This week’s Friday Power Lunch is an inside look into what democracy looks like when ordinary people decide to show up.
Four remarkable guests will join us to explore the tools, tactics, and tenacity that fuel grassroots movements. Luisa Boyarski of the Virginia Grassroots Coalition will pull back the curtain on how dozens of local organizations coordinate across Virginia — sharing strategy, mobilizing volunteers, and pushing for policies that strengthen democracy from the ground up.
Michael Wriston of Project Salt Box brings something unexpected and essential: the power of a paper trail. His Baltimore-based transparency initiative shows how citizen researchers can follow federal dollars through public procurement databases and land records — turning raw data into accountability and community power!
Kathryn Laughon of Indivisible Charlottesville reminds us that movements don’t start in Washington — they start in living rooms, community centers, and local meeting halls. Her work building networks and sustaining civic engagement is a blueprint for turning frustration into fuel.
And Cheryl Smith, candidate for Virginia House District 98, brings urgency to the room. Her March 17 special election is exactly the kind of race that grassroots energy can win — and her campaign is proof that volunteer power is real power.
The hour closes with a call to action for the #VoteYES Campaign — phone banks, postcards, yard signs, and digital outreach all driving toward April 21.
The same spirit that has fueled movements throughout history is alive and well right here, right now. Democracy is not a spectator sport. Join us Friday, March 13th and be part of it.