Welcome to the first edition of our newsletter! We are excited to be with you on this journey to strengthen our democracy.
As you know, there is an unsettling rise in authoritarianism in America. More and more of our neighbors and our elected representatives are embracing ideas that undercut the foundations of what makes this country great. From efforts to suppress the vote to the attempted coup in January, our form of government and way of life is under attack.
Democracy is a fragile thing; it needs the ongoing work of everyone to keep it alive or we will lose it altogether. Sadly, this is no exaggeration. The good news is that it’s not too late to do something about it. But we need your help.
We are often asked who would be interested in The Franklin Project’s work. If you answer “yes” to any or all of these questions, we want to work with you:
- Do you value the liberties and rights you have as Americans?
- Are you unafraid of a diversity of opinions?
- Do you want your elected representatives to work together to get things done?
- Are you fearful about the kind of country your children will inherit?
- Do you think that America is already pretty great and that we need to keep it that way?
- Do you want the shrieking, shrill, dangerous extremist voices to quiet down so that the rest of us can be heard?
Then join us. We are the majority of this country and we will not stand by and watch what we love, what we value, and what we’ve sometimes had to fight for simply slip away. The America we love was the only country in history founded on an idea — an idea that we are all created equal and that we are born with the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness as we continually strive together for a more perfect union. Are we there yet? Not even close, but the hallmark of what it means to be an American is that we are always trying to be better. For some people, their version of what it means to be an American is a determination to be worse.
Well, not on our watch.
The mission of The Franklin Project is to connect you with others who feel the same way and to help you to be more active participants in your own democracy. The stakes are very high. If we fail, everything that makes America great and the liberties and rights we love and sometimes takes for granted will vanish — faster than you might imagine. But, if we are successful, we’ll secure those liberties and rights for ourselves and our children. If we are successful we will put a stake in the ground in the face of extremism and boldly say, “ENOUGH!”
Individually, we can’t do much to stop this slide into authoritarianism. But together there’s nothing we cannot do. Together we cannot — we must not — fail. Together we will fight to keep the America we love and cherish by doing the work of Democracy.
– Franklin Project Co-Executive Directors Erin Dobson and Greg Jenkins
On civic engagement
EXCLUSIVE: Click here to watch our latest video on the role we all play in holding elected officials accountable.
Take it offline. Want to meet for regular conversations about the issues facing our democracy? Start a Junto Club! Learn how here.
What’s next. June 14-20th is the National Week of Conversation. We invite you to check out the week’s events and speakers and plan your own events to discuss the issues threatening our democracy. Consider hosting your first Junto Club meeting! Highlight your experiences on social by using the hashtag #ListenFirst.
We want to hear from you. How is your community fighting for democracy? Email us photos, videos, or stories of how people in your circle or your local community are living out the pledge for a chance to be featured.
On civic education
As a resource to guide your Democracy Chats, we have three new Conversation Starters on the site: THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE, COVID-19 HATE CRIMES ACT, and PRESIDENTIAL EXECUTIVE ORDERS. Pick a topic to educate yourself on and jumpstart your discussions.
If you’re feeling anxious or worried about the state of our country you’re not alone. Unfortunately, too many of your fellow citizens feel the same way. By taking the democracy pledge you’ve joined thousands of people looking to make a difference, starting with something as simple as how we talk to each other. This article talks about ways getting involved at the local level can actually help with stress and anxiety often associated with political uncertainty.
You are not alone in this fight.