Personal Choices. Every day, Americans are making choices in their personal and professional lives that affect the problems we are trying to solve. Some are made by famous politicians or chief executives whom you already know, but scores of others make their choices mostly below the media radar. The lack of a spotlight does not diminish their bold choices that in big ways and small support American values of freedom, diversity, and innovation while helping to make our communities, our country, and our world a better place to live for everyone.
Civic Superpowers. The American Leader is proud to showcase these leaders and the choices they’ve made. Together, their stories present a glimpse of the breadth of action and impacts that a diverse range of courageous and independent-minded people can take to solve our common problems. We like to think that they are exercising their civic superpowers. We hope they may inspire you to discover and exercise your civic superpowers, be it at home, on the job, or maybe on a bigger, bolder stage.
Erica Payne: Rallying Tax-Happy Millionaires
Erica Payne created the Patriotic Millionaires, a group of people who have more than $5 million in assets or $1 million in annual income who believe they and others like them should pay more taxes to ensure that our democracy can thrive.
Marilyn Bartlett: Took on the Medical-Industrial Complex
Marilyn Bartlett implemented a payment system for Montana’s state employee health insurance plan that flipped the script on who set the terms of negotiations with the insurance provider.
Sarah Bonk: Engaging Business for Stronger Democracy
Sarah Bonk created Business for America to engage "the economic engine of the country" in improving the health of democracy.
Maya MacGuineas: Fiscal Warrior, Systems Fixer
Despite her reputation as a debt hawk, Maya MacGuineas was an early advocate for pandemic relief spending, and has launched FixUS to address a broken political system that has failed to exercise fiscal responsibility.
Ryan Brebner: Connecting Uninsured Patients with Affordable Coverage
Ryan Brebner and Laura Robbins founded Advocatia to help connect un- and underinsured patients with financial aid programs that make their healthcare more affordable.
Little Tokyo Community Council: Feeding Community, Supporting Local Businesses
The Little Tokyo Community Council, through its Community Feeding Community initiative, supported 84 local businesses by purchasing over 10,000 meals to then distribute to those in need during the pandemic.
Brian Cannon: Making Structural Change
Brian Cannon led the successful effort to end partisan gerrymandering in Virginia, bringing about structural change that enables greater participation by communities of interest and encourages more accountability in Virginia politics.
Holly Martin: Building a Better Local Food System
Holly Martin founded the Chattanooga Sustainable Food Center to build a better food system: one that serves hungry people and local farmers. Gaining Ground, a flagship grocery store, is the first step.
David Becker: Making Elections More Secure
David Becker has improved the security of the nation’s election systems by leading the development of the Electronic Registration Information Center. He continues to support better election administration and more secure elections as the executive director of the Center for Election Innovation and Research.
Hans Breitenmoser: Local, Bipartisan Effort Opposes Gerrymandering
Hans Breitenmoser sees gerrymandering as the cause of persistent problems in his county.
Amber McReynolds: Making Voting Easier for All Americans
Amber McReynolds led the effort to remake Colorado’s voting system around vote by mail and now leads the National Vote At Home Institute to promote best election administration practices nationwide.
Lisa Fitzpatrick: Better Health Outcomes for Low Income Communities
Lisa Fitzpatrick launched Grapevine Health to improve health literacy and health outcomes in low income communities.
