WEBVTT - A Democracy if We Can Keep It

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<v Speaker 1>Good morning, peeps, and welcome to WOKF Daily with me

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<v Speaker 1>your girl, Daniel Moody recording pre recording from the Home Bunker. Folks,

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<v Speaker 1>you know, I get a lot of messages from all

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<v Speaker 1>of you that asked me really important questions about how

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<v Speaker 1>you can best use your energy and time, how not

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<v Speaker 1>to lose your mind, and what are the best ways

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<v Speaker 1>to actually get involved right and not just feel hopeless

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<v Speaker 1>and like you are doing nothing. And you know, I'm

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<v Speaker 1>excited for today's conversation with the executive director of the

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<v Speaker 1>Ballot Initiative Strategy Center. This conversation I thought was really

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<v Speaker 1>important and necessary because often times we think that we

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<v Speaker 1>understand what ballot initiatives are and ballot measures and what

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<v Speaker 1>the far right is pushing, and how we understand how

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<v Speaker 1>to push back, and a part of that is really

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<v Speaker 1>understanding the ways in which we have been led astray

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<v Speaker 1>purposefully in our understanding of civics and actually how government works.

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<v Speaker 1>And so this conversation with the executive director of BISK,

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<v Speaker 1>Chris Melody Field's figarato, is a really important conversation for

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<v Speaker 1>her to break down how we understand and use ballot

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<v Speaker 1>measures to our advantage, how states like Kansas and Wisconsin

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<v Speaker 1>were able to push back against their abortion bands by

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<v Speaker 1>ballot measures that the citizens put together in order to

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<v Speaker 1>have a voice. Right, Because it isn't enough just to

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<v Speaker 1>send these representatives in at the state, local, and fed

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<v Speaker 1>level and think that they're going to do the work.

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<v Speaker 1>There are other ways, other mechanations of our democratic system

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<v Speaker 1>that allow the people to have a voice. Now, don't

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<v Speaker 1>get it twisted. Republicans are coming for this as well,

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<v Speaker 1>but it is really important. I think that in this conversation,

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<v Speaker 1>and I was grateful to Chris to teach me some

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<v Speaker 1>things that I didn't know, and that I think that

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<v Speaker 1>is really important as we are trying to hold on

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<v Speaker 1>to our democracy, as we are flexing our voice and

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<v Speaker 1>our power as the people, what it actually means to

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<v Speaker 1>put back. So this conversation with Chris, the executive director

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<v Speaker 1>of the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center, is coming up next

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<v Speaker 1>and they also offer a way for you all to

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<v Speaker 1>get involved, to learn more and to build out community folks.

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<v Speaker 1>I am very excited to welcome to OKAP Daily for

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<v Speaker 1>the first time. Chris Melody Fields Bigaretto, who is like yes,

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<v Speaker 1>who is the executive director of Ballot Initiative Strategy Center,

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<v Speaker 1>an organization that works to create the vision, strategic planning,

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<v Speaker 1>and fundraising efforts around really important ballot measures that we

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<v Speaker 1>all end up voting on. Chris, I want to start

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<v Speaker 1>off with, first of all, explaining the difference, because we

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<v Speaker 1>just asked this before we started recording. Explain it. The

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<v Speaker 1>difference between what we are seeing past in state legislatures

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<v Speaker 1>regarding the erasure the criminalization of queer people, particularly trans

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<v Speaker 1>people in states like Florida, Texas, Tennessee, Alabama, and the

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<v Speaker 1>list goes on, and actual ballot measures.

