Built By Us

This is Part 2 of a two-part episode. Listen to Part 1 featuring Bryan Proffitt of the NCAE first. If a child's opportunity depends on their zip code, race, or family income, are we really giving every child the same chance? In Part 2, Kai sits down with Susanna Benitez of the Education Justice Alliance, leading the Every Child North Carolina Coalition, and Sarah Montgomery of the NC Justice...

Recorded prior to May 12, 2026, before North Carolina lawmakers agreed to a budget framework that includes raises for teachers, law enforcement, and other state employees. What if the condition of your child's classroom wasn't an accident? Kai sits down with Bryan Proffitt, Vice President of the North Carolina Association of Educators (NCAE), to trace how North Carolina went from ranking...

North Carolina is the only state in the country without a comprehensive budget approved for this year, and the people are paying the price. In this episode, host Kai McNeil sits down with Sally Hodges-Copple and Moriah Collins from the NC Budget and Tax Center to break down how a $29.7 billion budget gets made, why it's stalled, and what an upside-down tax code actually means for working fami...

The March primary is over, but the election process isn't.  Right now, 100 county boards across North Carolina are in the canvass period, and most people have never heard of it. In this episode of Built by Us, host Kai McNeil sits down with Democracy NC's Senior Policy Analyst Brian Kennedy and Professor Michael Bitzer, Director of the NC Center for Politics, to break down what canvassin...

Kinston, North Carolina is known as basketball heaven – producing more NBA players per capita than anywhere else in the world. But right now, democracy is under attack in the same town that gave us Brandon Ingram, Cedric Maxwell, and Jerry Stackhouse. A polling site in a densely populated, predominantly Black neighborhood might be removed to avoid conflicts with high school basketball games. Meanw...

In this episode, Joselle sits down with Hannah Preston, a North Carolina social media influencer and public health advocate. They discuss the importance of grassroots digital organizing in driving political change, the intersection of health equity and democracy, and the need for sustained civic engagement beyond election cycles. Hannah shares her journey in public health, the challenges faced dur...

On January 13th, 2025, the North Carolina State Board of Elections voted 3-2 along party lines to eliminate campus polling sites for the 2026 primary, including at North Carolina A&T State University, the nation's largest public HBCU. This isn't about convenience. This is a deliberate pattern of making it harder for young Black voters to participate in democracy. In this episode of B...

In this episode, Joselle and Beatrice delve into the pressing issues of 2026, focusing on the aggressive tactics employed by ICE and federal agencies that target communities rooted in historical oppression. They discuss recent efforts aimed at disenfranchising youth voters, particularly on HBCU and college campuses across North Carolina, and highlight the importance of voter protection in the 2026...

2026 Elections and What Democracy Means This Year What if 2026 isn't just an election year, but the fight for representation itself? In this Season 6 premiere of Built by Us, host Kai McNeil sits down with Professor Dr. Irving Joyner from North Carolina Central University to examine the high stakes of the 2026 midterms and what democracy actually means for North Carolinians right now. Profess...

In Part 2 of our conversation with Democracy Out Loud co-founder Karen Ziegler, we delve deeper into the fight against gerrymandering in North Carolina and what's truly at stake for CD1, the historic Black Belt district that encompasses every Black-majority county in the state. Karen breaks down how North Carolina votes 50-50 but ends up with deeply unequal representation, and why the attempt...

Fifteen organizers stood up in the NC Senate. Fifty people in the gallery joined them. Two million views later, "racist maps make racist reps" became a rallying cry against North Carolina's latest gerrymander. Mark Swallow leads Democracy Out Loud's Legislative Response Team, the organizers who show up every week to be the voice for North Carolinians who can't take time of...

In this episode of 'Plugged In & Pissed Off', Beatrice and Joselle bask in the post-election vibes of the 2025 municipal elections and dig into various races that happened across the country and in North Carolina. www.democracync.org/donate Support the show Follow us on all your favorite platforms!  Instagram: @democracync TikTok: @democracync Threads: @democracync Bluesky: @democrac...

