What is a Democracy Circle?

Our democracy is under attack at a speed and magnitude not seen before in our lifetime.

Voter suppression, election interference, regressive court decisions, Executive power grabs and Congressional gridlock are eroding our democracy, stripping our rights, and setting the stage for minority rule. It’s up to us to fight back. Together.

Democracy Circles act and reflect.

Act: Democracy Circles take non-partisan action in-person and virtually to demand the democracy we need and we know is possible. We provide a quarterly convener’s guide, with a variety of actions you can take. Some circles postcard or join our phonebanks to reach voters of color with information they need to navigate barriers to voting. Others recruit friends and neighbors to lead or join protests. Democracy Circles make virtual and in-person legislative visits. Democracy circles have started freedom vigils to denounce immigrant detention while others are talking to their sheriffs about not collaborating with ICE. As opportunities arise for state-based action, we’ll help connect your Democracy Circle with trusted partners in your state and community for direct action, legislative advocacy, and more. Democracy Circles conveners and members are also invited to join our monthly Effective Advocate virtual skill-building trainings that the Workers Circle hosts with the Center for Common Ground, as well as other periodic programming organized in close coordination with our national partners. 

Reflect: Democracy Circles learn as well as act. And so the second component of Democracy Circles is reflection. Each quarterly convener’s guide contains resources and prompts for discussion that compliment the suggested actions. Some of these resources are articles to read together, some are videos to watch, and some encourage people to share their own stories. We also can provide additional discussion resources to help Democracy Circles reflect and think together about the state of our country upon request. Democracy Circle members are also welcome to join our monthly First Fridays briefings and community building virtual gatherings to learn more and meet others.

Democracy Circles are flexible and adaptable. Here are a few examples of what a Democracy Circle could look like. Each of these comes from one of our real Democracy Circles. These are just a few options, you can also create your own model!

Around the Kitchen Table

Beth formed her circle in Minneapolis to discuss ways to get involved in local organizing in support of immigrants, and to take action for voting rights across the country. They met at Beth’s house together and wrote 200 postcards to Black voters in Wisconsin, providing crucial, non-partisan information before a special election in early 2026. Forming a Democracy Circle gave them access to resources that helped them explore voting rights and gerrymandering, and share their own democracy stories while they wrote postcards. Beth’s circle now serves as a tight-knit community ready to take action at the local and federal level for democracy. 

In the Streets 

After attending past No Kings protests, Caryn, a Democracy Circle convener from Wisconsin, hosted her own No Kings action in a Milwaukee suburb. Caryn chose a location close to a local senior living community in order to make it easier for all neighbors to participate in an accessible way, and the turnout exceeded her expectations: over 1,500 people attended. Caryn continues to attend and host mass mobilizations, along with being a frequent phone banker and postcard writer for democracy. 

Within a Congregation or Nonprofit Group

Susan and Libby started their circle within their congregation in Virginia. Their circle started with about 7 people in July 2025 but quickly began to grow. They meet every other week and now more than 90 people in the congregation are a part of the democracy circle. The resources and organizing support from the Workers Circle helped that congregation learn and act on their faith and values. After taking action for voting rights and immigrant justice in various ways, they turned their attention to opposing immigrant detention in their own backyard. Alongside other local activists, they initiated a monthly Freedom Vigil outside of an ICE facility in Chantilly, VA to draw attention to the inhumane treatment and dehumanization of immigrant community members in their area.

Complimenting Other Organizing and Activism

Democracy Circles are designed to compliment other organizing and activism work that you and your community might already be doing. The democracy circle model has been used by and with Indivisible groups, unions, and local community-based coalitions, the sky’s the limit. It's a flexible and powerful model that can be repurposed to build involvement, community, and power. 

We work in coalition with pro-democracy local and national organizations, and we encourage conveners to do the same. Democracy Circles also engage with groups on the ground for non-partisan actions alongside local Indivisible chapters, mutual aid organizations, League of Women Voters, and other community groups. 

Virtual Democracy Circles

Many conveners have found success with organizing their circle remotely. Sumeeta, a Democracy Circle convener in New Jersey, gathers a circle of friends with disabilities and chronic pain to take action. They meet on Zoom to participate in phonebanks and text banks as well as to discuss democracy related news. Meeting remotely is a great way to gather friends or family that might not live nearby you, have busy schedules, or other barriers to meeting in person.

We are a social justice organization that has been cultivating a proudly progressive, diverse, and inclusive community rooted in Jewish culture and social action for more than a century. There are over 250,000 people in our activist community across the United States in every state, Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico.

No! We believe that all of us are needed in the fight for a shenere un besere velt far ale, a better and more beautiful world for all, and that our distinct histories and heritages are gifts that power our movement. As a social justice organization rooted in Jewish culture we believe uniting at this moment across cultures and races means we’re practicing the democracy we are demanding for our nation. You are welcome!

Democracy Circles meet regularly, but what that looks like is up to you! Some Democracy Circles meet every other week, some meet monthly and some meet frequently to undertake actions together in certain time periods. The important thing is that you meet more than once - fighting fascism and demanding the democracy we need requires our sustained, collective efforts.

Democracy circles also gather quarterly to meet one another across the country and to share what’s working. These energizing and informative virtual gatherings take place once every three months and are a chance to connect with other conveners and share strategies for organizing.

Once you fill out the interest form, we’ll reach out to schedule a one-on-one orientation time with you! We’ll also send you a Getting Started packet and an Outreach Tips packet with helpful information. Once your circle is off the ground, you’ll receive ongoing support from our staff.

You can start by gathering people to take action or to meet to reflect on this moment. Gather those who are ready and get moving! Sign up here to start a Democracy Circle.

Please email our social justice team at socialjustice@circle.org with any additional questions.