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<v Speaker 2>So the rajor difference between ballot measures and what we

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<v Speaker 2>see are alleged representatives and governments. And I say alleged

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<v Speaker 2>because I don't think they actually for the most part

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<v Speaker 2>listen to the people some of them, and what we're

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<v Speaker 2>seeing at the state legislative level is ballot measures actually

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<v Speaker 2>are a tool for us. You and me are community

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<v Speaker 2>members to go into our community raise some signatures so

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<v Speaker 2>on a different issue, right, different topics like raising the

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<v Speaker 2>minimum wage, affirming reproductive healthcare right. We actually have the

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<v Speaker 2>power in about half the country twenty five states plus DC,

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<v Speaker 2>to sign petitions and take these issues to the ballot

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<v Speaker 2>and then vote on them. Now, state legislators like of

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<v Speaker 2>Florida or a Tennessee or my home state of Texas

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<v Speaker 2>also have the power and authority to refer an issue

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<v Speaker 2>to the ballot measure, So the legislature can refer a

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<v Speaker 2>constitutional amendment on a number of issues. Now, that's the

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<v Speaker 2>major difference between what a bouot measure is. The intent

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<v Speaker 2>is really for it to be citizen led or citizen.

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<v Speaker 1>Driven, Okay.

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<v Speaker 2>And then our representative and governments are passing these laws

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<v Speaker 2>across and I think the opportunity we actually have right

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<v Speaker 2>now from bout measures, because these four hundred plus bills

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<v Speaker 2>that are, like you just said, a racing queer people

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<v Speaker 2>like myself across the country, is we the people actually

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<v Speaker 2>have the power and agency to say something different through

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<v Speaker 2>ballot measures. You know, some states like an Oregan that

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<v Speaker 2>is considering a reproductive healthcare bouot measure is actually looking

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<v Speaker 2>how they protect trans healthcare in their measure as well.

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<v Speaker 2>So that's a big difference. And then I think this

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<v Speaker 2>is the opportunity for us as citizens in this country

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<v Speaker 2>to actually tell a different story and narrative than what

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<v Speaker 2>we're seeing in these state legislatures to actually protect queer

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<v Speaker 2>and transfolk.

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<v Speaker 1>Can you talk to us about when you are living

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<v Speaker 1>inside of a Republican supermajority in a state legislature, what

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<v Speaker 1>it looks like, the work it goes into bringing up

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<v Speaker 1>then a ballot measure that you know would provide voice

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<v Speaker 1>to the people. So we saw this play out, I

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<v Speaker 1>believe what in Wisconsin around abortion. We saw this play

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<v Speaker 1>out in Kansas around abortion. And so I want you

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<v Speaker 1>to be able to explain how these kind of measures

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<v Speaker 1>work because the whole point is to give voice and

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<v Speaker 1>power to the people. But we're living inside of these

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<v Speaker 1>Republican supermajorities that are doing the exact opposite exactly.

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<v Speaker 2>Actually, this has become a tool in many states that

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<v Speaker 2>have Republican supermajority, So a Missouri, well back in the

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<v Speaker 2>day a Michigan. Luckily that there was a flip there,

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<v Speaker 2>so Missouri states like Missouri, Florida, Ohio where they have

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<v Speaker 2>the citizen led process, this has actually been a tool

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<v Speaker 2>of necessity for a number of advacy groups and citizens

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<v Speaker 2>to take these issues that are actually widely popular by

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<v Speaker 2>everyday citizens, like raising the minimum wage, like paid lead,

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<v Speaker 2>like affirmatively protecting the right to an abortion. That is

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<v Speaker 2>actually what has been happening in a lot of these

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<v Speaker 2>Republican trifecta states across the country. It's become this tool

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<v Speaker 2>of necessity for organizers to go in to their community,

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<v Speaker 2>have people sign a petition saying yes, we want this

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<v Speaker 2>issue on the ballot, and then whenever election day comes

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<v Speaker 2>or well in most you know, in some states, election

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<v Speaker 2>days actually may start a couple of weeks earlier through

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<v Speaker 2>early voting or absenceee voting to actually vote yes on

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<v Speaker 2>these issues or reject proposals like they did in Kansas,

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<v Speaker 2>in Kentucky, in Montana last year in twenty twenty two

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<v Speaker 2>reject abortion bands. So that's what is how it's been

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<v Speaker 2>playing out in a lot of states where we've seen

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<v Speaker 2>Republican trifectas. Now what we're also seeing in those same

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<v Speaker 2>states where there are Republican tri affectas or super majorities.

