After an intensive effort to engage with communities across all five U.S. territories, Right to Democracy is thrilled to announce the release of our latest report, Building a Movement: The Power of Listening. This landmark report captures the voices of over 200 participants from American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands who took part in seventeen community dialogues, offering their perspectives of democracy, colonialism, citizenship, self-determination and much more. 

Right to Democracy launched with a clear mission: to confront the undemocratic colonial framework that shapes the lives of those in U.S. territories through advocacy and litigation that's grounded in community engagement and participatory methods.

Building a Movement: The Power of Listening reflects this mission by showing the results of our Listening Tour: a series of 17 community dialogues held with communities from all 5 U.S. Territories. This report shows what it means to truly meet people where they are at - even when that means travelling all across the world to meet communities in their spaces and homes. 

We asked each group to respond to questions like: 

• What does a right to democracy mean to
  you?
• How would you define the word ¨colony¨?
• How would you describe the relationship between the U.S. and the territory you live?
• How does this relationship affect your daily
  life at an individual, family, and community
  level?

The 50-page report summarizes the responses from each community, organized by territory and by topic, showing the nuances of each particular territory and even multiple perspectives within groups.

"Our work has always been rooted in listening to the communities we aim to serve. The insights we've gathered from the people in the territories have been profound and, at times, heartbreaking." said Adi Martínez-Román "What stands out most is the resilience and determination of these communities to fight for a future where their voices are heard and their rights are respected. This report is not just a collection of findings—it’s a testament to the power of collective action and the urgent need for change."

"As we’ve engaged with people across the territories, it’s become clear that the issues they face are complex, but their voices are clear and they have a right to be heard." said Neil Weare, Co-Director of Right to Democracy. "This report reflects the hard work and collaboration of so many to uplift territory voices, and it’s just the beginning."

Building a Movement: The Power of Listening is more than just a report; it is a call to action. By reading this report, you will gain a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by these communities and the powerful strategies they propose for creating meaningful change.

We invite you to delve into the report, reflect on its findings, and join us in pushing forward the movement for democracy, equity, and self-determination in U.S. territories.

The Building a Movement: The Power of Listening report is now available at righttodemocracy.us/poweroflistening.