIn:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/ballot-initiative-strategy-center/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

BISC on YouTube:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@ballotinitiativestrategycenter⁠

Chris Melody Fields Figueiredo on LinkedIn: ⁠

https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-melody-fields⁠ 

Caroline Sánchez-Avakian on LinkedIn: ⁠

https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolineavakian⁠  

In this episode of Direct Democracy Diaries, Chris and Caroline sit down with Fran Hutchins, Executive Director of the Equality Federation, to reflect on two decades of ballot measure campaigns, queer movement building, and the importance of doing the work before the spotlight hits.

Hutchins shares lessons from marriage equality battles in Maine and California, the evolution of trans rights messaging, and the real meaning of cross-movement solidarity. With honesty and strategy, they explore what it takes to build durable power—and how today’s bodily autonomy fights can be a love letter to our people. 

Find out more about Fran and Equality Federation here:

https://www.equalityfederation.org/author/fran-hutchins

BISC on Instagram:

⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/ballotstrategy⁠⁠⁠

BISC on LinkedIn:

⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/ballot-initiative-strategy-center/⁠⁠⁠

BISC on YouTube:

⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@ballotinitiativestrategycenter

What makes voters lean in and say yes at the ballot box? In this episode, co-hosts Chris Melody Fields Figueredo and Caroline Sánchez-Avakian are joined by Dusti Gurulé, President & CEO of COLOR and COLOR Action Fund, to unpack the strategy of storytelling that resonates.

From building narratives to navigating multilingual, cross-cultural outreach, Dusti shares how campaigns can craft narratives that truly connect with voters.

If you’re interested in the work that Dusti and COLOR and the COLOR Action Fund are doing, you can learn more at:

https://colorlatina.org/

You can also learn more about their ballot measure campaign at https://coloradansforreproductivefreedom.com/

BISC on Instagram:

⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/ballotstrategy⁠⁠

BISC on LinkedIn:

⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/ballot-initiative-strategy-center/⁠⁠

BISC on YouTube:

⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@ballotinitiativestrategycenter

Signature gathering is more than just petition signing—it’s people power in action. In this episode, co-hosts Chris Melody Fields Figueredo and Caroline Sánchez-Avakian talk with Danielle Atkinson, founder of Mothering Justice and veteran organizer, about how the petition phase can make or break a campaign.

From the nuts and bolts of getting started to the vulnerabilities every campaign faces, Danielle shares hard-earned lessons on turning signature collection into a deeper practice of base building and long-term community engagement. If you want to understand how movements turn signatures into real change, this episode is your guide.

If you’re interested in the work that Danielle Atkinson and Mothering Justice are doing, you can learn more at: https://motheringjustice.org/

BISC on Instagram:

⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/ballotstrategy⁠⁠

BISC on LinkedIn:

⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/ballot-initiative-strategy-center/⁠⁠

BISC on YouTube:

⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@ballotinitiativestrategycenter

Running a ballot measure takes more than signatures and soundbites—it takes people, trust, and courage. In this episode, co-hosts Chris Melody Fields Figueredo and Caroline Sánchez-Avakian sit down with organizers Lauren Brenzel (Florida's Yes on 4 Campaign Director) and Sarah Parker (Executive Director of Voices of Florida) to unpack what it really takes to launch a ballot initiative.

From the tough early decision of whether to go to the ballot, to navigating funding challenges, to building a diverse and powerful coalition, Lauren and Sarah share the inside story of Florida’s 2024 fight for reproductive freedom. Listeners will learn how to balance strategy with care, build alignment across differences, and why the most powerful and equitable campaigns are always rooted in community. If you’ve ever wondered how grassroots organizing becomes a ballot measure, this conversation is your roadmap.

If you’re interested in the work that Lauren and Sarah are doing, you can learn more at:

 www.floridareprofreedom.org/  and www.voicesofflorida.org/

Check out a 2024 interview of Lauren with author and journalist Jessica Valenti:

https://jessica.substack.com/p/chat-with-lauren-brenzel-campaign

And also Sarah’s rousing and inspiring speech on election night 2024:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DCBMGtVsVZV/

BISC on Instagram:

⁠https://www.instagram.com/ballotstrategy⁠

BISC on LinkedIn:

⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/ballot-initiative-strategy-center/⁠

BISC on YouTube:

⁠https://www.youtube.com/@ballotinitiativestrategycenter