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<v Speaker 2>These GOP leaders are not happy with what the people

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<v Speaker 2>are doing, are not in alignment with their constituents, and

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<v Speaker 2>now our proposing changes to the BOWT measure process and

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<v Speaker 2>actually making it harder for you and me and members

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<v Speaker 2>of our community to take these issues that we are

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<v Speaker 2>no we know our people better than anyone else. Yep,

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<v Speaker 2>we know these issues are popular. They're trying now to

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<v Speaker 2>take this, this important tool for the people away. I mean,

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<v Speaker 2>this is literally happening right now in Ohio.

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<v Speaker 1>And what does tell us what does that look like

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<v Speaker 1>in terms of trying to again take away a democratic

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<v Speaker 1>tool from the people inside of a democracy that allows

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<v Speaker 1>you to have voice in between, you know, on election day,

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<v Speaker 1>in between elections and what have you.

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<v Speaker 2>So what's happening in the states right now are a

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<v Speaker 2>couple of things. One, so we all know, to elect

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<v Speaker 2>someone to Congress, to elect someone to our city council,

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<v Speaker 2>it requires a simple majority, right, fifty plus one percent

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<v Speaker 2>of the vote. That's how you win on election, right.

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<v Speaker 2>And what we are seeing in state legislatures across the

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<v Speaker 2>country is they are proposing bills that would require supermajorities

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<v Speaker 2>to pass these bout measures, so raising the threshold to

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<v Speaker 2>pass an issue at the ballot to sixty percent or

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<v Speaker 2>as high as sixty seven percent. Right. We're also seeing

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<v Speaker 2>state legislatures propose rules that would increase the signature how

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<v Speaker 2>many signatures have to be gathered in a particular state. Now,

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<v Speaker 2>you know, some people will say more signatures more democracy, right,

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<v Speaker 2>But we also know that actually has a relationship to

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<v Speaker 2>how costly campaigns can be. Right, more signatures, more people

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<v Speaker 2>you got to go into communities, the more people you

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<v Speaker 2>have to message to, more field operatives that you have

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<v Speaker 2>to have in the ground. Right. So that's another thing

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<v Speaker 2>that they're doing in state legislatures, and in some places

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<v Speaker 2>they are being as brazen as they possibly can, because

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<v Speaker 2>you know, we are in many states living under fascists.

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<v Speaker 2>They are purposed, like they tried to do in Mississippi,

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<v Speaker 2>they try to restore their ballot measure process, but then

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<v Speaker 2>they would give the state legislature the authority to completely

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<v Speaker 2>overturn anything that the people voted on. So all of

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<v Speaker 2>these are.

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<v Speaker 1>So what they want is the appearance of demoperience. Here's

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<v Speaker 1>here's this ballot measure that you have the ability to

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<v Speaker 1>vote on. But oh much in the same way that

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<v Speaker 1>we just saw the North Carolina state legislator decide to

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<v Speaker 1>over to overthrow the will of the democratically elected governor,

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<v Speaker 1>we're going to be able to still overthrow the will

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<v Speaker 1>of the people and say that, oh but we went

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<v Speaker 1>through due process.

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<v Speaker 2>Exactly exactly, And that is what we're seeing now. More

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<v Speaker 2>and more. And this is a response to us, the people,

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<v Speaker 2>where we are demanding a different world than what we

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<v Speaker 2>are seeing right now. Right, I think if you ask

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<v Speaker 2>the majority, actually we know, if you ask the majority

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<v Speaker 2>of Americans, they support reproductive rights. We know this to

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<v Speaker 2>be true. And we saw that play out in twenty

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<v Speaker 2>twenty two when every single one of the abortion bands

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<v Speaker 2>lost and every single one of the abortion the affirmatively

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<v Speaker 2>protecting the right to abortion care all measures one in

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<v Speaker 2>all of the states where we put raising the minimum

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<v Speaker 2>wage at the ballot. We won. But we can't see

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<v Speaker 2>the We don't see our representatives in government, the people

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<v Speaker 2>who are supposed to represent us. They're not taking action

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<v Speaker 2>on the things that we need. They're not guaranteeing us healthcare,

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<v Speaker 2>which citizens widely want, right And this is really like,

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<v Speaker 2>this is the big I don't know, fall like you

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<v Speaker 2>we're in right now?

