Direct Democracy Diaries

E7:  Beyond the Ballot: Building Movements Through Ballot Measures

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/ [http://workingfamilies.org/] BISC on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/ballotstrategy⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/ballotstrategy] BISC on LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/ballot-initiative-strategy-center/⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/ballot-initiative-strategy-center/] BISC on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@ballotinitiativestrategycenter [https://www.youtube.com/@ballotinitiativestrategycenter]

E6: From Victory to Vigilance: Richard von Glahn on Post-Election Power

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/ [https://mojwj.org/]    To learn about the effort to stop gerrymandering in Missouri, check out https://peoplenotpoliticiansmo.org/ [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 [https://ballot.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/The-Building-Power-Report.pdf]  BISC Official Website: ⁠ [https://ballot.org/] https://ballot.org/⁠ [https://ballot.org/]  BISC on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/ballotstrategy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/ballotstrategy] BISC on LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/ballot-initiative-strategy-center/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/ballot-initiative-strategy-center/] BISC on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@ballotinitiativestrategycenter⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/@ballotinitiativestrategycenter] Chris Melody Fields Figueiredo on LinkedIn: ⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-melody-fields] https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-melody-fields⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-melody-fields]  Caroline Sánchez-Avakian on LinkedIn: ⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolineavakian] https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolineavakian⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolineavakian]

E5: Campaigning Towards Victory and What We Leave Behind with Fran Hutchins

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 [https://www.equalityfederation.org/author/fran-hutchins] BISC on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/ballotstrategy⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/ballotstrategy] BISC on LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/ballot-initiative-strategy-center/⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/ballot-initiative-strategy-center/] BISC on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@ballotinitiativestrategycenter [https://www.youtube.com/@ballotinitiativestrategycenter]

E4: Beyond Translation: Culturally Rooted Messaging that Wins with Dusti Gurulé

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/ [https://colorlatina.org/] You can also learn more about their ballot measure campaign at https://coloradansforreproductivefreedom.com/ [https://coloradansforreproductivefreedom.com/] BISC on Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/ballotstrategy⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/ballotstrategy] BISC on LinkedIn: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/ballot-initiative-strategy-center/⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/ballot-initiative-strategy-center/] BISC on YouTube: ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@ballotinitiativestrategycenter [https://www.youtube.com/@ballotinitiativestrategycenter]

E3: From Signatures to Power: How Movements Get on the Ballot with Danielle Atkinson

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/ [https://motheringjustice.org/] BISC on Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/ballotstrategy⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/ballotstrategy] BISC on LinkedIn: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/ballot-initiative-strategy-center/⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/ballot-initiative-strategy-center/] BISC on YouTube: ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@ballotinitiativestrategycenter [https://www.youtube.com/@ballotinitiativestrategycenter]