CHANGE Illinois is a nonpartisan, nonprofit leading systemic government and election reforms. CHANGE (the Coalition for Honest and New Government Ethics) champions ethical and efficient government and democracy and includes a diverse group of civic, philanthropic, business, labor, professional, and nonprofit organizations representing millions of Illinoisans. CHANGE Illinois works in collaboration with like-minded reform organizations, playing a leadership role in convening and facilitating efforts around shared policy agendas. The coalition works to improve challenges that undermine our democracy, including gerrymandering, restricted ballot access, voter suppression, uncompetitive elections, corruption, lack of government transparency and unethical lobbying, all of which have led to disillusionment and a decrease in civic participation.
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How Gavin Newsom’s Prop 50 is Reshaping California - For Better or For Worse
Jan 02, 2026
Prop 50 is redrawing California’s political battlefield, sparking new fears of gerrymandering, backroom mapmaking, and voters losing their voice. We cut through the spin to explain what’s really changing, who benefits, and what it could mean for competitive elections, election reform, and independent voters. Plus, Independent CA-40 candidate Nina Linh joins us to spell out how Prop 50’s map shifts are already reshaping her district - and her race.
Listen to this episode and more from Independent Voter Project on Spotify and Apple Music.
How Gavin Newsom’s Prop 50 is Reshaping California - For Better or For Worse was originally published by Independent Voter News and is republished with permission.
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A scene of the United States Capitol Building, symbolizing the legislative success of the "Post-Disaster Mental Health Response Act."
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From Living Room to Legislation: How Citizens Turn Ideas into Laws
Dec 31, 2025
The following article is excerpted from "Citizen’s Handbook for Influencing Elected Officials."
Most Americans don’t know where legislative ideas originate. They should be comforted to see the source: often, it’s them! Many bills introduced in legislatures are prompted by a problem, need, or desire articulated by a legislator’s constituent. The person will reach out to their lawmaker, explain the issue, and propose a solution. And sometimes, just like in the cartoon I’m Just a Bill, the legislation becomes the law of the land.
“The best ideas I get for legislation come from town hall meetings,” said one House Democratic subcommittee chairman. Building legislation based on constituents’ real-life experiences not only ensures the lawmaker is fulfilling a genuine community need, but it also provides the legislator with a story behind the bill. Storytelling in advocacy is a powerful tool for both constituents and lawmakers.
It was just such a story that led to the passage of new legislation related to helping victims of disasters and tragedies in the U.S. Such a scenario played out after the tragedy of the Boston Marathon bombing. On April 15, 2014, Manya Chylinski was perched at the finish line of the iconic race. In a split second her life changed when two bombs exploded, killing three people and injuring hundreds more. Manya counted herself lucky, as she was not physically harmed. However, in the days and weeks that followed, she was plagued with a variety of mental health issues. She experienced fear and anxiety and was finally diagnosed with PTSD.
Unfortunately, she discovered that while the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provided services for those physically harmed because of the bombing, individuals with mental health issues resulting from the disaster were not assisted. She told this to her congresswoman, Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Massachusetts), who introduced bipartisan legislation to correct the problem. “When disaster strikes—whether it be a natural disaster or mass violence—survivors are often left grappling with lasting trauma that has devastating impacts on their mental health,” Rep. Pressley said.
Yet Manya’s advocacy for her cause went beyond just suggesting a bill idea to her member of Congress. She did podcast interviews and wrote op-ed pieces for her local papers. She teamed up with other national mental health advocates, urging them to add the Pressley bill to their legislative agenda. And she sought allies in the Massachusetts statehouse and state government executive branch, adding more voices to the cause.
And on December 22, 2022, the “Post-Disaster Mental Health Response Act” was signed into law by President Joe Biden. The law expands eligibility for FEMA’s crisis counseling assistance, ensuring that people can access free crisis counseling and community care following traumatic events. “If we’re talking about these things from day one, more people are going to know that help is available if they need it,” Manya Chylinski said.
The legislation and subsequent grants have had a profound impact on the mental wellness of recent victims of disaster or tragedies. Communities have benefited from the new mental health grants, such as East Palestine, Ohio – which saw a train derailment in 2023 that released hazardous materials into their environment, or Lewiston, Maine – which in 2024 was victimized by a mass shooting resulting in 18 deaths.
Constituents telling their story and inspiring legislative solutions is especially important when interacting with new or freshman members of Congress. “A lot of our initial legislative ideas came from constituents, and it resulted in some of the most successful bills,” said a House communications director working for a first-term member of Congress. New lawmakers are desperate to make a name for themselves, and advocating a constituent’s cause through legislation is a perfect way to do so.
At a time when many Americans don’t see their government working for them, Manya’s efforts prove that citizen engagement can be a practical force for good in our democracy. Sometimes the government works just like you learned from I’m Just A Bill!
Bradford Fitch is the former CEO of the Congressional Management Foundation, a former congressional staffer, and author of “The Citizen’s Handbook for Influencing Elected Officials.”
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A visual representation of deep fake and disinformation concepts, featuring various related keywords in green on a dark background, symbolizing the spread of false information and the impact of artificial intelligence.
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Parv Mehta Is Leading the Fight Against AI Misinformation
Dec 31, 2025
At a moment when the country is grappling with the civic consequences of rapidly advancing technology, Parv Mehta stands out as one of the most forward‑thinking young leaders of his generation. Recognized as one of the 500 Gen Zers named to the 2025 Carnegie Young Leaders for Civic Preparedness cohort, Mehta represents the kind of grounded, community‑rooted innovator the program was designed to elevate.