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<v Speaker 1>Is I like to just say, yeah, we're you know,

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<v Speaker 1>we're in a little bit of what I call a

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<v Speaker 1>fuckery pickle.

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<v Speaker 2>That's on that part right there, that far.

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<v Speaker 1>You know, it's what do they say, it's a democracy

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<v Speaker 1>so long as you can keep it right. And I

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<v Speaker 1>think and I think that what you know, what your

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<v Speaker 1>organization is about. It is frankly, what I would have

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<v Speaker 1>liked when I was a teacher is actually teaching people

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<v Speaker 1>about civics and civic engagement. Right, So can you speak

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<v Speaker 1>so speak to that piece, because I think that when

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<v Speaker 1>we step back and we look at all of the

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<v Speaker 1>things that are happening in all the ways that that

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<v Speaker 1>we see the Republican Party literally trying to chip away

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<v Speaker 1>and I won't even say chip away anymore. It was

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<v Speaker 1>chipping in twenty sixteen. Now they're just hacking with with

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<v Speaker 1>the chainsaw away at our democracy.

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<v Speaker 2>You know.

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<v Speaker 1>I think about the way in which we refuse to

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<v Speaker 1>teach history, the way that we refuse to teach civics,

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<v Speaker 1>that a majority of people in this country really don't

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<v Speaker 1>know how government works, right, And what we assumed was

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<v Speaker 1>law was actually a handshake deal between the quote unquote

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<v Speaker 1>founding fathers in the assumption that all that entered into

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<v Speaker 1>government were going to be noble men.

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<v Speaker 2>Right.

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<v Speaker 1>So, so so talk to us about the I guess

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<v Speaker 1>that we're starting from the back here because there is

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<v Speaker 1>an educational hurdle that needs to that needs to be

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<v Speaker 1>met before you even get to the initia the ballot

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<v Speaker 1>initiative peace.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah. I mean this is actually so fundamental to what

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<v Speaker 2>we are losing and have loss in in our education

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<v Speaker 2>system is the basics of like how government works, how

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<v Speaker 2>does a buil the law right? Why is it important

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<v Speaker 2>for you to serve on your jury, which is a

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<v Speaker 2>civic duty right? Or or to go out and vote

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<v Speaker 2>and what does that look like and how do you

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<v Speaker 2>engage in Like you know, one of the things I

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<v Speaker 2>love about bowel measures and it's an imperfect tool. It

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<v Speaker 2>is a completely imperfect tool. Like many of the things

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<v Speaker 2>that we're created in our democracy because you and I

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<v Speaker 2>were not included intended in the in the original design

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<v Speaker 2>of our democracy, is it actually requires us to go

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<v Speaker 2>into community, have conversations, knock on a door, have a

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<v Speaker 2>telephone conversation, text, go to the barbershop, right wherever, where,

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<v Speaker 2>wherever we communicate communist people and have a conversation about

0:15:49.800 --> 0:15:53.240
<v Speaker 2>why these issues are important and why we as a

0:15:53.240 --> 0:15:58.880
<v Speaker 2>community need to affirmatively protect something or are demand something.

