The D.C. Council makes decisions that affect nearly every aspect of life in the District, from civil rights protections to funding for essential services. But how does the Council actually work, and how can residents influence its decisions?

Monica Hopkins, Executive Director at ACLU-D.C. sits down with Alicia Yass, Policy Advocacy Director at the ACLU-D.C. and Katharine Landfield, Senior Advocacy Strategist at Fair Budget Coalition for a conversation about the legislative and budget process, common misconceptions about local government, and the many ways District residents can advocate for change. Whether you're new to civic engagement or looking to become more involved, this episode offers a practical guide to participating in D.C.'s democracy.

In this episode, we discuss the impact of D.C. Home Rule and the future of D.C. statehood. Host Alicia Yass, Policy Advocacy Director, is joined by Melissa Wasser, Sr. Policy Counsel, to discuss the history of Home Rule and how protecting Home Rule is protecting democracy.

Later, Yass is joined by Keya Chatterjee, Executive Director of Free DC. Here they discuss why D.C. needs Statehood, how Congress has a history of deciding the fate of D.C. and its residents, and the journey for equal representation for D.C. residents.

In this episode, we cover what you need to know about the public safety issues impacting our District.

Host Alicia Yass, Policy Advocacy Director, is joined by Peggy Ramin, Policy Counsel, to discuss what real public safety looks like and how D.C. leaders can uplift prevention, instead of over-relying on policing and incarceration

Later, Yass is joined by James Carpenter of the Free Minds Book Club. Here they discuss why D.C. needs to support reentry programs, the importance of support services to the formerly incarcerated, and what matters most to this community.