DEMOCRACY LAB
The fellows are selected based on the criteria of providing innovative solutions, reaching a tipping point for impact, and contributing to systemic change.
Committed to prioritizing voters and reshaping the landscape of American governance.
Nick Troiano, the dedicated Executive Director of Unite America, stands at the forefront of a movement committed to prioritizing voters and reshaping the landscape of American governance. Nick leads Unite America with a bold vision of creating a more representative and functional government through innovative electoral reform.
As highlighted on his Unite America profile and LinkedIn, Nick's journey is marked by a passion for fostering positive political change. His personal website, nicktroiano.com, provides insights into his advocacy for a more inclusive democracy.
Nick's commitment to the cause is evident in his writings, including The Primary Solution, a book that delves into rescuing democracy from the fringes. He shares his perspectives on platforms like C-SPAN and The Atlantic, contributing to the discourse on improving the electoral system and bridging political divides.
A respected figure, Nick's voice resonates in interviews and articles, such as those on Forbes and MSNBC. His dedication extends to multimedia platforms, evident in his C-SPAN appearances and Fox News features.
Nick Troiano, a driving force behind Unite America, exemplifies leadership in the pursuit of a more inclusive and responsive democracy. His journey, advocacy, and influence shape a vision where voters come first, setting the stage for transformative change in American governance.
To learn more, visit www.uniteamerica.org.
Mission
Unite America is a movement of Democrats, Republicans, and independents working to put voters first by fostering a more representative and functional government. We invest in campaigns to enact reforms and elect candidates so that the right leaders have the right incentives to solve our country's greatest problems.
Program Objectives
Nick joined the fellowship with a clear goal of spreading awareness for what he calls “The Primary Problem,” and gaining further bi-partisan support for a wave of state-by-state electoral reform that has the potential to create a truly representative democracy in the US.
Program Highlights
Nick began his fellowship with a focus on clarifying his messaging and gaining some traction on Summit stages and at intimate luncheon events. At his first Summit flagship, he introduced the Summit community to the power and potential of rank choice voting, through a dynamic participatory game and a mainstage keynote you can view here:
Coming Up Soon
As we gear up for the final months of the fellowship, we’re squarely focused on supporting Nick’s book launch and release of a full-length documentary!
Lookout for Nick’s talk at Summit at Sea 2024, sign up to follow their efforts below, and join Unite America in this critical election year so we can create a better future together:
Revolutionizing the landscape of civic engagement.
Tatenda Musapatike, the visionary Founder and CEO of the Voter Formation Project based in Washington, DC, is revolutionizing the landscape of civic engagement. With an unwavering commitment to increasing participation in elections, Tatenda leverages innovative digital marketing strategies to register and mobilize new and infrequent voters of color.
As highlighted in her LinkedIn profile and Emerson Collective biography, Tatenda brings a wealth of experience and passion to her role. Her leadership at the Voter Formation Project is reshaping the dynamics of voter mobilization, focusing on empowering communities often underrepresented in the political process.
Tatenda's influence extends beyond the organization, as seen in her profile on The Org and recognition in The Disruptive Quarterly. She is not just changing voter mobilization; she is redefining the narrative of democracy.
Her commitment to amplifying voices is evident in podcast appearances and features like TechCrunch. Tatenda is a catalyst for change, bringing voter registration into the digital age and making it more accessible than ever before.
Tatenda Musapatike's work at the Voter Formation Project, as highlighted on Cause IQ, showcases the intersection of technology, activism, and civic responsibility. Her innovative approach is not only transforming the political landscape but also inspiring a new generation to embrace their role in shaping the future of democracy.
To learn more, visit https://www.voterformationproject.or
Mission
The Voter Formation Project is dedicated to increasing participation in local, state, & national elections through digital communication, experimentation, & knowledge sharing. VFP fills a significant gap as the sole digital-only, Black-led organization to focus on year-round, ongoing pro-civic engagement messaging to communities of color. This sustained messaging is key to bringing new voters of color into the electorate and works to push back on the disinformation campaigns that are often targeted at these communities.
Program Objectives
With big plans to scale her reach, Tatenda began the fellowship aiming to increase the foundation of support that will allow VFP to grow. From board management to refining her brand storytelling strategy to expanding her funding pipelines for greater stability, Tatenda is focused on creating a sustainable organization with a healthy culture and the capacity to change the landscape of civic engagement.
Program Highlights
During her fellowship years Tatenda has demonstrated remarkable organizational leadership and commitment, finding solutions to continue her work in a challenging funding cycle. Using our Summit Impact Board Structure & Governance 101 Guide as well as connections to experts in our Summit network, Tatenda has made large strides in crafting a thorough and effective board management system, and building the kind of support needed for her leadership and the growth of VFP.
Coming Up Soon
To kickoff 2024, we are facilitating a Creative Brainstorm with key leaders from the Summit Community to support Tatenda and her team on inclusive and culturally relevant design. Lookout for more storytelling coming your way soon!
Leading a mission to bridge the gaps in today's polarized media landscape.
Isaac Saul, the visionary Founder of Tangle, is on a mission to bridge the gaps in today's polarized media landscape. With a commitment to building a media company that resonates across political spectrums, Isaac has created Tangle as a platform where diverse views converge. His approach is centered on trust, bringing together voices from the right, left, and middle, exposing readers to a broad spectrum of perspectives daily.
Isaac's journey, as outlined on his LinkedIn profile and Wikipedia page, reflects his dedication to reshaping the way we consume news. Tangle, featured on Substack, is not just a newsletter; it's a movement towards a more informed and connected society.
As a thought leader, Isaac extends his influence through podcasts and The Progress Network, where he engages in high-level conversations. Forbes recognizes Isaac's impact, featuring him in their profile.
Isaac's commitment to fostering understanding is evident in events like the High Court Chat in Philly and Tangle Live. His transparency about media bias and dedication to clarity, highlighted in Equal Rights Institute, underscores his commitment to creating a more informed and engaged society.
Tangle, as portrayed on their website, is not just a news source; it's a movement led by Isaac Saul, reimagining political news and fostering a space where diverse opinions thrive.
Learn more at https://www.readtangle.com
Mission
Tangle’s mission is to build a news outlet that is trusted by millions of readers from across the political spectrum and that helps get Americans out of their political bubbles.
Program Objectives
Isaac has been steadily growing Tangle from a passion project into a full-fledged business, with tens and thousands of subscribers reading his trademark political newsletter that includes “what the right is saying,” “what the left is saying,” and Isaac’s take. Isaac joined the fellowship with hopes to expand his audience, enhance his business model, and ignite a new live-event strategy.
Program Highlights
With support from strategic introductions made to experts in growth, marketing, social media and customer acquisition, Isaac has been refining his growth strategy and expanding his team. In his time in the fellowship, Isaac has largely expanded Tangle’s subscription base, developed new advertising revenue stream, and launched their YouTube channel. Additionally, he launched the very first Tangle Live! Event in Philadelphia in August, drawing on Summit event support and guidance.
See the highlight reel here:
Isaac also hosted Summit Fellow Nick Troiano on his podcast, tune in here for the episode:
Coming Up Soon
Isaac is bringing Tangle Live! To NYC this April! Stay tuned for tickets and sign up to follow Tangle News today:
This Lab is made possible by the generous support of the Goldhirsh Foundation.
