PolicyLink

PolicyLink PolicyLink is a research and action institute working to advance a nation that governs for all.

04/06/2026

We join a legacy of people who have used that promise to push our democracy to its highest ideals.

Now it’s our turn.

To create a future where government repairs what is broken, heals past harms, and lifts up communities.

Every day, we build smaller universes of this future.

We respond to community needs. We rise to protect each other. We show each other compassion. We protect our hope.

Let us lift our sights and shape the way our whole nation governs.

Let the next founding be our greatest leap toward the promise of all, for all.

03/23/2026

The United States was founded on the aspirations of liberty, equality, and justice, but for too many, those promises remain unfulfilled.

We can build that future: one where government is as strong and caring as our communities, listens and acts on real needs, protects those at greatest risk. Removes barriers so opportunity is real, not just promised.

We’ve already begun weaving that net. Now let’s shape it into something greater: a nation that holds us all, lifts us all, and clears the way for every one of us to rise.

03/10/2026

It’s always been the people who bring democracy closer to its promise.

At PolicyLink, we believe we are the founders of a future that has not yet existed — but is ours to create.

A multiracial democracy where governing systems are accountable to every person.

An equitable economy where all can participate, prosper, and reach their full potential.

Thriving communities where belonging and opportunity aren’t determined by race or zip code.

This is the legacy we inherit, and the one we’re building.

Watch our new video and join us in planting the seeds of a future worthy of us all.

We the people. We are the founders. We have the power!

02/02/2026

From Indigenous leaders who shaped governance long before the Constitution…
from Civil Rights pioneers who secured the vote to defenders who protected it after Shelby County…
from those who won healthcare as a right through the ACA to organizers building Medicare for All…
from communities passing Green New Deal resolutions to Congress investing in clean energy…
Generation after generation, democracy has been shaped by people who dared to build better.
Perfecting democracy has always been the work of founders.
This next founding is ours.

Let’s write the future we deserve.

10/31/2025

In every generation, there comes a moment when we must decide what kind of nation we will be.

At , we are reminded that while institutions will do what they do, we have the power to do what we must: to care for our communities, to lead with courage, and continue advancing a future where our institutions are compelled to ensure that all people can thrive.

As PolicyLink’s CEO, .mcafee shared at the forum: our ancestors paid the price for us to be here, and we honor them by being strong enough, bold enough, and determined enough to do the work this moment demands.

We will not be defeated, and we will not stop until all is truly the foundation of our democracy.

01/10/2025

🛠️ "We are the founders of a nation yet to be birthed." 🛠️
We didn’t build this old house, but the cracks are ours to fix. As America nears 250 years, we face a choice: let the flaws deepen or repair the foundation to create a nation where everyone thrives.

The Founding Fathers wrote “We the People,” yet excluded so many. Generations of courageous individuals fought to expand that vision, and now it’s our turn. We must be bold enough to reshape systems that serve all, confront the forces dividing us, and lead as founders of a better future.

The stakes are high, but the opportunity is greater. Together, we can build a nation rooted in justice, dignity, and equity—for ALL.

Let's lead boldly. 💪

We're !Have you checked our Careers page lately? We're excited to share various opportunities with our organization. At...
01/07/2025

We're !

Have you checked our Careers page lately? We're excited to share various opportunities with our organization. At PolicyLink, we are committed to building lasting change and we need people ready to help drive this mission forward.

🔗 Apply now to join our team and contribute to meaningful change: https://www.policylink.org/about-us/careers

As we approach the end of the year, we’re reminded of the importance of pausing, replenishing, and grounding ourselves i...
12/24/2024

As we approach the end of the year, we’re reminded of the importance of pausing, replenishing, and grounding ourselves in the work of building a just and flourishing society. At PolicyLink, we believe in creating space for reflection and renewal as part of the long arc toward designing a nation where all can thrive.

As we prepare for our annual Winter Reset, starting December 25th, and as our CEO Dr. Michael McAfee steps away for a sabbatical, we’re inspired by the leadership he models: embracing rest as an essential part of sustaining this lifetime work. These moments of pause are not just acts of self-care but acts of commitment to the movement—a chance to fortify ourselves for the transformative challenges ahead.

In the months ahead, we’ll be guided by the steady leadership of our President Ashleigh Gardere, whose vision will continue to anchor and inspire our collective journey. Together, we remain focused on the unfinished business of democracy, building a future worthy of all of us.

As you reflect on your own certainties and aspirations, remember this: you are a founder of a nation yet to be birthed. Hold steady, embrace rest when needed, and return ready to move with clarity and conviction. Together, we will create a society where everyone can flourish.

See you in 2025 and enjoy a few pictures from some of our happy moments throughout the year. 🥳✨

Introducing our annual, "2024 Attitudinal Survey Findings," conducted by Lake Research Partners. Here’s what we learned:...
12/23/2024

Introducing our annual, "2024 Attitudinal Survey Findings," conducted by Lake Research Partners.

Here’s what we learned:
- Nearly two-thirds of Americans believe that as a society we can and should care for everyone.
- A shared near-unanimous value is that we should ensure equal opportunity is available to everyone.
- The vast majority agree that "we the people" have a responsibility to create a better society for everyone.
- Clear majorities believe that government can be a force for good to create positive change for everyone and that government has a responsibility to create a better society for all.

At PolicyLink, we’ve long championed the belief that we have the power to design a flourishing multiracial democracy. These findings reaffirm that we, as a nation, are ready to align our policies and practices with our values. Let’s lean into this moment of shared commitment to design a nation where ALL can thrive. The work is clear, and the mandate is strong—together, we can deliver on the promise of a just and inclusive society for all.

12/19/2024

On December 17, Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester and Congresswoman Maxine Waters introduced the Know Who Owns Your Home Act. PolicyLink is excited to support this necessary legislation, which would direct the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to study the need for and feasibility of a national residential rental registry. PolicyLink thanks the Congressmembers for their leadership.

Read the bill here: https://plcylk.org/kwoyh

Language is a building block for transformation. Through the co-creation a vision for a radically and mutually inclusive...
12/18/2024

Language is a building block for transformation.

Through the co-creation a vision for a radically and mutually inclusive, thriving multiracial democracy in service of human flourishing—including the PolicyLink podcast series Reimagining Democracy for a Good Life—new language and new ways of using existing language emerged.

Over the next few months, will be sharing a chronicle of these key ideas to help people dig deeper into our shared vision, and to help us all rethink what is meant by democracy and its essential elements.

Reimagining Democracy: The Language of A Good Life is a digital content series that explores the meanings of key ideas through words we reimagined or uncovered in the podcast series.

Each word or idea is a touchstone that connects to how a reimagined democracy can revitalize a nation and its people.

Our first idea in the series is “A good life.”

In the spirit of reimagining, we offer these words as suggestions to explore what is possible in our collective aspirations to live a good life.

Try out the words and definitions with your community. Stress test them and let us know what you think!

Check out the Reimagining Democracy for a Good Life asset portal where you can download sharable assets you can use on your social media!

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