Hope Is a Discipline: Angela Glover Blackwell on Democracy, Equity, and Human Flourishing

Democracy isn't just something we vote for once every few years, it's something we build together, in our neighborhoods, city halls, and everyday relationships. Corinna Bellizzi is joined by Angela Glover Blackwell, founder of PolicyLink and host of Reimagining Democracy for a Good Life, who has spent more than 50 years working at the intersection of racial equity, housing, and civic life. Angela reflects on how growing up during segregation shaped her understanding of community and leadership, explains why she defines democracy as "co-governance for human flourishing," and makes the case that America may be ready for a third founding. She also shares how tools like civic assemblies and participatory budgeting can restore civic life, and why joy has to remain at the center of any vision for real change. COMPLETE BLOG & TRANSCRIPT: https://caremorebebetter.com/reimagining-democracy-with-angela-glover-blackwell About Guest: Angela Glover Blackwell has spent over 50 years working at the intersection of racial equity, housing, and civic life. As the founder of PolicyLink and host of the podcast Reimagining Democracy for a Good Life, she provides a roadmap for rebuilding our communities. In this episode, we discuss why true democracy requires co-governance and active participation from every citizen. We explore how to cultivate joy in our activism and why local leadership is the key to national change. You'll learn how to navigate the complexities of our changing demographics while building a future where everyone can reach their full potential. Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angela-glover-blackwell  Guest Website: https://policylink.org Guest Social: https://www.youtube.com/policylink  PODCAST: Reimagining Democracy for a Good Life On PolicyLink.com On Spotify On Apple Podcasts Chapter Markers 00:00 — Introduction: Bioneers, PolicyLink, and Reimagining Democracy 05:45 — Early Lessons in Segregation and Resilience: Growing Up in 1950s St. Louis 12:30 — Founding PolicyLink: Bridging Community Work and National Policy 18:15 — Recreating Civic Life: Civic Assemblies, Participatory Budgeting, and Mutual Aid 26:40 — Democracy as Co-Governance for Human Flourishing 33:00 — The Third Founding: Why the Nation's Mechanisms Have Outgrown Themselves 38:00 — Joy in Activism: Adrienne Maree Brown and What Los Angeles Taught Angela 44:10 — Patience, Impatience, and Why We Must Stop Being Nostalgic for a Time That Never Was 50:00 — Season 2 of Reimagining Democracy: Atlanta, the Curb Cut Effect, and Hartsfield-Jackson 58:00 — Hope Is a Discipline: Answering the Listener Who Has Lost Faith 64:00 — The Third Founding, Future Cities, and What Comes Next BUILD A GREENER FUTURE with CARE MORE BE BETTER: Together, we planted 36,044 trees in 2025 through our partnership with ForestPlanet. We screamed past our goal of planting 20,000 trees thanks to subscribers like you! CAUSE PARTNER: If you value open dialogue, sustainability, and social equity, I invite you to support our new cause partner — Prescott College. To learn more about this effort and to support the show, visit: https://caremorebebetter.com/support/ Follow Care More Be Better on social media: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/caremorebebetter TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@caremorebebetter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caremorebebetter Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CareMoreBeBetter LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/care-more-be-better Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.