Stacey Abrams, Community Power and the Possibility of Change:
A Pre-Election Conversation
My recent sit-down with Georgia voting rights advocate and political leader Stacey Abrams was a powerful reminder that the future of our democracy is not determined solely by those who hold office or the donors who finance campaigns. It is also determined by the power ordinary people are willing to harness, organize, and exercise.
As we discussed the November 3 election and David Crowley’s candidacy for governor of Wisconsin, our conversation centered on a fundamental question: What becomes possible when communities recognize their collective power and refuse to surrender their voices to those who seek to diminish them?
What struck me most about Abrams was how down-to-earth she was while remaining unmistakably visionary. She spoke with the clarity of someone who understands both the obstacles facing our democracy and the possibilities that emerge when people organize with purpose. Her approach was grounded in a deep appreciation for the people whose sacrifices make progress possible—the parents who work long hours, stretch limited resources, and insist that their children deserve opportunities they may never have had themselves.
That legacy is personal for Abrams. She has spoken publicly about the influence of her parents and the values they instilled in their children. One lesson from her father captures the spirit of our conversation: “Having nothing is not an excuse for doing nothing.” Those words are more than a family maxim. They are a call to action.
Too often, communities facing economic hardship, political exclusion, and systemic barriers are made to feel that meaningful change is beyond their reach. Meanwhile, wealthy donors and well-financed interests can invest enormous resources in shaping elections, influencing public policy and determining which voices receive attention. Legislators can use their power to advance policies that restrict rights, weaken protections, or diminish the political influence of communities already fighting to be heard. But money is not the only source of power in a democracy. People are.
The power of an organized community lies in its ability to register voters, educate neighbors, build coalitions, challenge misinformation, hold elected officials accountable, and sustain engagement beyond Election Day. It is the collective strength of residents who understand that decisions about education, housing, health care, economic opportunity and voting rights are not abstract political debates. They affect families, neighborhoods and future generations.
This election represents an opportunity for voters to consider what leadership, representation and public policy should look like for communities across the state. November 3 is about more than choosing candidates. It is about whether communities will exercise their influence in determining the direction of their state and country. It is about whether people who have historically been marginalized will have a meaningful voice in decisions that shape their lives.
My conversation with Abrams reinforced a truth we can never afford to forget: We do not have to possess extraordinary wealth or political connections to make a difference. We just have to show up, with intention and with purpose. See you at the Polls!
Michelle Bryant is host of “Say Something Real with Michelle Bryant,” a morning drive political talk program on WNOV 860AM/106.5FM. She is a political strategist, president of CMB Consulting & Associates, and a weekly columnist for the Milwaukee Courier Newspaper. A former Chief of Staff in the Wisconsin State Legislature—where she also served as Budget and Policy Director and Clerk of the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety—Bryant brings decades of experience in legislative leadership, campaign management, and public policy. She is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee and a longtime advocate for civic engagement and equity.