Washington, D.C. – In its commitment to encourage civic action, the League of Women Voters (LWV) has launched its Unite and Rise 8.5 YouTube video series with three episodes. Hosted by LWV CEO Celina Stewart, the series brings together leading thinkers and movement builders for candid conversation focused on a critical question: How can Americans effectively stand up and speak to defend our democracy? This series is part of LWV’s Unite and Rise 8.5 initiative, created to engage and mobilize 8.5 million voters to protect and preserve our democracy. The videos highlight the League’s historic commitment to advancing women’s leadership and inspiring communities to take meaningful civic action.
In Episode One, Stewart is joined by Dr. Erica Chenoweth, political scientist and author of Bread and Roses: Women on the Frontlines of Revolution. The discussion explores how women-led movements have shaped democracy and what today’s organizers can learn from those victories. Stewart and Chenoweth also examine how community mobilization, nonviolent strategy, and civic engagement remain essential tools for protecting democratic institutions today.
In Episode Two, Stewart is joined by two dynamic leaders: Sheila Katz, former CEO of the National Council for Jewish Women (and starting next month: Chief Jewish Life Officer at Jewish Federations), and Reverand Shavon Arline-Bradley, President and CEO of the National Council for Negro Women. Together, they engage in conversation about the immense power of women’s leadership in different movements, the intersection of faith and activism, and how spiritual traditions drive political participation.
Lastly, in Episode Three, Stewart is joined by Jahnavi Rao, founder of Young Voters. The discussion reframes the narrative of youth apathy by outlining how sustaining momentum requires giving young people tangible, youth-led projects that build a sense of agency and impact.
Unite & Rise 8.5 aims to build a movement of 8.5 million individuals to unite and rise up against the anti-democratic actions of this administration. Launching in May 2025 and running until the 2026 midterm elections, this initiative is part of our Women Defend Democracy campaign. The number 8.5 million is the estimated number of voters it would take to bring about change through nonviolent protest, based off a finding from the Harvard Kennedy School’s Carr-Ryan Center for Human Rights.
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