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The women who lead democracy reform

Sara Bonk, Jackie Salit, Justine Williams

While women remain significantly underrepresented in government, there is at least one adjacent field in which they have achieved gender parity in leadership: the universe of democracy reform and bridge-building organizations.

In its 2021 Diversity Report, the Bridge Alliance found that half of the executives leading its 100 member organizations are women. (Disclosure: The Fulcrum is a program within the Bridge Alliance, which brings together organizations working toward a healthy democracy.)


To mark Women’s History Month, The Fulcrum is spotlighting just some of the women leading these organizations.

Meg Heubeck

Director of Instruction, Youth Leadership Initiative

"Civic education is at the heart of what American schools are about. In my thirty years in education I have witnessed the power of quality civic education to excite, engage and empower a student to a lifetime of civic engagement, civil discourse, and consensus building that is essential to the functioning of the American republic.. That engagement makes our schools, our communities and our nation stronger. That is why I do what I do- all year, every year."

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Independent Voters Just Got Power in Nevada – if the Governor Lets It Happen

"On Las Vegas Boulevard" sign.

Photo by Wesley Tingey on Unsplash. Unplash+ license obtained by IVN Editor Shawn Griffiths.

Independent Voters Just Got Power in Nevada – if the Governor Lets It Happen

CARSON CITY, NEV. - A surprise last-minute bill to open primary elections to Nevada’s largest voting bloc, registered unaffiliated voters, moved quickly through the state legislature and was approved by a majority of lawmakers on the last day of the legislative session Monday.

The bill, AB597, allows voters not registered with a political party to pick between a Republican and Democratic primary ballot in future election cycles. It does not apply to the state’s presidential preference elections, which would remain closed to registered party members.

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Poetry, Democracy, and the Vineyard of Renewal

A California vineyard during sunset.

Getty Images, Anton Petrus

Poetry, Democracy, and the Vineyard of Renewal

Poetry pulses through the veins of American heritage, shaping our nation’s conscience and collective voice. In the 19th century, Walt Whitman recognized that both poetry and democracy derive their power from unifying disparate voices into a harmonious whole. His words inI Hear America Singing” still resonate, reminding us that each citizen’s song enriches the greater chorus.

Throughout history, poetry has served as a mirror, reflecting the triumphs and trials of our democratic journey. It challenges, illuminates, and inspires—an ever-evolving force in shaping conversations that matter.

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