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Melody Barnes, Executive Director, University of Virginia’s Karsh Institute of Democracy, left, at a meeting at UVA. Photo courtesy Karsh Institute of Democracy
We often believe that democracy means whatever is important to us. Democracy means addressing climate change. Democracy means lowering taxes. Democracy means passing immigration reform. Democracy means eliminating regulation. In reality, democracy allows us to take on all these issues.
But democracy itself is much more foundational. It’s the way we govern ourselves. —writes Melody Barnes, Executive director, University of Virginia’s Karsh Institute of Democracy.
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Julie Hendricks, a Navy veteran, speaks with another veteran during training for poll workers in Fairfax County, Virginia. Hendricks is director of operations for We the Veterans and Military Families. Photos by Christopher Tyree // VCIJ at WHRO
After graduating from the Naval Academy and serving 12 years as a helicopter pilot and instructor, Julie Hendricks has taken on a new commission — poll worker.
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Laura Mollo, a resident of Richlands, Virginia, used the Freedom of Information Act to question why the town was the last in Virginia to have 911 access. Her work eventually led to her election to the town council in 2022. Photo by Christopher Tyree // VCIJ at WRHO
Laura Mollo wanted her hometown of Richlands, Virginia to be a safe, secure place for her young family. She turned to the Virginia Freedom of Information Act to bring about change.
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Richard Walker cooks at a fish fry in Gilpin Court in Richmond. He was using the event to help former convicts with prior felony convictions to restore their voting rights. Photo by Cianna Morales/WHRO
Virginia is one of just two states that bans ex-felons from voting unless they receive an executive pardon. Richard Walker uses his nonprofit – and cooking skills – to help other former felons win back their voting rights
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Hampton Clerk of City Council Katherine Glass goes over paperwork with some of the council members prior to city council meeting in September. Photo by Roger M. Richards //VCIJ at WHRO
Hampton Clerk of City Council Katherine Glass stumbled into local government. She’s been soothing angry citizens, organizing public meetings and counting votes for two decades.
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Retired Rear Adm. Ann Phillips looks out at Wayne Creek from Lakewood Park in Norfolk. Phillips worked on climate resilience efforts at the city park. Photo by Christopher Tyree // VCIJ at WHRO
Retired Rear Adm. Ann Phillips was among the first cohorts of women to serve on ships at sea. She said “as soon as somebody tells me no, then I'm like, ‘Hmm, oh yes, watch this.’”
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York County voter registrar Walt Latham stands behind the county’s ballot drop box. Photo by Roger M. Richards // VCIJ at WHRO
The year-round job of keeping Virginia’s annual elections running like clockwork falls to local officials who work to stay above the political fray.
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Lindsay Church speaking at a press conference in front of the Capitol building July 2020 demanding justice for murdered service member, Specialist Vanessa Guillén.
Navy vet and minority advocate Lindsay Church’s personal and public life merged when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade
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Newspaper owner and publisher, Anne Adams, has been traveling Highland, Bath, and Alleghany County roads for more than 30 years in her quest to bring vital information to residents of those counties.
Democracy at Work—Anne Adams - owner, reporter and most everything in between for her rural weekly - preserves a 147-year-old newspaper
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