0:15:58.960 --> 0:16:02.480
<v Speaker 2>And so that is what I've Actually one of the

0:16:02.520 --> 0:16:06.160
<v Speaker 2>things I really love about ballot measures is it's like

0:16:06.240 --> 0:16:09.240
<v Speaker 2>civics one oh one. It's like, actually, like you, civics

0:16:09.320 --> 0:16:15.640
<v Speaker 2>is community civics is a responsibility that we have to

0:16:15.800 --> 0:16:20.760
<v Speaker 2>participate into in government and also hold government accountable to

0:16:20.920 --> 0:16:25.080
<v Speaker 2>us because that is essentially who they work for. They

0:16:25.120 --> 0:16:28.720
<v Speaker 2>work for us, right, And that is what I've really

0:16:28.800 --> 0:16:33.320
<v Speaker 2>loved about. What I love of the possibility of bowt

0:16:33.320 --> 0:16:37.160
<v Speaker 2>measures is us going into community and having these conversations

0:16:37.680 --> 0:16:40.560
<v Speaker 2>and the story there are in many ways of storytelling

0:16:41.000 --> 0:16:43.880
<v Speaker 2>tool right, a way for us to tell our own

0:16:44.120 --> 0:16:49.520
<v Speaker 2>stories about it or create a narrative of actually what

0:16:49.600 --> 0:16:53.600
<v Speaker 2>we the people want. Right in Florida, right in twenty eighteen,

0:16:54.280 --> 0:16:58.760
<v Speaker 2>when Amendment four passed, which was a Bowet measure that

0:16:58.800 --> 0:17:03.359
<v Speaker 2>restored voting rights to one point four million formally incarcerated

0:17:03.720 --> 0:17:07.399
<v Speaker 2>folks from a gym pro era law right from a

0:17:07.440 --> 0:17:10.960
<v Speaker 2>gym pro era that disenfranchised people lost their right to

0:17:11.040 --> 0:17:18.600
<v Speaker 2>vote if they served if they served time. One point

0:17:18.840 --> 0:17:22.080
<v Speaker 2>people voted to restore it, and then the legislature tried

0:17:22.080 --> 0:17:26.800
<v Speaker 2>to undermine that. But what was so important about Amendment

0:17:26.880 --> 0:17:31.560
<v Speaker 2>four It was led and designed by the most impacted

0:17:31.560 --> 0:17:37.240
<v Speaker 2>people from Desmond Meade, a formally incarcerated person who lost

0:17:37.280 --> 0:17:41.960
<v Speaker 2>their rights right his rights. It was led by him

0:17:42.000 --> 0:17:45.679
<v Speaker 2>and other returning citizens across the state like the field,

0:17:45.840 --> 0:17:48.480
<v Speaker 2>like who ran the field program, who knocked on doors? Right?

0:17:49.040 --> 0:17:51.000
<v Speaker 2>And that's what we're trying to do at BISK really

0:17:51.040 --> 0:17:56.760
<v Speaker 2>is public policy is often never never designed by the people, right,

0:17:56.960 --> 0:18:01.560
<v Speaker 2>somebody in DC or New York, San Francisco, right, often

0:18:01.680 --> 0:18:06.200
<v Speaker 2>very well some lobbying shop, very wealthy folks, mostly white people.

0:18:07.200 --> 0:18:10.280
<v Speaker 2>We're never included in those conversations. And what we're trying

0:18:10.320 --> 0:18:13.960
<v Speaker 2>to do at BISK is actually return this tool to

0:18:14.040 --> 0:18:18.440
<v Speaker 2>the people and ensuring that you know, if we're thinking

0:18:18.560 --> 0:18:22.840
<v Speaker 2>about you know, a paid leave BIW measured, like, why

0:18:22.840 --> 0:18:27.359
<v Speaker 2>are we not including the parents who are impacted, the

0:18:27.480 --> 0:18:31.720
<v Speaker 2>workers who are impacted by not having a policy that

0:18:31.760 --> 0:18:34.800
<v Speaker 2>gives them leave from work? Right? Why would we not

0:18:34.920 --> 0:18:38.119
<v Speaker 2>include them? And that's what really part of what I

0:18:38.119 --> 0:18:42.280
<v Speaker 2>think Florida and Amendment for show a possibility and what

0:18:42.280 --> 0:18:46.240
<v Speaker 2>we're seeing more and more across the country is, yes,

0:18:46.359 --> 0:18:50.480
<v Speaker 2>we have these tools in civic engagement, but are they

0:18:50.680 --> 0:18:57.199
<v Speaker 2>actually ours? And who gets to design them? That's you know,

0:18:57.320 --> 0:19:00.439
<v Speaker 2>that's what we're trying to do at BISK is actually

0:19:00.440 --> 0:19:03.640
<v Speaker 2>include us the people in that design from the beginning.

