Darrious Hilmon
Established in 1983, the Chicago Access Network Television, better known as CAN TV, is a public, educational, and government access (PEG) cable television service in Chicago, Illinois. Its mission is to "promote people's right to speak and be heard, teach independent media use, seek understanding through media, link people to local opportunities, and invest people with the power of technology."
Darrious Hilmon is the Executive Director of CAN TV. Hilmon provides global oversight of the five-station television network, serving as the lead champion for digital literacy, access, and equity, and the active engagement and partnership of community partners and other key stakeholders needed to ensure that community access remains relevant for viewers, producers, and guests.
I had the chance to speak with Hilmon on a recent episode of Fulcrum Democracy Forum (FDF). The program engages citizens in evolving government to meet all people's needs better. Consistent with the Fulcrum's mission, FDF strives to share many perspectives to widen our readers' viewpoints.
Darrious and I have known each other for some time. In my role as publisher of Illinois Latino News, an affiliate of the Latino News Network, we have collaborated in the production of programs, including Chicago Politics, PRESENTE!, Sazon de Illinois, and 3 Questions With.
Sign up for The Fulcrum newsletter
- YouTubewww.youtube.com
Hilmon is the host of the popular CAN TV Signature Program In the Arena airing Tuesdays at 7p on CAN TV19.
Most recently, Hilmon served as Executive Director of the Chicago State Foundation, where he was charged with advancing the interests and welfare of Chicago State University through partnership development, stewardship of university assets, and identification and solicitation of financial support from individuals, corporations, and foundations.
Hilmon has also served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for the Chicago Urban League (CUL), overseeing fund development, outcomes-driven programs, and design and implementation of cross-functional initiatives, including CUL’s Race and Equity Initiative and Centennial Campaign. Hilmon hired and led the fund development team responsible for delivering the most successful annual fundraising campaigns in the civil rights organization’s 101-year history.
A graduate of the University of Michigan, Hilmon is the Essence® best-selling author of the novels, 5 Dimes (Penguin/NAL; 2003) and Divalicious (Penguin/NAL; 2004), and the anthology, Mad Love (AuthorHouse; 2005).
Here are other Change Leaders who I had the opportunity to interview as part of the Fulcrum Democracy Forum series:
I am the Fulcrum's executive editor. As a journalist, I take a collaborative approach to paving the path forward to a more informed and engaged citizenry, fortifying the foundations of democracy.
Girls with chalk coloring American flag on sidewalk
When you hear the word “freedom,” what comes to mind? For many, it’s the ability to do whatever we want without restrictions. But what if we reimagined freedom? What if it wasn’t just about personal liberty, but about finding purpose, building connections, and making life better—not just for ourselves, but for others too?
In a democracy, this idea of freedom takes on even greater significance. A healthy democracy thrives not just on individual rights but on collective responsibility. Real freedom, then, isn’t the absence of accountability; it’s found through accountability.
This connection between freedom and accountability is the foundation of civic engagement. It’s about moving beyond individual desires to contribute meaningfully to the broader community. Think of the everyday heroes who volunteer at polling stations, join neighborhood associations, or spearhead efforts to renovate a local park. These actions don’t just strengthen democracy—they make freedom purposeful.
Here’s a simple example: Imagine joining a community group to revitalize a local school playground. It’s not only about creating a safer, happier place for children to play—it’s about fostering community pride and connection. In this way, civic engagement transforms individual freedom into a collective force for good.
The idea that helping others enhances our own well-being is backed by research. Studies show that contributing to others boosts happiness and provides a deeper sense of purpose (Aknin, Dunn, & Norton, 2013). People who regularly help others report greater life satisfaction and even live longer. By stepping outside of our own desires and focusing on others, we create a ripple effect of positivity—and we benefit, too.
Sign up for The Fulcrum newsletter
This principle applies to civic life as well. Participating in efforts that benefit our neighborhoods or nation—whether through voting, organizing, or simply lending a hand—can create that same sense of fulfillment. Accountability in this context isn’t a burden; it’s an opportunity to connect with others and contribute to something bigger than ourselves.
One of the most visible examples of freedom intertwined with accountability is free speech. Words have power, and in a democracy, how we use that power shapes trust and connection. Misinformation, for instance, can erode public trust and weaken democratic processes. The spread of falsehoods about election integrity in recent years has shown just how damaging unchecked speech can be.
