A Panel Discussion Hosted by Civic (Re)Solve
The stark reality of American democracy demands urgent attention: Over 70% of elected offices go uncontested each year, creating a critical void in representative leadership. Taking decisive action to recruit and engage new generations to transform our civic landscape through elected, appointed, and applied positions across all levels of government is increasingly imperative to upholding our democracy.
This powerful conversation will illuminate the public servant mindset—one centered on advancing community wellbeing—while showcasing diverse pathways to meaningful civic engagement. The panel will feature experienced organizers who work directly with Native American and Millennial communities, bringing their unique insights on breaking down barriers and building successful campaigns. Additional perspectives from Black, Hispanic, and Asian recruitment initiatives will further enrich the discussion. By directly addressing the systemic underrepresentation in our civic institutions, we hope this comprehensive conversation provides both the motivation and practical tools needed to diversify and strengthen American democracy. Whether your path leads to elected office or other forms of public service, join us to discover how you can be part of building a more representative and responsive government.
This session is meant to serve as a catalyst for change—to challenge leaders to envision their role in public service. Hosted by Reena Szczepanski. With: Caitlin Lewis, Work For America; Anathea Chino, Advance Native Political Leadership; Elizabeth Rosen, Future Caucus; and Chloe Maxmin, Dirtroad Organizing.
Note: This session will be followed by an afternoon interactive workshop where inspiration transforms into action: all participants will be invited to create personal roadmaps to public service and to connect with the panelists who can guide their journey from civic aspiration to active leadership.
March 28th | 3:00 pm to 4:45 pm
Panelists
Executive Director
Work For America
Caitlin Lewis, Executive Director of Work for America, a nonprofit seeking to make public service a more desirable, accessible, and stable career path that uplifts families and communities, has a long track record working in the public, private and non-profit sectors, including: developing social impact strategies for global brands; being a philanthropic advisor to Van Jones; helping launch an affordable housing fund; serving in local, state and federal governments, including at NYC’s City Hall and in the White House Liaison Office of USDA; working on several political campaigns and managing external affairs for the organization that manages Times Square.
Co-Founder and Executive Director
Advance Native Political Leadership
Anathea Chino (Acoma Pueblo), co-founder and Executive Director of Advance Native Political Leadership, is a queer feminist leader and champion for Native voices with 20 years’ experience as a political strategist, fundraiser, and operative, works to advance Indigenous representation through investment in infrastructure development, strategy, research, and relationship building. She has co-founded a number of state and national organizations, including: Women’s Democracy Lab, Indigenous Women Rise, and Emerge New Mexico, and also serves on the boards of Americans for Indian Opportunity, California Native Vote Project, and Emergent Fund.
Dirtroad Organizing
Co-Founder
Chloe Maxmin, co-founder (with her best friend, Canyon Woodward) of Dirtroad Organizing and co-founder of and advisor to JustME for JustUS, a Maine-based organization focused on rural youth civic engagement and climate justice, also runs Begin Again Farm with her partner, Bill Pluecker, growing organic vegetables for her community. Chloe’s political engagement has included co-founding Divest Harvard when she was a student there, serving in the Maine House of Representatives in 2018, and in the Maine State Senate in 2020, when she was the youngest woman ever to serve in that body. Chloe is also co-author (with Canyon Woodward) of Dirt Road Revival.
Communications Director
Future Caucus
Elizabeth Rosen, Communications Director for Future Caucus, the largest nonpartisan organization of young lawmakers in the U.S., previously supported global democracy movements with Freedom House, mobilized young voters with NextGen America, worked on public diplomacy at NATO, and held numerous odd jobs, including ski instructing in Park City, pizza delivery in Fort Myers Beach, and fact-checking for a New York Times writer in Paris.
House Majority Leader
New Mexico House of Representatives
Reena Szczepanski has spent her career working for justice, equality, and public health, starting in her teenage years doing work/study as a caregiver for babies affected by HIV/AIDS and eventually managing the New Mexico Department of Health’s Hepatitis Program. She later became Executive Director of Emerge New Mexico, a statewide organization dedicated to training women to run for office and led the Drug Policy Alliance New Mexico to many legislative victories, including the state’s medical cannabis law, substance abuse treatment, and criminal justice reform. Reena then served as the Chief of Staff to Speaker Brian Egolf, and in 2022 was herself elected to the New Mexico House of Representatives and was elected House Majority Leader by her colleagues. She is the first Asian American elected to legislative leadership in the history of New Mexico.