SideBar: Optimism In Action - Conversations with Community Leaders Inspiring Positive Change

Community organizer Gary Lucks explains how engagement, experience, hope, and urgency are the tools that will defend and preserve our democracy.

The 2026 November midterm election will not only be a selection of individual candidates, it will serve as a referendum on our democratic process. As voters, we may be faced with illegal or unconstitutional disruption of the voting process, efforts to disenfranchise eligible voters, and threats of federal intervention at state polling places that could include the use of armed federal officers. SideBar: Optimism in Action welcomes former State Senate Majority Leader Bill Monning to our discussion of the importance of our individual roles in protecting and sustaining our democratic process this November.

November 2026 will direct the future of our American democracy. Did we see this coming in 2024? Revisit our November 2024 discussion with Madiba Dennie and Lawrence Goldstone. Thoughtful, insightful, and uncannily prescient.

There is no such thing as a typical day in a family medical practice in rural America. Dr. Leslie Hayes of El Centro Family Health in Española, NM believes that in order for patients to have the best possible outcomes, they need evidence-based, nonjudgmental care in a place that is accessible and familiar to them. She was named a White House Champion of Change in April of 2016 for her work with substance use disorder and pregnancy. Her work was also featured in The Providers, an award-winning documentary about rural health care airing on PBS.

The Central Coast of California is one of the most spectacular regions in the world. But our sense of imagination for what is possible faces growing challenges. Today, too many families cannot cover the cost of housing. Many of our workforce must commute long distances because they cannot afford to live here. At the same time, the lack of a reliable water supply and strict environmental regulations add to both our housing shortage and our homeless crisis. While these challenges may seem overwhelming, local leaders have no choice but to face these challenges head-on to identify and implement solutions.

As Americans wrestle with questions of election integrity and democracy's future, the book Stealing Elections, American Style reveals how today's challenges are deeply rooted in history. Drawing on decades of litigating election cases and arguing before the Supreme Court, author David Walbert combines gripping stories of stolen elections with a clear explanation of how elections are routinely rigged before a single vote is cast.

Urban Alchemy knows the skills and energy of people who were once incarcerated can transform people and places through love and respect. When individuals in a community are suffering, Urban Alchemy offers solutions. When a neighborhood, street, or intersection earns a reputation as a place to avoid, they turn it into a place of community. Urban Alchemy provides services and engagement that create a peaceful and supportive presence, helping communities rebuild a sense of pride one person at a time. They have helped tens of thousands of people while creating thousands of good-paying jobs with a career path for returning citizens.

The Can't Win Victory Fund helps "cant-idates" run for office in gerrymandered, unwinnable districts. Why? Because the organization believes that we deserve competitive elections that hold our leaders accountable. The organization recruits, trains, and supports candidates who show up, tell the truth, and build trust in communities that feel like their voice no longer counts. In the last election cycle, they supported over 60 "cant-idates" in state-wide elections. The Can't Win Victory Fund builds social networks and makes politics fun. Their long-term success is that the communities they foster keep working together long after the election.