On the flip side, responsible communication—fact-checked journalism, civil discourse, and thoughtful debates—builds bridges and strengthens democracy. Imagine if each of us saw our freedom of speech as an invitation to foster understanding rather than sow division. That’s accountability in action, and it starts with us.
Freedom and accountability are not just for individuals—they’re also essential for communities and businesses. Consider initiatives where neighbors come together to improve local parks or advocate for better public services. These efforts reflect a “we” mindset, where freedom is exercised in ways that benefit everyone.
For businesses, the stakes are even higher. Companies influence political decisions, social norms, and environmental outcomes. When businesses act responsibly, considering their employees, customers, and the planet, they contribute to the common good. When they don’t, the consequences ripple through society.
At its heart, the conversation about freedom and accountability is about growth. It’s about recognizing that we’re all connected and that our choices impact others. Accountability isn’t a limitation—it’s an invitation to live with purpose, connection, and kindness.
So, what does this look like in everyday life? Picture a neighborhood coming together to plant trees in a park, improving air quality and creating a place for kids to play. Or think about a group of citizens advocating for better public transportation, ensuring access for those who need it most. These acts of civic engagement demonstrate freedom matured—freedom that uplifts and unites.
Freedom, when it matures, becomes so much more than “doing what I want.” It becomes a way of living that creates joy, builds trust, and strengthens communities. And isn’t that the kind of freedom we all want—not just for ourselves, but for each other?
Debilyn Molineaux is a storyteller, collaborator & connector. For 20 years, she led cross-partisan organizations. She works towards a thriving, just, and healthy future for all. She is the Executive Director at the Center for Collaborative Democracy, leading the Grand Bargain Project. She continues her work at American Future, inspiring everyone to share their personal future visions as a foundation for building new communities, and is the host of the TerrifiedNation.com podcast.
Christmas is such a fixture of American culture, it is hard to believe that this was not always the case. When the Puritans arrived on these shores, they had no interest in celebrating a day they saw as an ostentatious invention. Jumping ahead to 1789, the first year of the republic, Congress met in session on Dec. 25 like it was any other day.
Following that early chapter in American history, Christmas slowly and steadily took hold on the national calendar, especially as waves of immigrants brought their traditions to this continent. During the Civil War, Christmas day was embraced as a brief respite from the battlefield.
Elected president in 1868, Gen. Ulysses S. Grant was as committed to peace as he was vigilant about war. Having witnessed firsthand the ravages of the Civil War, he believed that the creation of a civic calendar could become a vehicle to bring the North and South back together.
On June 28, 1870, Grant signed legislation making Christmas a federal holiday, along with New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving, Washington’s Birthday and Independence Day. Of these first five federal holidays — at first only mandated within the District of Columbia — Christmas was certainly the most religious in nature, but the legislation framed the day as a day off from work rather than a spiritual celebration. At a time when the memories and wounds of the Civil War were still fresh, Grant understood that the creation of a unified calendar would be the cornerstone of a shared civic culture. Furthermore, he hoped that even more important than the time off would be the time spent on identifying common values that could assist in healing the soul of the country.
Sign up for The Fulcrum newsletter
Despite Grant’s assertion that we “keep the church and state forever separate,” his inclusion of Christmas invites questions about the place of religion in the public square and the establishment clause. With these issues having once again taken center stage in our national conversation, it is vital that educators, students and all members of American society understand the parameters of the First Amendment.
The intended impact of civic holidays has changed dramatically since the Grant administration. Perceived essentially as days off from work and school, civic holidays have been diluted as vehicles of transmitting values and building communal bonds. The Uniform Monday Holiday Act of 1968, for example, shifted several federal holidays to Mondays, thereby connecting these days with long weekends and holiday sales.
While the observance of civic holidays does not always live up to Grant’s vision, Civic Spirit, the organization for which I work, embraces these days as vital educational opportunities. In addition to producing civic holiday resources for classrooms and dining rooms around the country, our team works with schools to reimagine how they approach civic holidays. This effort is of the utmost importance as we near America’s 250th anniversary in just 18 months.
