Season Three of The Pledge features stories of women from three states determined to secure voting rights for every citizen.

Season Three Trailer

In the past four years, we have seen both critical progress and set-backs with voting and voter empowerment across the country.  Starting August 6th, we are bringing stories of women from 3 different states determined to secure voting rights for every citizen.

Episode 1: “Releasing the Chains of our Ancestors”

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Sheena Meade was instrumental in the passage of Florida’s 2018 Amendment 4, restoring the right to vote to 1.4 million citizens. In Part One of this two-part story, you’ll learn how Sheena always defied the odds , becoming a powerful force behind this victory. You’ll also learn how Sheena supports and inspires the people around her, helping them grow in confidence as they build their movement together and face continuing challenges.

Music: Blue Dot Sessions

Episode 1 Notes

 

Episode 2: “This is Bigger than Us”: Sheena Meade Part 2

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In this second episode featuring Sheena Meade and the fight to restore voting rights to returning citizens in Florida, we see how persevering in the face of expected and unexpected obstacles is a crucial part of making our democracy work. The amazing victory of Florida’s Amendment Four in 2018 was just the beginning of a long and ongoing battle to give people back their voice.

Music: Blue Dot Sessions

Episode 2 Notes

Episode 3: When People have Power: Florida’s Fight to End Gerrymandering

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Ellen Freidin led a successful gerrymandering reform campaign in Florida, and then fought to make sure the new electoral maps were drawn fairly. Her story started with discovering how damaging gerrymandered districts were to Florida’s democracy, and took her through the painstaking process of crafting a redistricting process that could honor a truly diverse group of stakeholders. Ellen asked many questions, she listened, and she persevered. Listen and remind yourself what’s possible!

Music: Blue Dot Sessions

Episode 3 Notes

Episode 4: “It mattered!” gerrymander reform in michigan

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Nancy Wang is the Executive Director of Voters Not Politicians, which led the 2018 campaign to defeat gerrymandering in Michigan. That was never her plan! Responding to a Facebook post from a stranger, Nancy became one of the thousands of volunteers to get involved. She ended up leading the policy committee that drafted the new amendment. Eventually she left her job teaching law at the University of Michigan to head up the organization full-time.

Music: Blue Dot Sessions

Episode 4 Notes

Episode 5: “Let’s get out there!” Organizing in detroit

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As a sixteen year old growing up outside Detroit, Vanessa Velazquez’s was shocked by her family’s outrageous water bill. After helping her mom pay the bill, she questioned the bigger political context of social justice issues in her city. In Let’s Get Out There, we learn how that experience motivated her to study political science at Michigan State, and end up as an organizer in the Detroit area fighting to do something about it.

Music: Blue Dot Sessions

Episode 5 Notes

Episode 6: “Persevere with Dignity and Grace” Organizing Asian Americans in Michigan

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Laura Misumi, a fourth generation Japanese American, has been organizing and mobilizing Asian Americans in Michigan while building community and fostering lasting political engagement. She also shows us the ways in which Japanese Americans have been fighting for justice for decades. Laura’s organization is targeting 183,000 Asian American voters in this very important swing state.

Music: Blue Dot Sessions

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Katrina Rogers's story shows us the potentially devastating impact of abortion restrictions on lower-income people and people of color. We also hear from Kim O’Brien, a white, economically secure professional, whose story shows the burden that restrictive abortion laws impose on parents that may already be suffering - and also shows that when the state takes away abortion rights, it’s really just taking away the right to choose from the people with fewer resources.

Music: Blue Dot Sessions