Questions, Decisions and Democracy

We’ve been at work for more than 15 years teaching a strategy that helps people in low-income communities learn to advocate for themselves and their families. It’s been used most often by ordinary citizens to advocate for their children at school, secure better job training opportunities, prevent being cut-off from welfare benefits, seek health care, obtain housing assistance and tackle other momentous matters. We’ll be sharing what we have learned and continue to learn from our work, all informed by one overarching lesson that keeps showing up in many places: When people, no matter their educational, literacy or income level, have the chance to learn essential skills for focusing on key decisions and asking good questions, they not only are better able to help themselves, they also contribute to making democracy work better.

Luz Santana /  Dan Rothstein

Co-Directors, The Right Question Project