Turning the page on 2024, we look forward to working with schools nationwide to deepen student’s understanding of America’s story, put civic values into practice and create community connections. I can’t think of a better gift during this holiday season.
Savenor is a rabbi and executive director of Civic Spirit, a nonpartisan organization that provides training and resources to faith-based schools across the United States.
Sen.-elect John Curtis was influenced by transformational advocacy.
They both happened on the same day. First I read that Merriam-Webster selected “polarization” as the 2024 Word of the Year. And then I listened to remarks delivered by Sen.-elect John Curtis (R-Utah) at the Citizens’ Climate Lobby’s fall conference.
Merriam-Webster defines polarization as “division into two sharply distinct opposites; especially, a state in which the opinions, beliefs, or interests of a group or society no longer range along a continuum but become concentrated at opposing extremes.”
Curtis’ description of his work with CCL volunteers in Utah was a masterclass in resolving polarization. A former mayor of Provo who was sworn in as a member of the House of Representative the same month that Donald Trump was sworn in as president in his first term, Curtis spoke candidly about his learning curve as a new member of Congress struggling to address climate change.
Proud of the work he had done as mayor on issues like clean air, he recalled a hike with CCL members early in his first term, something that has become an annual tradition. That first hike lasted eight hours. How many of us spend eight hours with our newly elected member of Congress?
“[During the hike] somebody in the group said, … ‘What are you doing about carbon?’” Curtis remembered. “If I'm honest, it caught me off guard. I had spent very little of my time thinking about carbon, greenhouse gas emissions and climate.”
Sign up for The Fulcrum newsletter
Soon he was in Washington, D.C, caught up in these discussions.
“I was at a real loss on how to respond,” Curtis continued. “So I responded like a lot of Republicans typically respond, not so much pushing back but more dodging and feeling very uncomfortable when asked about climate.”
Unsatisfied with his own answers, Curtis began learning more about climate. “It made me a little bit nervous,” he said, “because Republicans, particularly seven years ago, just didn’t talk about climate, carbon and greenhouse gas emissions.”
Curtis complimented the Utah CCL volunteers for not giving up on him. He might not have been able to name it, but he was empowered by their use of transformational advocacy.
“It would have been really easy for my … CCL friends and others to criticize me for not supporting certain bills.,” Curtis remembered. “Instead [they] found things that I did that they liked, and they found bills I supported that they liked. [I know] it was very inadequate for what they would have hoped or aspired to. But that approach of embracing me and making me feel good about myself and what I was doing, actually inspired me to want to do more.”
And he did. He knew he had to get Republicans talking and launched the Conservative Climate Caucus.
“A Republican talking about climate,” Curtis said, “from a state where our state rock is coal and where I have a county called Carbon County was a little scary for my staff and for me.”
The Conservative Climate Caucus, which now has 87 members, started with several dozen. “They literally came to me and said, ‘I want to be part of your caucus. It's finally time for us to be doing this.’ And the way I've interpreted that is that Republicans were tired of getting their teeth kicked in at town hall meetings, they were tired of not having answers. They were tired of looking like they didn't want to leave the Earth better than we found it. …
“.As they grew comfortable talking about climate, they stopped worrying about the science and they started worrying about how you reduce carbon. It’s almost a magical thing.”
Curtis initiated a letter to Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), signed by 18 House Republicans, on the Inflation Reduction Act, the most far-reaching climate legislation ever enacted. Writing publicly to Johnson “tells you how committed these 18 names were on that letter. … And to his credit [ Johnson] said, ‘When it comes to the IRA we'll use [a scalpel].’ … With so many of us committed to the good parts of the IRA, I think that bodes well.”
Curtis expressed his appreciation for CCL’s approach, encouraged out-of-staters to join the hike, and concluded, “It's amazing how much you agree on when you're out in the beautiful outdoors and how the things you disagree on dissolve so quickly.”
Curtis’ remarks and CCL volunteers’ commitment to transformational advocacy are an important antidote to Merriam-Webster’s word of the year.
Daley-Harris is the author of “Reclaiming Our Democracy: Every Citizen’s Guide to Transformational Advocacy” and the founder of RESULTS and Civic Courage. This is part of a series focused on better understanding transformational advocacy: citizens awakening to their power.
