Taking Initiative

How does an everyday concern become a ballot initiative — and ultimately, a law? Rev. Ray Greene of Freedom BLOC joins Taking Initiative to share a remarkably straightforward organizing philosophy: listen to people...

What happens when people use direct democracy to challenge power — and power pushes back? Chris Melody Fields Figueredo, Executive Director of the BISC ( http://www.ballot.org ), joins Taking Initiative to explore the...

In 1912, Theodore Roosevelt came to Columbus to address the Ohio Constitutional Convention as delegates reconsidered how power should be shared between government and the people. In his landmark speech, A Charter of...

What happens when a statewide citizen initiative hits a roadblock? Conserve Ohio attorneys Nick Owens and Austin Baurichter share how their movement is taking direct democracy local — helping Ohio communities use their...

In this episode, Taking Initiative co-hosts Laura Lucarelli and Patricia Blackmon debrief on what they've learned while interviewing the changemakers in Ohio's direct democracy over the last few months. Plus, Pat turns...

In our Spotlight on an Initiative, the Conserve Ohio group announces 2027 is the new target for getting on the ballot. Then three of the initiative leaders attend a weekly commissioners meeting and voice concerns with...

<p>Meet Conserve Ohio volunteer Austin Baurichter, part of the attorney duo who drafted the petition to ban mega data centers in Ohio. Austin talks about quitting his job when he found himself at a moral crossroads so...

<p>In our Spotlight on an Initiative (Ban Mega Data Centers OH Initiative), Conserve Ohio takes advantage of an opportunity to provide public testimony to Ohio's Select Committee on Data Centers. It was a long day for...

<p>In this episode, we sit down with Lis Regula, co-chair of the Ohio Equal Rights ballot initiative effort, to talk about how the group is moving forward after the Ohio Ballot Board split their initiative into two...

<p>To make the ballot, a citizen initiative or referendum requires hundreds of thousands of signatures statewide. But the challenges go beyond the sheer number of signatures required. In this episode, we take a deep...

<p>In this episode, Ohio Ballot Protection checks in with attendees of the Libertarian Party of Ohio's Convention in Dayton last week to hear their views on ballot initiatives and direct democracy.</p>

<p>In this episode, we sit down with Ohio Secretary of State Candidate Tom Pruss (Libertarian Party) to hear his views on direct democracy and the citizen-led ballot initiative process.</p><p></p><p>Note: Ohio Ballot...

<p>In this episode, we sit down with Ohio Attorney General Candidate John Kulewicz (Democratic Party) to hear his views on direct democracy and the citizen-led ballot initiative process.</p><p></p><p>Note: Ohio Ballot...

<p>In this episode, we sit down with Ohio Attorney General Candidate Elliot Forhan (Democratic Party) to hear his views on direct democracy and the citizen-led ballot initiative process.</p><p></p><p>Note: Ohio Ballot...

<p>In this episode, we sit down with Ohio Secretary of State Candidate Allison Russo (Democratic Party) to hear her views on direct democracy and the citizen-led ballot initiative process.</p><p></p><p>Note: Ohio Ballot...