BISC’s New Podcast:
Direct Democracy Diaries
Welcome to the Direct Democracy Diaries, the award-winning podcast dedicated to exploring the powerful world of ballot measures – from grassroots campaigns to transformative victories. Hosted by Chris Melody Fields Figueredo and Caroline Sánchez-Avakian from the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center – this show brings you the stories of activists, organizers, and people like you and me who have harnessed their power and used direct democracy to create deep change for their communities.
Whether you’re a seasoned ballot measure leader or a newbie eager to learn, tune in as we break down the nuts and bolts of the ballot measures. Featuring compelling stories from campaign leaders, each episode uncovers a different part of the movement — whether it’s coalition building, signature gathering, or defending victories — and highlighting how our democracy can be shaped from the ground up.
With Chris and Caroline guiding you through intimate conversations with campaign leaders and activists, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of how ballot measures drive progressive change, especially in this critical political moment. This podcast is for those passionate about democracy — young progressive leaders, democracy funders, and activists looking to learn and make their mark.
Join us as we celebrate the people, strategies, and victories that shape the future of democracy — one diary entry at a time.
Did you know Season 1 of Direct Democracy Diaries has been named an Honoree by The Webby Awards for Best Podcasts in the Public Service & Activism category? What an incredible accomplishment after our first season!
Check out Season 1 below, and stay tuned for updates about Season 2 coming soon!
To learn about podcast sponsorship opportunities, email us at [email protected].
Season 2
In this episode of Direct Democracy Diaries, Caroline Sanchez-Avakian and Chris Melody Fields Figueredo speak with Leticia Martinez, partner at Mission Control, and Jess Grennan, founder of Simple Majority, about the role consultants play in ballot measure campaigns and movement work. Leticia and Jess discuss what makes consultant partnerships effective, where trust can break down, and why transparency, legal counsel, compliance, research, and early collaboration matter. They also examine the tension between campaign messaging and long-term movement goals, the importance of knowing when to lead or push back, and how campaigns can build lasting organizational capacity, skills, relationships, and infrastructure beyond Election Day.
Episode drops September 16th!
In this episode of Direct Democracy Diaries, Chris and Caroline speak with Andy Marra of Advocates for Trans Equality and Jaelynn Scott of Lavender Rights Project about coordinated ballot measure and legislative attacks targeting transgender people. Andy and Jaelynn connect today’s fights to lessons from the marriage equality movement, discuss the importance of centering trans leadership, and examine what effective coalition work requires. They also explore cross-movement solidarity, storytelling rooted in freedom, sustained investment in movement infrastructure, and the need to build lasting political power while responding to immediate threats.
Episode drops September 23rd!
In this episode of Direct Democracy Diaries, Chris and Caroline speak with Krithika Harish, Senior Program Officer for Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies, about philanthropy’s role in building lasting movements. Krithika shares her path from civic engagement and international development to advocacy and institutional funding, then explains how transparency, and long-term relationships shape strong funder-grantee partnerships. They examine the role of ballot measures in advancing reproductive freedom, why early and sustained investment matters across the full life cycle of a campaign, how the funding landscape has shifted since the 2024 election, and why funders must reflect on the power they hold in shaping movements.
Episode drops September 30th!
Season 1
Meet the hosts
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Caroline Sánchez-Avakian
Director of Strategic Communications
Caroline brings over 20 years of strategic communications experience in working with organizations to advance social and economic justice both nationally and globally. At BISC, she leads the communications strategy, branding and narrative on how ballot measures build and transform power.
Formerly, Caroline was an Emmy-nominated TV correspondent and social entrepreneur. In 2014, she was named a ’50 under 40 Social Enterprise Leader’ by the American Express Foundation for her award-winning digital platform, SourceRise, which connected journalists to on-the-ground sources during specific humanitarian crises.
Caroline has served as a United Nations Representative and has facilitated communications workshops at the United Nations, Google, and Twitter, among others. She has been featured in The New York Times, Forbes, has been a contributor to the Huffington Post, and has appeared as an expert guest on CNN’s Inside Africa, The Today Show, Good Day New York, and Univision’s Despierta America.
Caroline is a practitioner and speaker on the use of communications and technology as a tool for social change. Her social change work has taken her from the halls of the United Nations to refugee camps in East Africa where she has partnered with women and youth on digital storytelling projects and technology-driven public health initiatives.
Caroline has a BS in Communications from St. John’s University and an MA from Antioch University.
A born and bred first-generation New Yorker from Queens, Caroline enjoys traveling off the beaten path, watching documentaries, making paella and playing UNO with her husband, Allen, and daughter, Sabina.
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Chris Melody Fields Figueredo
Executive director
Chris has been BISC’s Executive Director since June 2018, bringing two decades of experience in advocacy, creating collaborative spaces, and movement building. She has devoted her career to social justice and ensuring our democracy works for “We the People.” Chris leads the organization’s vision, strategic planning, and fundraising efforts. As a queer woman of color who came to the United States at an early age with her working-class parents, she leads from her lived experience and desire to build an equitable and just world.
She came to BISC because she has witnessed the power of ballot measures to create radical transformational change and shift the narrative on issues like LGBTQ rights and the freedom to vote. She believes ballot measures can be a tool for liberation if we use them to build power, dismantle systems of oppression, and center the communities most impacted by the change we seek.
A seasoned strategist, she has worked in numerous roles for progressive political and issue-based campaigns across the country. Over her career, she has developed messaging and communications strategies at ReThink Media, led large-scale national programs to expand and protect the right to vote at the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, worked on campaigns to end money in politics at Common Cause, and fought for DC’s children and families to have access to a quality education at DC ParentSmart.
Chris is Venezuelan-American, raised in Texas where she received her Bachelor’s degree at Austin College in Texas. She lives in Washington, D.C. with her amazing daughter and rambunctious border collie. She is known to burst into song and loves cooking up delicious treats in the kitchen.