Webinar This Friday: Navigating Division Through Democracy: Team Democracy's Vision for 2026

Team Democracy, founded in the wake of January 6 by former whitewater rafting leader Ken Powley and partner Chris Newlon, seeks to counter America’s deepening partisan divides by strengthening shared democratic values rather than enforcing political agreement. Drawing on the co-founders’ bipartisan partnership, the organization advances three interconnected initiatives: Principles for Trusted Elections, which promotes fair and transparent voting; a Civics Credentialing Program that equips citizens for informed participation; and R.A.F.T., a dialogue-based effort that brings people with opposing political views together to build understanding and trust. Their work aligns with broader civic engagement efforts by emphasizing structural integrity, civic education, and human connection as essential elements of a healthy democracy, offering practical tools and strategies for bridging divides in communities, organizations, and families alike.

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If you've found yourself lying awake lately, troubled by the growing sense that our communities—and even our families—are fractured by partisan division, you're far from alone. This feeling of a house divided touches Americans across the political spectrum, manifesting in national debates, local tensions, and increasingly strained relationships around the dinner table. As we approach another election year and the holiday season brings these divisions into sharp relief, the question becomes: how do we move forward together?
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Team Democracy offers a compelling answer. Rather than pursuing forced uniformity or demanding agreement on contentious policy issues, this organization focuses on something more fundamental: nurturing a shared commitment to the democratic principles, institutions, and processes that allow us to navigate our differences constructively.

From the River to Democracy

The story of Team Democracy begins with an unlikely catalyst. In 2021, Ken Powley—who had spent five decades building one of America's premier whitewater rafting companies—found himself reassessing his life's priorities while watching the events of January 6 unfold on television. For someone who readily admits to being "the poster child for every American who takes democracy for granted," that moment sparked a profound shift.
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Powley soon stepped back from day-to-day management of Whitewater Challengers, the business that had taken more than two million people down Pennsylvania and New York's rushing rivers, to co-found Team Democracy alongside Chris Newlon. Their partnership itself embodies the organization's mission: Powley's conservative orientation complements Newlon's liberal inclinations, demonstrating that Americans from opposite sides of the political spectrum can work together when united by common values.

Three Pathways to Bridging Division

Team Democracy has developed three interconnected initiatives that counteract toxic polarization by amplifying positive messages and actions that support democratic health. The Principles for Trusted Elections establishes standards for fair, transparent, and credible voting systems—foundational to any functioning democracy. The Civics Credentialing Program equips citizens with the knowledge and tools needed for informed, meaningful participation in civic life.

​And perhaps most innovatively, R.A.F.T. (Reuniting America by Fostering Trust) brings people from opposite political perspectives together in settings that foster genuine dialogue and understanding.
This multifaceted approach recognizes that strengthening democracy requires both structural integrity and human connection. It's not enough to have sound electoral processes if citizens lack the skills to engage productively, nor can education alone bridge divides without opportunities for relationship-building across differences.

The principles guiding Team Democracy's work closely align with NCDD's commitment to dialogue, deliberation, and collaborative engagement. Both organizations understand that democracy isn't maintained through passive acceptance but through active participation, critical thinking, and the difficult work of building trust with those who see the world differently. By creating spaces and structures that support these practices, Team Democracy contributes to the broader ecosystem of organizations working to deepen civic engagement and foster understanding across political, cultural, and ideological lines.

On December 12, Team Democracy invites the NCDD community to explore actionable strategies drawn from their initiatives and learn how to apply these principles in your own advocacy efforts. Whether you're working at the national, state, or local level—or simply trying to navigate division in your own community or family—this webinar offers practical approaches to increasing trust, fostering meaningful dialogue, and creating tangible change.

Join Ken Powley as he shares how an unexpected moment of civic awakening grew into a thriving organization with ambitious plans for 2026 and beyond. Discover how the lessons learned from bringing people together on rivers can inform our efforts to navigate the turbulent waters of contemporary American democracy.

Learn more and register for the December 12 webinar at: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/5217635630956/WN_RsxiyXzASiqI5MqWVLOWlA#/registration