Dear Colleagues,
January 6 is often framed as a moment of rupture, when the threat to democracy became undeniable. But — as women’s organizations know well — authoritarianism rarely arrives all at once. It creeps in through distrust, disengagement, and the slow erosion of shared reality. Our mission now must be to repair what was broken that day by reclaiming the civic ambition that makes democracy possible in the first place – and building the new version that serves us all.
Trust is the foundation. Not blind trust in institutions as they are, but earned trust built through transparency, accountability, and delivery. People lose faith when government feels rigged, incapable of delivering for them. We are obliged to connect the dots – to remind ourselves that democracy is a tool, not a destination. Whether it is bodily autonomy or a livable planet or the ability to buy groceries, we must believe that democracy is a tool that can help us get what we need.
But we have cleaved these outcomes from the means, and now is the time to remind ourselves that to secure our futures, we require a democracy that functions. Earning back that trust starts locally: listening seriously, telling the truth plainly, and showing—over time—that engagement matters because it produces results. Establishing a renewed trust in our democracy is impossible without engaging local community leaders — such as women’s funds and those they support.
We know that authoritarian movements thrive when people feel powerless or isolated, when their voices seem small and unheard. Democracy fighters counter that by expanding access, lowering barriers, and actively inviting people into civic life every day—not just during an election year.
That’s why we started the 10 Steps Campaign, a nationwide mobilization and education effort to help Americans recognize, resist, and reverse authoritarianism through meaningful activations and partnerships with local and national organizations across the country. Our communities are teeming with those willing to act, but our gap is ensuring that we knit together our separate actions into a vibrant, undeniable whole.
How? Through our stories and our demands. The stories we tell about who belongs, what power looks like, and whether change is possible all matter. Democracy thrives when we demand functioning systems, independent media, civic education, and spaces where people can argue, learn, and imagine together. That’s what we require more than ever right now.
Every year, January 6 reminds us what happens when those shared beliefs break down, when truth is hijacked by propaganda and vision is clouded by fear. The work now is to reclaim and build a better truth — through community, through action and with the clear-eyed understanding that what democracy truly requires is us.
Stacey Abrams
Author and Political Leader