Yes, Phyllis, I know of two initiatives that have succeeded.

Just three days ago, on 29 September 2022, California Governor Newsome signed AB2183 into law. It took four generations of Americans more than 50 years to pass the initiative, now known as AB2183.

Sadly, very few Americans realize that their right to organize themselves is so heavily regulated and enforced so violently, that organizing is dangerous work. In America civic organizers are often beaten, even killed, while others are driven out of work, out of business, out of their communities, schools and churches.

In the past, laws requiring people to vote in person at designated times and locations, empowered employers, politicians, and the police to “monitor” elections and record the names of everyone who voted. As a result, just showing up to vote required people to risk termination, retaliation, intimidation, and violence.

The passage of AB2183 allows people to use mail-in ballots to protect their privacy. At long last, people are free to vote their conscience without fear.

The second initiative that succeeded was at my children’s elementary school where parents organized themselves and turned our failing school around. Thanks to poverty, race and language 97% of our students were ranked “at risk”. As they say, success is the best revenge. Our student’s high grades and accomplishments so infuriated parents at other schools, they fought every initiative we put forth. Time and again we prevailed, and our children entered junior high at the top of their class (and 70% went on to college including several at Ivy Leagues).

Civic initiatives succeed when people organize themselves. We call these grassroot organizers.

Anytime people rely on “others” to organize them, they discovered they were working against themselves.