Voices from the Frontlines: Youth Leading Democratic Change with Flávia Pellegrino

In the eighth episode of Season 3 of the Thank You Democracy Podcast, we sat down with Flávia Pellegrino to discuss her journey in democracy and civic engagement, her work with Pacto pela Democracia and civic movements in Brazil, and how intergenerational dialogue, youth activism, coalition-building, and renewed narratives of hope can sustain democracy amid polarization and disillusionment.Flávia Pellegrino is a Brazilian democracy advocate and the Co-Executive Director of Pacto pela Democracia, a national platform that brings together diverse actors to defend and strengthen democratic values in Brazil. Recognized globally for her leadership, Flávia was recently awarded the Skoll Award for Social Innovation in recognition of her efforts to foster civic dialogue and mobilize citizens across divides. Flávia is a Kettering Foundation Global Fellow and she represents a new generation of democratic leaders, grounded in local realities, but deeply attuned to the global democratic moment. Through her work, she challenges traditional notions of political engagement, showing how youth-led, networked activism can drive both resistance and renewal.