You voted awesome! But what happens next? Host Kai McNeil teams up with JP Grillet (Election Protection Research Manager) and Marques Thompson (Organizing Director) to demystify the post-election process. Learn how your vote gets counted, what county boards do to ensure accuracy, how to track the issues and candidates you supported, and most importantly—how to stay engaged long after election day...

In this episode of 'Plugged In and Pissed Off', Beatrice and Joselle discuss the mid-cycle redistricting war that has taken over the country. They dig into the historical context of partisan and racial gerrymandering in North Carolina and the implications it has for Black communities in Congressional District 1.  Support the show Follow us on all your favorite platforms!  Instagram: @dem...

You know you want to vote—but do you have a plan? Host Kai McNeil and Desmera Gatewood, Program Manager of Non-profit & Direct Service Engagement, walk you through creating your personalized voting strategy. Learn when and where to vote, how to find your polling place, what resources are available to help, and get a step-by-step guide to crush election day with zero stress. Support the show Fo...

In this special Spanish-language episode, we partner with El Pueblo to examine how Senate Bill 153 and House Bill 318 impact immigrant communities across North Carolina.  Hosted by Eloy Tupachi (El Pueblo's Digital Strategy lead), featuring Helen Geleas (Policy Organizer at El Pueblo). We explore what SB 153 and HB 318 will actually do, how these bills moved through the legislature, their rea...

Think local elections don't matter? Think again. Host Kai McNeil and Election Protection Research Manager JP Grillet break down why your mayor and city council have more impact on your daily life than you might realize. Learn what's actually on your municipal ballot, how these positions affect your community, and get the essential info on voter registration and deadlines in North Carolin...

When politicians get to choose their voters instead of voters choosing their politicians, we all lose. In this episode, we continue our in-depth examination of racial gerrymandering in North Carolina. Host Kai McNeil sits down with Tyler Daye, Policy and Civic Engagement Manager at Common Cause NC, to explore how the fight for fair representation fits into a broader strategy to weaken democracy ac...

Happy Latine Heritage Month! This week we're talking about North Carolina's SB 153 & HB 318; bills that weaken our communities for everyone.  Host Kai McNeil explores how these policies moved through the legislature and examines their far reaching effects beyond the immigrant community. Guests Helen Geleas from El Pueblo breaks down the legislative process, Bekah Brown from Education...

In this episode, we tackle two urgent threats to democracy in North Carolina. First, Dawn Blagrove of Emancipate NC unpacks the NCGA’s latest power grab, a move that could weaken local control and shift the balance of power for years to come. Then, Dr. Jovita Lee of the NC Black Alliance joins us to break down the racial gerrymandering case unfolding in Winston-Salem, explaining how it could strip...

In this special Women’s History Month episode of Built By Us , we sat down with Julia Hawes, Communications Director at Democracy North Carolina, for a candid conversation on Women's History Month.  Hear from Julia directly as she reflects on the women who inspire her, the role of Women's History Month in the fight for social justice, and the nuances of what being a woman means to her. S...

Voter fraud. It’s the go-to excuse for restrictive voting laws, but how big of a problem is it really? In this episode, we sit down with Communications Manager, Joselle Torres, to break down the SAVE Act, a bill that claims to protect elections but could actually strip voting rights from millions.  From costly documentation barriers to harmful voter purges, we unpack how this bill could upend vote...

Black History Month may be coming to a close, but Black history is lived, made, and studied every day of the year. In this encore episode, we revisit our conversation with Dr. Ajamu Amiri Dillahunt on the power of understanding the past, the importance of internationalism, and our deep connections to the people.  Join Alyssa and Taylor as they discuss Truthful and Revolutionary history with Ajamu...

As new legislation and political rhetoric fuel fear and uncertainty in immigrant communities, it's more important than ever to uplift the voices of those on the front lines.  In this encore episode of Built By Us, former Democracy Summer communications friendtern Zainab Adamou-Mohamed interviews Yahtrip Abdelgadir, a refugee community organizer with Church World Service Greensboro. Together,...

In this special episode of Built By Us , we revisit powerful voices from past guests as they share what Black History Month means to them. From personal reflections to the ongoing fight for justice, tune in for a quick but meaningful conversation on history, legacy, and the future of Black civic power. Support the show Follow us on all your favorite platforms!  Instagram: @democracync TikTok: @dem...