our
MISSION
Local Democracy Action is a California-based C4 nonprofit dedicated to strengthening democracy through civic participation. We train working class organizers and invest in down-ballot champions, so they can lead change where it matters most. Through hands-on development, civic engagement, and arts and culture, we equip people with the skills, confidence, and networks to shape policy and community priorities. Our work builds lasting local power and fosters a more inclusive, resilient democracy from the ground up.
the
problem
American democracy is being hollowed out from the bottom up. Right-wing movements have spent decades organizing locally, capturing school boards, city councils, and judgeships, while mainstream Democrats have focused on top-of-the-ticket races and expensive ad campaigns.
The result is a fragile political, and social infrastructure that overlooks communities most affected by economic insecurity and xenophobia. Institutions are under attack, trust in government is collapsing, communities are lacking investment, and too many working people feel politics has nothing to offer them. Trickle-down politics has failed us—both in our economy and our democracy.
We
ARE
We fill the gaps others leave behind by investing in local leadership, especially among people of color, women, students, and working-class communities. Small investments, like winning a school board seat, shape policy, influence culture, and develop the next generation of leaders.
Culture and politics move together. Our work blends civic training with arts and culture initiatives to shift not just who holds power but how power is imagined and exercised. By building local capacity and connecting leaders to a broader movement, we are constructing a more inclusive, resilient, and democratic future, one neighborhood, one election, one cultural shift at a time.
building
lasting
power
Recruiting and training local leaders — equipping organizers with the skills to advocate and build power for their communities.
Investing in local champions — channeling funds to support targeted local races.
Strengthening ecosystems — mapping, connecting, and growing networks of organizers, campaigns, and organizations.
Shifting the narrative — using communications and civic art to elevate working-class voices and reframe the importance of local elections, and people power.