History and Mission Statement
On January 1, 2003, Democracy South's North Carolina Money in Politics Project, with its seven staff members, became known as Democracy North Carolina .
As the successor to Democracy South's North Carolina project, Democracy North Carolina will carry out its mission within a network of nonprofit organizations that have made a substantial commitment to focus public attention on the need for innovative reforms of the electoral process - the foundation of our representative democracy.
Mission Statement
Democracy North Carolina is a nonpartisan organization working to fulfill the promise of "one person, one vote," the bedrock principle of equal rights and self-determination. We the people deserve and demand a government that is responsive to us and committed to the public good. You can help us make this ideal the reality in our state.
Program Focus
Democracy North Carolina's ultimate goal is a more vital democracy that fulfills the promise of "one person, one vote." Because voters should control the election process, we are committed to a range of campaign-finance reforms that: (a) improve disclosure of the flow of political money; (b) strengthen enforcement of election laws; (c) address other threats to the integrity of the election process, such as sham issue ads and soft money; and (d) promote a voluntary public-financing program that frees candidates from the money-chase and puts voters at the center of election financing. In addition, we are committed to expanding voter participation in elections, for example, by pulling in those not involved (youth, prisoners and ex-felons, discouraged ex-voters, etc.) and by ensuring that every registered person who goes to the polls has his or her ballot counted.
Our strategy to achieve meaningful reform involves engaging citizens in the process of being active owners of the election system. Our grassroots/leadership work aims to develop local and statewide networks of informed citizens who are willing to pursue and defend meaningful pro-democracy policies. Our research/public education program analyzes election-related problems and remedies and disseminates our findings directly to targeted audiences and indirectly through the media and other intermediaries. Our coalition-building activities flow from the two program arms and focus on developing a coordinated, effective, racially and politically diverse reform effort in North Carolina. Each program area complements the other and contributes to our goal of expanding the coalition of organizations and individuals concerned about civic participation and election law reform.
Staff
Molly
Beacham , Director of Development, earned a B.A. in
French Literature and Masters of Environmental Management
from LSU. She has fundraising experience with The Nature
Conservancy, Conservation Trust for North Carolina, and
Ross, Johnston & Kersting Development Consultants. She
expresses a strong desire to strengthen Democracy North
Carolina's financial support from a broad base of citizens
by celebrating the organization's past success and demonstrating
the strong link between current campaign finance practices
and policies that threaten our democracy and our state.
Leigh
Bradley , Office Manager, has an a BSW from Indiana
University and an MSW from UNC-Chapel Hill. She has been
with the organization since 1996.
Robert Dawkins,
NC Field Organizer, has worked as a grassroots organizer
for several years. He conducted organizing campaigns in
Houston and Atlanta for ACORN before becoming Head Organizer
in Charlotte. He has also consulted on various grassroots
campaigns for non profit groups. Robert has a BA in Political
Science from the University of South Carolina
Jennifer
Frye , Associate Director, earned a B.A. in Political
Science and German from UNC. She was a Democracy Summer
Organizer in 2003 and served on the Board of Directors before
becoming part of the staff. She is an alumnus of the Public
Allies North Carolina leadership development program has
previously worked in gun violence and homelessness prevention.
Bob
Hall , Executive Director and Research Director, has
been working with grassroots groups across North Carolina
since 1970, collaborating with them on research projects
on economic and social issues. He has served as executive
director and research director with the Institute for Southern
Studies and was recognized for that work with a MacArthur
Fellowship in 1992. He has an MA in Sociology and Religion
from Columbia University.
Antony
Khamala , NC Field Organizer, has several years' experience
in the non-profit field. He previously worked for four years
as a Senior Campaign Manager for Triangle United Way and
prior to that, worked in the consumer advocacy field. He
graduated with a joint major in Political Science and Economics
from Guilford College in Greensboro, NC.
Katy
Munger, Communications Director, has over twenty years
experience in all aspects of marketing and communications.
In addition, her political experience includes grassroots
organizing, issues advocacy, volunteer recruitment and campaign
management. She holds a B.A. with Honors in Interdisciplinary
Writing from the University of North Carolina at Chapel
Hill.
Jonathan Peterson,
NC Field Organizer, earned his BA in Political Science from
UNC-Chapel Hill. At UNC, he was heavily involved in Student
Government and outreach initiatives designed to educate
the student body. In addition, he worked for Boards and
Commissions at Governor Easley's Office. His primary area
of responsibility is the Triad area.
Adam
Sotak , Organizing Director, has been working with Democracy
North Carolina (formerly Democracy South) since January
2000. Prior to his work at Democracy NC, Adam received his
MSW from UNC-Chapel Hill and trained and worked as a labor
organizer. He also spent two years working with at-risk
youth. In 2001, he received the Humanitarian Award from
the Charlotte-Black Political Caucus and in 2005 he received
the "Unsung Hero Award" from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg NAACP
for his work for voting rights. He continues to work in
the Charlotte area and throughout the state's Piedmont and
western counties, encouraging citizens to take ownership
of their democracy.
Tia
Stanley, NC Field Organizer, earned a B.A. in Communications
from Elon University. Prior to joining the Democracy North
Carolina team she spent time as a Campaign Associate for
the Triangle United Way. Through her involvement with various
service organizations, including Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority,
Incorporated she has worked on homelessness prevention,
HIV/AIDS awareness and youth advocacy.
Board of Directors
Reginald Watson, Board Chair
East Carolina University Professor of English
Greenville
Tom Coulson
Retired Hospital Executive
Marshall
Knick Dixon
Educator, Gaston Prep School
Roanoke Rapids
Becky Gomer
National Field Director, Working Families Win
Charlotte
Carol Haack , Treasurer
Bookkeeper and Accountant
Waynesville
Rosalyn Jones
Child Nutrition Assistant/Nutrition Specialist
Vanceboro
Margaret McCreary,
Secretary
Attorney
Durham
Gray
Newman
Civil Engineer, Conservationist
Charlotte
Juvencio
Rocha-Peralta
President, Mexican Association of NC
Simpson
Natalie Watson ,
Vice-Chair
Attorney
Rocky Mount
Heather Yandow
Development Director, NC Conservation Network
Raleigh |
