As we begin the second year of The 50: Voices of a Nation, I want to take a moment to thank you — our readers, partners, and communities across the country — for walking with us through this ambitious, four‑year journey to understand American democracy from the ground up.
This project began in 2025 with a simple but urgent question: What motivated Americans to vote in 2024, and how is life unfolding under the Trump administration?
Over the first twelve months, Hugo Balta, Executive Editor of The Fulcrum, traveled state by state, listening to people whose stories rarely make national headlines but whose experiences reveal the real conditions of civic life in this country. The 50 is built on that commitment — to meet people where they are, a rare chance to see democracy in action—one story, one state, one voice at a time.
A Maryland Program Connects Marginalized Communities to Critical Health Services
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We closed 2025 with a trip to Maryland, where community health ambassadors are working tirelessly to connect marginalized residents with lifesaving information and services.
Their work began during the uncertainty of the COVID‑19 pandemic and continues today as they build trust, counter misinformation, and bridge long‑standing gaps in access to care. Their story is a reminder that democracy is not only about elections — it’s about the everyday labor of people strengthening their communities from within.
2025 also marked a major milestone: the premiere of The 50: Voices of a Nation television special on CAN-TV. The hour‑long broadcast brought viewers across the country into the living rooms, workplaces, and neighborhoods where Americans are navigating the impact of national policies on their daily lives.
It was a powerful moment of visibility for the communities we’ve met — and for the mission that drives this work.
I invite you to watch the groundbreaking program.
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We Need Your Support
As the new year gets underway, our commitment deepens. In 2026, we continue traveling to new states, expanding our multimedia storytelling, and bringing you closer to the people whose voices define the civic landscape. The stakes remain high, and so does our responsibility to tell these stories with accuracy, empathy, and depth.
Independent, community‑centered journalism like The 50 is only possible because of people like you. If you believe in this work — in elevating lived experience, in strengthening civic understanding, in building a more informed democracy — we ask you to consider donating today by clicking HERE.
Your support ensures we can continue reporting from every corner of the country and keep this project accessible to all.
Thank you for being part of this journey.
Here’s to another year of listening, learning, and lifting the voices of a nation.
Best wishes,
David
David Nevins is the publisher of The Fulcrum and co-founder and board chairman of the Bridge Alliance Education Fund.
