From Capitol Hill to Campus Halls: The People Building a Movement

What does it take to build a movement powerful enough to change the Constitution?

Sometimes it takes a conversation with a United States senator. Sometimes it takes a folding table at a community event, a microphone at a local radio station, or a student willing to start something new on campus.

And sometimes, it simply takes someone who refuses to give up.

One Conversation Can Open a Door

For longtime Move to Amend advocate and Teamster Lawrence Abbott, persistence recently led to an extraordinary opportunity.

After traveling to Washington, D.C., where he spoke at the Congressional Courage and Accountability Summit and visited congressional offices to advocate for the We the People Amendment, Lawrence returned to California with another opportunity on the horizon.

Senator Bernie Sanders was speaking at an event in Livermore, alongside Representative Pramila Jayapal, the amendment's lead House sponsor.

Lawrence knew what he wanted to ask.

With support from his union and labor council, both of which had endorsed the amendment, he navigated through staff and security until he had a chance to speak directly with the senator.

His request was simple: Would Sanders sponsor the We the People Amendment in the Senate?

According to Lawrence, Sanders shook his hand and responded, "Of course. Of course. Why wouldn't I?"

That brief exchange didn't introduce a Senate resolution. But it opened a door. Lawrence has since followed up with Sanders' office, encouraged his union leadership to write in support, and reached out to Jayapal's team.

His story captures something fundamental about grassroots advocacy: you don't always know when an opportunity will present itself. But preparation and persistence can make all the difference when it does.

In Minnesota, the Pledge Is Building Momentum

Meanwhile, in Minnesota, Move to Amend volunteers have been demonstrating what sustained electoral organizing can accomplish.

At October's No Kings gathering in the Twin Cities, volunteers worked the crowd, staffed an information table, and distributed their voter guide highlighting candidates who had signed the Pledge to Amend.

The numbers are impressive: 73 Minnesota candidates remained on the group's active pledge list during the election cycle, reflecting an even larger number of commitments secured throughout the campaign.

But the work extends beyond collecting pledges.

Minnesota organizers have also been welcoming prospective volunteers, developing relationships with allied movements, and exploring collaboration around the Equal Rights Amendment and gender justice.

The lesson? Electoral organizing doesn't have to end on Election Day. Every candidate conversation, volunteer connection, and public commitment can become the foundation for the next phase of the movement.

Georgia Is Bringing the Movement to a New Generation

In Georgia, advocates are finding new ways to connect electoral organizing with youth engagement.

Atlanta-area volunteers Rose and Barbara S. have helped bring Move to Amend's message into voter outreach efforts, while organizer Mark reported a new milestone: the possibility of reaching 22 Pledge to Amend candidates in Georgia, a record for their organizing efforts.

But perhaps the most exciting development is happening at Kennesaw State University.

New advocate Joshua is working to establish a Move to Amend student club, with local organizers helping identify a faculty adviser and build the foundation for sustained campus activity.

Rose is also collaborating with the national team on a campus outreach training program designed to help organizers navigate university systems, engage students, and build lasting campus networks.

The vision is bigger than a single student club. It's about creating opportunities for young people to understand how corporate constitutional rights affect their futures—and giving them the tools to organize for change.

From the Airwaves to the Printed Page

Not every organizing victory happens at a rally or in a congressional office.

In Alaska, advocate Kevin reported on a completed radio program examining how the tax system favors corporations and the very wealthy. Another broadcast is in development, exploring how industries have manipulated scientific research and public opinion to avoid accountability.

Kevin and fellow advocates have also participated in local Democracy Day activities, gathering petition signatures and introducing community members to the movement.

And in Pennsylvania, longtime advocate Barbara found another opportunity to spread the word when the Green Party of Pennsylvania updated its platform.

Recognizing language closely aligned with Move to Amend's mission, she contributed commentary that was published in Green Star, the party's statewide newspaper.

These efforts may look different, but they share a purpose: helping people recognize that corporate power isn't an abstract legal concept. It affects public health, taxation, environmental protections, workers' rights, and the decisions shaping our everyday lives.

A Movement That Keeps Growing

The October call also welcomed newer advocates, including Vincent, a longtime engineer in California's Silicon Valley preparing to devote more time to meaningful civic work, and Don in Vermont, who is interested in strengthening outreach around the Senate companion resolution.

Their participation is another reminder that there's no single path into this movement.

Some people arrive through environmental justice. Others through labor organizing, electoral reform, education, or concern about the growing influence of wealth in politics.

What brings us together is the understanding that these struggles share a common obstacle—and that changing the constitutional rules protecting corporate power is essential to creating real democracy.

As we move beyond the midterm elections, the work our affiliates and advocates are doing becomes even more important.

The conversations started with candidates must continue. New volunteers need opportunities to get involved. Community partnerships need nurturing. And every new person who discovers Move to Amend represents another possibility for building the power necessary to win.

From Capitol Hill to campus halls, from community libraries to local airwaves, this movement is growing because ordinary people keep showing up.

And that's how lasting change begins.

Whether you're collecting signatures, meeting with elected officials, organizing students, or simply starting conversations about corporate power, there's a place for you in Move to Amend.