Sanda Balaban named a “Democracy Hero”

Project Pericles is thrilled to announce that our new Executive Director, Sanda Balaban has been recognized as a Democracy Hero as part of an inaugural cohort of 25 trailblazers, advocates, organizers and changemakers around the U.S. dedicated to ensuring marginalized voters have a voice in our democracy. This initiative is a collaboration between Headcount,  “I am a Voter”, MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” and The Rockefeller Foundation.

​In Sanda’s reflection upon receiving this award at a celebrity-filled gala last Friday night, she expressed: “Being chosen as a Democracy Hero is a force multiplier, enabling each of us to build alliances with extraordinary civic movers and shakers from all across the country in order to strengthen and fortify our fraught democracy at a time when it is too often under siege. One of the beautiful things about democracy is that it is what we the people create--and re-create. Our democracy is being pressure-tested in ways that it has never previously experienced as part of the process of becoming the diverse, participatory, multi-racial, multi-ethnic civil society that America needs to be. Democracy is, as has been said, ‘an unfinished symphony.’  We need to ensure that we have the fullest, most inclusive orchestra possible in order to continue to evolve it. This entails creating on-ramps and escalators for young people to be deeply immersed in the work of democracy building on our campuses and in our communities.”



Sanda emphasized the need for all of us to become Democracy Heroes. “Democracy is US—and we need to become better versions of ‘us.’ We need to lean into our we-ness and rise to perfect the union that has become so divided and divisive. And young people must be at the forefront of it, which is why I am so fortunate to get to work to strengthen the next generation of leadership through YVote and Project Pericles.”
She also shares a call to action: “We can re-envision and work towards a democracy that works for ALL and in which the practices of democracy live up to the promises of democracy. We can and we must.”
Thank you, Sanda, for your leadership and inspiration for a more inclusive and equitable democracy. We are so honored to work alongside you! 
Sanda emphasized the need for all of us to become Democracy Heroes. “Democracy is US—and we need to become better versions of “us.” We need to lean into our we-ness and rise to perfect the union that has become so divided and divisive. And young people must be at the forefront of it, which is why I am so fortunate to get to work to strengthen the next generation of leadership through the organization I founded,  YVote, and Project Pericles.”

The call to action is clear. Sanda shares: “We can re-envision and work towards a democracy that works for ALL and in which the practices of democracy live up to the promises of democracy. We can and we must.”
Thank you, Sanda, for your leadership and inspiration for a more inclusive and equitable democracy. We are so honored to work alongside you! 

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​The Democracy Heroes Award Dinner was a festive night honoring each awardee and hosted by Ariana DeBose and Jessica Alba.

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