Mid-Terms Community Episode - Who Really Won Last Week?

Nov 12

Mid-Terms Community Episode - Who Really Won Last Week?

What does it mean to win—and what comes next? In this post-midterm gathering, nonprofit and civic leaders reflect on voter agency, polarization, honest conversations across differences, and the joy that sustains long-term work.

Key Takeaways:

An election win is an opening to keep working, not a reason to declare the work finished.
People’s political choices can shift; listening for the needs and opportunities they care about may help bridge divides.
Rebuilding trust requires acknowledging harm and conflict, not glossing over them.
Economic security and meaningful participation are connected to a deeper sense of democracy.
Narratives rooted in people’s aspirations and contributions can create more common ground than fear-based appeals.

"Democracy that's not enabled through economic participation is a very shallow thing. Figuring out how the economy works for all of us and for the generations to come is our first duty." — Joe Scantlebury

"[In 2024] we had neighbors that chose egg prices over our collective humanity. We need to be honest about that, because it is in that honesty that we have the opportunity to make the most of this moment." — Merle McGee

"The next narrative for social impact cannot be rooted in fear." — Trabian Shorters

More About Our Guests:

Joe Scantlebury is the President & CEO of Living Cities, leading a philanthropic collaboration focused on building economically sustainable and thriving urban communities. [LinkedIn]
Anna Jinkerson is the Senior Executive Assistant to the President/CEO and Chief of Staff at Living Cities. [LinkedIn]
Merle McGee is President & CEO of Everyday Democracy, with decades of experience advocating for civic engagement, dialogue, and racial justice. [LinkedIn]
Jeanine Abrams McLean is an evolutionary biologist, community organizer, and President of Fair Count, working to expand civic participation and equity. [LinkedIn]
Shawn McClondon is the founder of the Sister Cities Project, a social-impact organization dedicated to building community proximity and addressing systemic inequality. [LinkedIn]
Rusty Stahl is the President & CEO of Fund the People and host of its podcast, dedicated to increasing investment in the nonprofit workforce. [LinkedIn]
Nealin Parker is the Executive Director of Search for Common Ground USA and a lecturer at Princeton University specializing in conflict transformation. [LinkedIn]
Julia Roig is the Founder & Chief Network Weaver of The Horizons Project, advancing peacebuilding, social justice, and democracy. [LinkedIn]
Ana Marie Argilagos is the President & CEO of Hispanics in Philanthropy (HIP), leading efforts to expand philanthropic resources and leadership within Latine communities. [LinkedIn]
Trabian Shorters is a social entrepreneur, author, and the creator of Asset-Framing®, helping leaders build equity and systemic change without stigmatization. [LinkedIn]
Clara Miller is a social sector finance and impact investing leader, founder and former CEO of the Nonprofit Finance Fund, former President of the Heron Foundation, and Visiting Scholar at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. [LinkedIn]
Wesley Warshawer is a semiconductor industry data analyst, Fulbright Scholar, and writer/podcaster exploring human connection and personal growth by stepping outside familiar bubbles. [LinkedIn]
Salin Geevarghese is the President & CEO of SGG Insight, Senior Fellow at CSSP, and former HUD Deputy Assistant Secretary under President Obama. [LinkedIn]