0:19:06.920 --> 0:19:08.439
<v Speaker 1>You know, one of the questions that I have for

0:19:08.480 --> 0:19:14.240
<v Speaker 1>you and again is about organizing people and the tools

0:19:14.240 --> 0:19:17.680
<v Speaker 1>that you're using. But how social media has both become

0:19:17.720 --> 0:19:22.960
<v Speaker 1>a hindrance as well as an avenue. Right, So, on

0:19:22.960 --> 0:19:30.400
<v Speaker 1>one hand, social media before a racist, misogynist, anti semitic, homophobic,

0:19:30.480 --> 0:19:36.000
<v Speaker 1>transphobic billionaire decided to buy Twitter, was the public square,

0:19:36.280 --> 0:19:42.800
<v Speaker 1>was how people movements and organizing was happening, right, being

0:19:42.840 --> 0:19:44.760
<v Speaker 1>aided by what was happening on the ground. But you

0:19:44.760 --> 0:19:47.760
<v Speaker 1>could spread the words so quickly with social media. And

0:19:47.800 --> 0:19:51.199
<v Speaker 1>it's the same way with ballot initiatives and measures that

0:19:51.280 --> 0:19:54.560
<v Speaker 1>happen across the country. So I wonder in the age

0:19:55.320 --> 0:19:57.720
<v Speaker 1>where each and every one of us on a day

0:19:57.760 --> 0:20:00.760
<v Speaker 1>to day basis is either deciding to leave the platform,

0:20:01.280 --> 0:20:04.800
<v Speaker 1>leave social media altogether, but are still looking at how

0:20:04.800 --> 0:20:09.320
<v Speaker 1>to connect, How is your how is bisk meeting this

0:20:09.480 --> 0:20:16.760
<v Speaker 1>really critical moment where we're losing the platforms and the

0:20:16.800 --> 0:20:21.840
<v Speaker 1>spaces that allowed for there to be more democratic engagement

0:20:21.960 --> 0:20:23.000
<v Speaker 1>by and for the people.

0:20:24.119 --> 0:20:28.320
<v Speaker 2>I mean, this is this is what earlier I told

0:20:28.320 --> 0:20:32.040
<v Speaker 2>you I have a complicated relationship with Twitter because same

0:20:32.760 --> 0:20:37.960
<v Speaker 2>I for so long that is where I got my news,

0:20:38.040 --> 0:20:44.000
<v Speaker 2>not just my news, my cultural conversations. You know, as

0:20:44.000 --> 0:20:46.960
<v Speaker 2>a latinx squeer woman like that. It was just so

0:20:47.080 --> 0:20:53.520
<v Speaker 2>important and critical, and you know, it's hard to have

0:20:53.560 --> 0:20:56.160
<v Speaker 2>those same conversations with so many people leaving the platform,

0:20:56.200 --> 0:21:01.760
<v Speaker 2>and and you know, for us, it's returning to some

0:21:01.840 --> 0:21:05.280
<v Speaker 2>of the tools that we've always known as human beings.

