Beyond the Ballot: Building Movements Through Ballot Measures with Maurice Mitchell

In the season two opener of Direct Democracy Diaries, Chris Melody Fields Figueredo and Caroline Sánchez-Avakian speak with Kelley Robinson, president of the Human Rights Campaign and Human Rights Campaign Foundation, about the state of American democracy and what it takes to build lasting power. Kelley reflects on her family history, the fragility of civil rights, and why local organizing matters – from school boards to block parties. They discuss interconnected attacks on LGBTQ+ people and other communities, the need to move beyond defense, the role of storytelling and listening, and how organizers can stay focused amid constant crisis. Kelley also shares why joy, belonging, and community are essential to sustaining movements and creating a more inclusive democracy.