Why I believe local politics can restore trust in democracy
I grew up loving to act. From putting together parody videos on a beat-up Samsung camcorder to performing on stage professionally when I was ten years old, I was raised to appreciate the importance of telling stories.
Stories are crucial to galvanizing change. I've seen this in every aspect of my own work. Whether it's fighting for campus sexual violence prevention legislation, raising awareness around homelessness and the housing crisis, or working on food insecurity, truthful and compelling narratives drive action.
But right now, the story being told about our political system is not one that I like.
Trust in our legal and political institutions are at historic lows, with only 27% of Americans ages 18-25 agreeing strongly that democracy is the best system of government. This is a massive problem that directly endangers our most essential societal institutions.
In my recent opinion piece for USA Today, I argue that local government can work to solve pressing issues like the housing crisis, climate change, and education disparities. If more of us engage with town and city politics, we could start to rebuild trust in our democratic institutions. In other words, we can start to tell a different story.
I'm pursuing a JD at Stanford Law School to understand our legal and political institutions and the ways that we can work together to make them better. Being a Knight-Hennessy scholar not only equips me with the tools to better communicate the importance of grassroots work through storytelling, I also get to meet such amazing people pursuing a wide variety of interests and advocacy. I have already learned so much from the other scholars and the team, and I cannot wait to discover more.
David Millman (2024 cohort) is a Knight-Hennessy scholar pursuing a JD at Stanford Law School. He aspires to use law, advocacy, and public policy to help communities and the people in them, particularly by addressing inequalities, climate change, and our nation’s housing crisis.
Knight-Hennessy scholars represent a vast array of cultures, perspectives, and experiences. While we as an organization are committed to elevating their voices, the views expressed are those of the scholars, and not necessarily those of KHS.
