About Defending Democracies
Defending Democracies is a nonpartisan organization whose mission is to create opportunities for collective actions for supporting and preserving democracy and rule of law.
Our Goals
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PRESERVATION
Create and participate in a sustainable network of organizations and individuals whose mission is the preservation of democracy
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DEVELOPMENT
- Educating citizens on the value of liberal democracy as a governing paradigm and on the threats posed to liberal democracy by political movements on the right and left
- Advocating for policies that strengthen and sustain demographic principles in our governance systems at the local, state, and federal levels
- Supporting programs that ensure fair and free elections for all citizens
- Advocating for policies and practices that support the wishes of the majority of the population, while ensuring the rights of minority groups to fully engage in government at the local, state, and federal levels.
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SUPPORT
Create platforms that support free and civil discussions on issues of importance to citizens.
Volunteers at Defending Democracies
Name: Jim Bohland, PhD
Email: JimBohland@defendingdemocracies.org
Location: Christiansburg/Blacksburg, NRV, Virginia
Affiliated Group: Unitarian Universalist Congregation of New River Valley
Current Position: Retired Emeritus Professor, School of Public and International Affairs, Virginia Tech
Work History: 38 Years teaching, research, and administration at Virginia Tech in public policy.
Defending Democracy Interests: authoritarian threats; neoliberalism; populism
Name: Mark J.Benson, PhD
Email: mbenson8@gmail.com
Location: Blacksburg, NRV, Virginia
Affiliated Group: Justice Advocates, New River Valley Citizen Activist Network (NRV CAN)
Current Position: Volunteer Community Organizer, Assoc. Prof. Emeritus, Virginia Tech
Work History: University Research & Teaching, Prison Tutor, High School Math Teacher
Defending Democracy Interests: wealth inequality, support public schools, prison reform
Name: Jeffrey C. Vick, MS
Email: JeffVick@defendingdemocracies.org
Location: Roanoke, Virginia
Affiliated Group: Unitarian Universalist Church of Roanoke, Democracy Action Team, UUSJ, NAACP
Current Position: Adjunct Professor at Roanoke College, Global Politics and International Relations, retired Foreign Service Officer
Work History: 35 years as an Army Officer and U.S. Diplomat
Defending Democracy Interests: Rule of Law, Authoritarianism, Democracy Education, International Relations
Name: Sara Dalton, MSW
Email: sarabdalton@outlook.com
Location: Blacksburg, NRV, Virginia
Affiliated Group: Unitarian Universalist Congregation of New River Valley, League of Women Voters, NAACP, Planned Parenthood
Current Position: Community Volunteer
Work History: 28 years social work practice in the public and private sectors
Defending Democracy Interests: voting rights, reproductive justice, mis/disinformation, respectful communication across ideological divisions