The Horizons Project

🌅 New year, new look for the VISTA - Horizons’ monthly curation of resources we’re reading, watching and listening to. (🔗 in the comments.) January 2025 has been quite a month and there is a lot to share. To name just a few of the things you don’t want to miss: 🌟 Sherrilyn Ifell’s piece “It is MLK Day, Do Not Dispair. This year we have work to do.” 🌟 Lists of what needs to be prioritized and advice for the Trump 2.0 era from Protect Democracy, Frame Lab, Timothy Snyder, Narrative Initiative and others. 🌟 Wisdom from Heather C. McGhee and Tulaine M. on Sharing Stories that Heal. ….and much much more. You don’t want to miss this choc-ful list of inspiration, guidance and solace. Maria J. Stephan Jarvis Williams Julia Roig Nilanka Seneviratne Tabatha Pilgrim Thompson

If you're tired of feeling helpless and wondering what to do, start by joining us for our public event on "How We Can Block, Bridge, and Build Our Democratic Future Together" https://lnkd.in/ejiMsWiZ

🌐 Looking forward to this panel discussion with Daniel Kinderman Robert Wacław Czajkowski & Marek Tatała for business leaders in Germany to reinforce the importance of cross Atlantic learning and connections. I’ll be reflecting on: The role of businesses in promoting and protecting democratic values; How democratic movements can strengthen their global networks and messages; And sharing example of successful collaborations between businesses and civil society - and opportunities we have in this moment to be working together across sectors to strengthen democracy. 🔗 For more information about The Horizons Project business & democracy work, check out my recent blog in the comments.

Join this online conversation between me and my colleagues Steven Levitsky, Cornell William Brooks, and Marshall Ganz about organizing and mobilization during democratic backsliding. Next Thurs, Feb 20, 4-5pm ET. https://lnkd.in/e9rAKycZ

🎧 I had a great conversation with Kristine Michie on the Playfull Podcast about my weaving work at The Horizons Project. Got to eat some delicious Baltimore-based ice cream 🍨 together (🙏🏼 thanks Taharka Brothers Ice Cream Corp!) 🌟 We talked about the power of connection, the role of courageous action, and why play is essential in serious work. 🌟 I love Kristine’s emphasis on play as being so important for social change and reinforced how play, joy, and creativity are not distractions but powerful tools for sustaining activism and deepening relationships. 🌟 We explored how resistance and bridge-building are not opposing forces—but must happen together to create lasting transformation. 🌟 And, we reflected on the current political moment as an opportunity to build new coalitions, disrupt complacency, and inspire broader participation. 🎧 Take a listen - link to episode is in the comments.

Make sure you read this analysis by political scientists Steven Levitksy & Lucan A Way, who know a fair bit about competitive authoritarianism (having studied it around the world): "The breakdown of democracy in the United States will not give rise to a classic dictatorship in which elections are a sham and the opposition is locked up, exiled, or killed. Even in a worst-case scenario, Trump will not be able to rewrite the Constitution or overturn the constitutional order. He will be constrained by independent judges, federalism, the country’s professionalized military, and high barriers to constitutional reform. There will be elections in 2028, and Republicans could lose them. But authoritarianism does not require the destruction of the constitutional order. What lies ahead is not fascist or single-party dictatorship but competitive authoritarianism—a system in which parties compete in elections but the incumbent’s abuse of power tilts the playing field against the opposition." https://lnkd.in/g6rZXiuc

While many have recognized the rising crisis of authoritarianism in the US, making sense of the complexity of the authoritarian system is a challenge. This complexity often hampers our efforts to coordinate action and yet this coordination is crucial. A central element of any collective action is a clear understanding of the system that your strategy seeks to address. One powerful approach that can help make sense of this complexity is the "pillars of support" framework: summarized by a simple image of a roof held up by several pillars. The roof represents a political system's leaders, while the pillars represent the key organisations or institutions that give those leaders the resources and legitimacy they need to exercise power. Learn more about the pillars of support in this short explainer video. And read more about how to both engage and pressure pillars in the link below in the comments.

📣📣 Don’t miss the latest article by Maria J. Stephan to find inspiration and strategies. She lays out how federal workers, faith leaders, unions and ordinary Americans are already showing the power of collective defiance and making cruelty backfire. 🔗 to article in comments

Worth lifting this video back up that The Horizons Project & Beyond Conflict produced last year to highlight what is happening to our brains on authoritarianism. The key is not to fall into despair and overwhelm, but to find strength and solace in each other and our collective action. Reaching across difference to be in community together, protect those most affected by the heartlessness of the authoritarian playbook, and raise up your voices up for your values.

The nomination period for our 2025 Civic Hub grants is now open! If you want to nominate a group for this grant, fill out our nomination form by March 3. Civic Hub grants range between $300,000-$500,000 each and are for groups embedded in rural regions that are: ✅ Rallying their communities around a vision for change–and helping people work together to achieve it ✅ Building capacity, driving resources and coaching community members ✅ Located in one of our  priority regions: Black Belt, Central Appalachia, U.S. Southwest Border and Tribal Lands Thanks to everyone who takes the time to nominate a great group!