Couldn’t attend “What’s a Stake?” Want to know more about the intersections of some of today’s most pressing 2024 election issues? You’re in the right place.
Agency life is more than pitching and producing. For Vermilion, it’s also about partnering with our communities—growing and deepening relationships, activating purpose beyond the work, and uplifting current (and future) clients doing the real work.
When B Local Colorado and B Proud partnered on this event, we didn’t expect such strong interest from our communities. There’s already *waves hands* so much 2024 election-related activity, and people are busy, right? Well, we were wrong. There was immediate energy to gather and make a personal, tangible impact ahead of November 5th.
The event convened leaders across Colorado’s B Corporation, foundation, and nonprofit spaces for a group of seventy people. Whether folks attended in person or via live stream, the feelings were mutual: energized, fired up, and ready to take action for what’s at stake in this election. Following an insightful and empowering panel discussion, we used our power-in-numbers to help combat voter suppression in a key North Carolina county by writing and mailing over 300 postcards.
So… what’s at stake?
We were grateful such generous and informed panelists offered their time and expertise. Grace Mausser with B Lab moderated the panel and wove thoughtful questions and callouts throughout the discussion, helping navigate the complex fabric of these interconnected issues.
- Michael Dabbs, Senior Director of Impact at the Gill Foundation
- Yolanda Richard, Executive Director at Good Business Colorado
- Claudia Perez, Public Affairs Manager at Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains
- Erin Spraque, CEO at Protect Our Winters
The 2024 election presents a critical opportunity for intersectional advocacy, and the panelists from these various movements converged to address their shared challenges.
They explored the connections between their work, leaving attendees with a deeper understanding of the far-reaching impacts of each issue. The policy groups, lobbyists, and legislators that work against progress in each of these spaces are often the same—and each area focuses on the future of our world and what we leave for generations to come.
LGBTQ+ rights and reproductive healthcare
Reproductive rights have long been intertwined with broader struggles for equality, and in this 2024 election, they find common ground with LGBTQ+ rights. Both movements work toward bodily autonomy and the fight for individual freedoms, emphasized within both transgender healthcare access and abortion access. Yet still, the two issues are often seen as separate and unrelated, and folks might simultaneously have differing views on one or the other. This coalition can also draw strength from economic justice and racial equity movements, highlighting the systemic inequalities disproportionately affecting marginalized communities.
Economic justice and climate action
Climate change disproportionately impacts marginalized communities, including racial minorities and low-income individuals, who often bear the brunt of environmental degradation. By understanding climate action as an issue of racial and economic justice, advocates can build a broad-based coalition that demands equitable solutions to the climate crisis, bringing the idea of climate justice to a more tangible and actionable space.
Collective action toward a common, intersectional goal
By uniting these seemingly different movements under a common focus, we can mobilize voters and influence policymakers to enact change that addresses society’s multifaceted challenges. With that in mind, each panelist spoke adeptly about the specific ballot measures and legislation at stake for their sectors:
- Michael Dabbs spoke about the transgender healthcare case in front of the Supreme Court, the same-sex marriage ballot measure in Colorado, and the future of LGBTQ+ rights in the United States
- Claudia Perez reflected on Colorado’s amendment to protect the right to abortion, our strong legislation history protecting and expanding access to abortion care, and identified racial disparities in our state that still exist, which are amplified as a result of folks coming to Colorado from states that have removed bodily autonomy protections
- Yolanda Richard spoke about Good Business Colorado’s policy work and ballot initiatives, and reflected on how it’s crucial for businesses and values-led organizations to engage in shaping our shared future with public policy support; and not to avoid hard conversations in the workplace about racial equity or the election
- Erin Sprague spoke about the ways that Protect Our Winters redefines how advocacy shows up when it comes to encouraging voting (Triple Your Vote Campaign), renewable energy (Energizing Our Communities Act), land protections (Protecting Dolores Canyon), and the importance of civic engagement at every level, for every person
The power of small businesses
One throughline that connected each panelist is the role business advocacy plays in their work and the upcoming election. Grace Mausser (B Lab U.S. & Canada) helped iterate that because policymakers value the business voice, their perspective can have a disproportionate impact. For-profit organizations and B Corps help shape social and political landscapes, and the idea that a company should “stay out of politics” is largely an idea of the past. Legislation and politics directly and increasingly affect businesses and their employees—businesses should productively express and activate their values and leverage their voice on behalf of employees.
Who helped make the event happen?
The event wouldn’t have been possible without the help of the B Local Colorado network, B Proud, B Lab of US and Canada, and (we’re proud to say) Vermilion.
Those who could attend in person met at the Alliance for Collective Action, a community-gathering space that B Local Colorado often uses to convene leaders of environmental and social movements to advance our shared work.
Arli Christian with the ACLU joined from DC to set the stage by sharing how people’s rights and freedoms are under attack across the nation. They also shared an inspiring video about Daniel Trujillo and his journey to achieve a future that he and other trans youth deserve.
Postcards were sent as part of the Center for Common Ground’s Reclaim Our Vote program, fueled by a happy hour sponsored by Meow Wolf that featured B Corp brands like Bonterra, New Belgium Brewing Company, and Upslope Brewing Company. New Era Colorado joined to help folks register to vote and activate young voters in Colorado.
How can I get involved?
Beyond learning more about all of the important groups who made the event possible, you can activate your civic engagement in ways that work best for you—from postcard-writing campaigns to volunteering with local voting rights groups to reminding friends and family to vote. A single person’s role in every election can and should be much more than the singular act of voting.
Stay informed
Our political landscape is ever-changing, with new local and federal ballot measures and initiatives introduced every year that impact our communities. Lean in! Learn what’s at stake for you personally, and for the communities of your friends, family, and colleagues.
Take action
Advocate for voting rights legislation and organizations, find ways to address voter suppression in your area, build a voting culture by discussing elections and planning watch parties, and publicly support candidates that reflect your values. Host a postcard-writing campaign, volunteer, or look into becoming a poll worker.
Make connection
Collective action is the fastest way to enact change and create a world that reflects our shared values. Community-led democracy initiatives like participatory budgeting, policy assemblies, and even city council meetings are just some ways that every citizen can deepen their connection to democracy.
There can never truly be a single-issue voter because every issue inherently impacts and connects with other focus areas. What’s at Stake helped remind and instill the importance of civic engagement and collective action in addressing these systemic issues. Without moments of shared focus, one person can only do so much.