0:21:05.320 --> 0:21:08.679
<v Speaker 2>Like you know, I'm an organizer. I grew up, you know,

0:21:09.200 --> 0:21:12.439
<v Speaker 2>in politics, and you know, you go to people, you

0:21:12.440 --> 0:21:14.919
<v Speaker 2>meet people where they are. For a long time, that

0:21:15.040 --> 0:21:17.640
<v Speaker 2>was where social media is. But that we're still we're

0:21:17.680 --> 0:21:20.920
<v Speaker 2>still We're still out in parking lots, We're still going

0:21:20.960 --> 0:21:24.359
<v Speaker 2>to the grocery store. We're still going to get our

0:21:24.400 --> 0:21:27.000
<v Speaker 2>hair done right, We're still go I'm still going to

0:21:27.040 --> 0:21:29.760
<v Speaker 2>the nail salon, which I'm doing on this weekend because

0:21:29.840 --> 0:21:32.920
<v Speaker 2>my hair, they my nails are looking rough right now.

0:21:34.720 --> 0:21:39.040
<v Speaker 2>And so part of what we do is like giving

0:21:39.560 --> 0:21:42.800
<v Speaker 2>folks the tools so to do that. What is now

0:21:42.840 --> 0:21:46.119
<v Speaker 2>called relational organizing to me is just organizing. It's just

0:21:46.160 --> 0:21:51.800
<v Speaker 2>like community, community communicating to humans and then also figuring

0:21:51.880 --> 0:21:58.639
<v Speaker 2>out the other places people are gathering online right there.

0:21:59.200 --> 0:22:02.320
<v Speaker 2>I mean, is it you know, making sure that people

0:22:02.400 --> 0:22:04.840
<v Speaker 2>have the tools and resources in that signal chat that

0:22:04.840 --> 0:22:07.240
<v Speaker 2>they're having with you know, twenty of their other friends

0:22:07.760 --> 0:22:10.840
<v Speaker 2>like get making sure that we equip them with the

0:22:10.880 --> 0:22:14.400
<v Speaker 2>tools there right to have that conversation with with folks

0:22:14.480 --> 0:22:16.960
<v Speaker 2>and there in their their group chats, that's like signal chat.

0:22:16.960 --> 0:22:19.280
<v Speaker 2>That's where my friends and I are are at. So

0:22:19.320 --> 0:22:23.800
<v Speaker 2>it's also like thinking about the other places like TikTok

0:22:23.800 --> 0:22:26.800
<v Speaker 2>where young people that's where they gather. That is my

0:22:26.880 --> 0:22:29.240
<v Speaker 2>fifteen year old, that is where she is on a

0:22:29.320 --> 0:22:34.159
<v Speaker 2>daily basis. Right, figuring out those those other avenues and

0:22:34.359 --> 0:22:39.520
<v Speaker 2>the best way to use those platforms and trusted messengers

0:22:39.640 --> 0:22:43.560
<v Speaker 2>in those platforms, That's the way that we've been doing it.

0:22:44.240 --> 0:22:46.840
<v Speaker 2>And then asking I mean we've been asking ourselves as

0:22:46.840 --> 0:22:52.600
<v Speaker 2>an organization, like is our certain platforms like a Twitter

0:22:52.760 --> 0:22:55.200
<v Speaker 2>where we actually want to be? If our people aren't s,

0:22:55.720 --> 0:22:59.760
<v Speaker 2>it's not, it's not a trusted resource, then you know

0:22:59.800 --> 0:23:02.080
<v Speaker 2>we're all I think a lot of us are asking

0:23:02.200 --> 0:23:05.440
<v Speaker 2>ourselves that question, is is that the place we want

0:23:05.480 --> 0:23:07.720
<v Speaker 2>to be? And for what we're trying to do is

0:23:07.800 --> 0:23:10.280
<v Speaker 2>focus ourselves, our time and other platforms.

0:23:11.040 --> 0:23:15.320
<v Speaker 1>Yeah, I think that it's really important one for all

0:23:15.359 --> 0:23:19.280
<v Speaker 1>of us who are parts or live at the intersections

0:23:19.280 --> 0:23:23.800
<v Speaker 1>of communities that are under attack for us to weigh

0:23:23.880 --> 0:23:26.800
<v Speaker 1>the energy, right, is it worth being on a Twitter?