A high school student from Washington state, Parv has emerged as a leading youth voice on the dangers of artificial intelligence and deepfakes. He recognized early that his generation would inherit a world where misinformation spreads faster than truth—and where young people are often the most vulnerable targets. Motivated by years of computer science classes and a growing awareness of AI’s risks, he launched a project to educate students across Washington about deepfake technology, media literacy, and digital safety.
The Fulcrum spoke with Parv about his initiative, Nacer, which partners with nonprofits and schools to deliver workshops and curricula that help young people understand how AI‑generated misinformation works—and how to protect themselves and their communities from it. Parv and his team aim to reach every young person in Washington over the next five to six years, a goal that reflects both ambition and a deep sense of civic responsibility.
- YouTube youtu.be
The Carnegie initiative, launched by the Institute for Citizens & Scholars, honors 500 young changemakers from 27 states and Washington, D.C., each committed to strengthening civic life through hands‑on, community‑driven projects. Fellows receive a full year of wraparound support, including funding, mentorship, training, and access to a national network of peers and civic leaders. Within this national cohort, Mehta’s work stands out for its urgency and clarity of purpose.
The Carnegie fellowship amplifies this work, providing Parv and fellow cohorts with resources to expand participants' reach and connect with a national network of peers tackling similarly urgent challenges—from disaster recovery to youth caregiving to community health. The program’s mission is to cultivate civic preparedness, and Parv embodies that ethos: he not only teaches technical literacy but also strengthens the democratic foundations that depend on an informed public.
In an era defined by polarization, distrust, and the accelerating pace of technological change, Parv Mehta represents a different kind of leadership—one rooted in education, empowerment, and the belief that young people can shape a safer, more resilient civic future. His recognition as a 2025 Carnegie Young Leader is a testament to the impact he is already making and the promise of what he will build next.
Meet the 2025 Carnegie Young Leaders and their projects by clicking HERE. Please note that some fellows are not listed in order to respect their privacy.
About the Institute for Citizens & Scholars
The Institute for Citizens & Scholars cultivates talent, ideas, and networks that develop young people as effective, lifelong citizens. We unite the left, right, and center to develop breakthrough solutions that create stronger citizens in our country, and we bring these solutions to life by forming strategic partnerships with an intentionally diverse group of young people, scholars, and education leaders, and civic and business leaders—including the 27,000 world-leading Fellows in our network. Together, we're on a mission to ensure that Americans everywhere are civically well-informed, productively engaged, and committed to democracy.
About Carnegie Corporation of New York
Carnegie Corporation of New York was established by Andrew Carnegie in 1911 to promote the advancement and diffusion of knowledge and understanding. Today, the foundation works to reduce political polarization through philanthropic support for the issues that Carnegie considered most important: education, democracy, and peace.
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Repealing the ACA’s individual mandate destabilized insurance markets, drove premiums higher, and left families paying the price.
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The ACA’s Missing Mandate: Why Costs Keep Rising
Dec 31, 2025
By repealing the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate, policymakers allowed healthy Americans to walk away—leaving insurers with risk pools dominated by those most likely to need care. The result was inevitable: premiums soared, markets destabilized, and families were left paying the price.
When Congress passed the ACA, its most controversial feature was the individual mandate—the requirement that all Americans carry health insurance or pay a penalty. Critics called it coercion. In reality, it was the glue holding the system together.
Insurance depends on shared risk. By blending healthy and sick participants, insurers could keep premiums stable and coverage accessible. When the Trump administration eliminated the penalty, that balance collapsed. Healthy Americans had little incentive to stay in, and many walked away. What remained was a pool dominated by older, sicker, and higher‑cost enrollees.
This is the insurance equivalent of running a car company that only covers reckless drivers. Without the steadying presence of low‑risk participants, costs spiral. The Congressional Budget Office projected that repealing the mandate would increase the number of uninsured by 18 million in the first year and drive premiums up by double digits. More recent analyses warn that the expiration of enhanced ACA subsidies in 2026 could trigger premium hikes of over 100%.
Why It Matters
The consequences ripple far beyond the individual marketplace.
• Families: Middle‑class households not eligible for subsidies bear the brunt of higher premiums. For them, insurance becomes a luxury rather than a necessity.
• Markets: Shrinking risk pools push insurers to exit, reducing consumer choice and leaving some regions with only one or two carriers.
• Public health: More uninsured means delayed care, higher uncompensated hospital costs, and taxpayers footing the bill.
The Policy Lesson
The mandate was never about punishment—it was about fairness. Removing it shifted the burden onto those least able to absorb it. Temporary subsidies masked the damage, but as they expire, the imbalance resurfaces. Without a mechanism to keep healthy Americans in the system, premiums will continue to climb, and affordability will erode further.
The Path Forward
If we want health insurance to remain affordable and accessible, we must restore the principle of shared responsibility. Policymakers should either reinstate broad participation or commit to permanent subsidies that stabilize risk pools. Without decisive action, premiums will continue to climb, insurers will retreat, and families will be left stranded.
The ACA’s original design recognized a simple truth: insurance only works when everyone plays. The repeal fractured that principle, and Americans are paying the price.
The time to act is now—before the system collapses under its own weight.
Bruce Lowe is a homeowner advocate and community leader in Lubbock, Texas. He writes about civic integrity, public health, and principled reform. His book, "Honesty and Integrity: The Pillars of a Meaningful Life", explores how ethical leadership can strengthen families, uplift communities, and create a better life for all.
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