Would anyone in Philly be interested in a civic/political meetup group ahead of the 2026 midterms?
I’m thinking about starting something called “The Democracy Project: Philly” a community focused on voter engagement, volunteering, discussions, social events, and meeting other civically engaged people.
Curious if this is something people would actually show up for.
Personally, this matters a lot to me because I’m exhausted.
I’m a millennial, and it feels like our generation has gone from one crisis to another our entire adult lives recessions, crushing housing costs, student debt, layoffs, political chaos, climate disasters, burnout, unaffordable healthcare, and now the uncertainty surrounding AI and the future of work.
I’m tired of feeling like regular people are constantly struggling while politicians argue endlessly and billionaires keep getting richer.
I care about climate change and the constant cuts to environmental protections and climate research. I care that millions of Americans still don’t have proper access to healthcare. I care that people are working multiple jobs and still can’t afford rent or medical bills. I care that we keep investing enormous amounts of money into wars and political fighting while so many communities here at home are struggling. I care that AI is advancing rapidly with very little meaningful regulation or guardrails in place.
And honestly? I think a lot of people feel the same way but feel isolated, burnt out, or powerless.
That’s why I want to build this.
Not because I think one meetup magically changes the world but because democracy only works when people actually show up, build community, stay engaged, and care about each other enough to participate.
I want to create a space for people who still believe things can improve if we stop doomscrolling alone and start organizing together.
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And to the people who inevitably want to dismiss the idea of people gathering around a cause. that’s okay. Not everyone cares about politics or civic engagement. I do. A lot of people do. And there’s nothing wrong with wanting to build community around something that matters to us.