0:23:26.920 --> 0:23:29.480
<v Speaker 1>Is it worth being in these spaces that are set

0:23:29.560 --> 0:23:33.119
<v Speaker 1>up now as attack zones, right as opposed to what

0:23:33.200 --> 0:23:37.040
<v Speaker 1>they were, which was you know, the town square where

0:23:37.040 --> 0:23:40.840
<v Speaker 1>we could have you know, conversations. And so before I

0:23:40.920 --> 0:23:43.760
<v Speaker 1>let you go, Chris, please tell folks you know that

0:23:43.800 --> 0:23:47.120
<v Speaker 1>are listening how they can get involved with your organization

0:23:47.520 --> 0:23:51.520
<v Speaker 1>and how they can learn more about ballot measures that

0:23:51.560 --> 0:23:53.240
<v Speaker 1>are happening in their states.

0:23:54.280 --> 0:23:56.360
<v Speaker 2>Well, we try to keep it really easy for folks.

0:23:56.640 --> 0:23:59.760
<v Speaker 2>We had. Our website is www dot ballot dot org.

0:24:00.760 --> 0:24:04.679
<v Speaker 2>All of our social handles are at ballot Strategy. One

0:24:04.680 --> 0:24:07.119
<v Speaker 2>of the cool resources that I really encourage people to

0:24:07.160 --> 0:24:09.720
<v Speaker 2>go to on our website is our ballot measure Hub,

0:24:10.600 --> 0:24:12.720
<v Speaker 2>and that is like a resource we updated every two

0:24:12.720 --> 0:24:15.640
<v Speaker 2>weeks what are the potential ballot measures that are coming

0:24:15.680 --> 0:24:19.480
<v Speaker 2>into to your state. We also feature different campaign leaders,

0:24:19.560 --> 0:24:23.840
<v Speaker 2>different folks across the country that are leading amazing organizations

0:24:23.840 --> 0:24:27.000
<v Speaker 2>on the local level that are I mean to us,

0:24:27.040 --> 0:24:29.159
<v Speaker 2>we provide the resources to the folks on the ground,

0:24:29.440 --> 0:24:32.439
<v Speaker 2>and we serve as a conduit or a community, a

0:24:32.480 --> 0:24:35.399
<v Speaker 2>connector to the groups on the ground that are doing

0:24:35.480 --> 0:24:39.200
<v Speaker 2>this amazing work so ballot dot org or at Ballot

0:24:39.320 --> 0:24:43.240
<v Speaker 2>Strategy on all all of the socials where we actually

0:24:43.240 --> 0:24:49.159
<v Speaker 2>try to explain something that's often really obtuse to and

0:24:49.359 --> 0:24:52.240
<v Speaker 2>can be kind of wonky, we try to really break

0:24:52.280 --> 0:24:53.119
<v Speaker 2>it down for folks.

0:24:54.400 --> 0:24:58.000
<v Speaker 1>Well, Chris, thank you so much for the work that

0:24:58.040 --> 0:25:01.640
<v Speaker 1>you're doing at ballot and should have Strategy Center at

0:25:01.680 --> 0:25:04.439
<v Speaker 1>BISK and for making the time to join wok app.

0:25:04.560 --> 0:25:07.359
<v Speaker 1>I think that you are on the front lines of

0:25:07.400 --> 0:25:11.439
<v Speaker 1>a valiant fight of reconnecting people to democracy and their voice,

0:25:11.560 --> 0:25:13.040
<v Speaker 1>and we just really appreciate you.

0:25:13.720 --> 0:25:21.639
<v Speaker 2>Appreciate it for the opportunity that is it for me today.

0:25:21.680 --> 0:25:25.359
<v Speaker 1>Dear friends on wok app as always power to the

0:25:25.359 --> 0:25:28.640
<v Speaker 1>people and to all the people. Power, get woke and

0:25:28.720 --> 0:25:30.080
<v Speaker 1>stay woke as fuck.