UPDATED: The Harry Potter Alliance Announces Fall Into Democracy Conference

by · October 2, 2020

The Harry Potter Alliance is continuing its advocacy work with a new “two-day virtual training and organizing conference,” called Fall Into Democracy. It will take place beginning with a kickoff event on Friday, October 16, with the majority of the programming happening on Saturday, October 17, and Sunday, October 18.

Attendees will learn how to cut through clickbait and find out what (and who) [is] really on their ballots, practice talking to their friends and loved ones about voting, and make an oath to cast their votes. The roster of over 20 expert speakers and panelists include Women’s March Co-Founder Paola Mendoza, ACLU Voting Rights Attorney Molly McGrath, and activist, Tohono O’odham Nation member, and Co-Founder of Indivisible Tohono Gabriella Cázares-Kelly.

Fall Into Democracy is a multi-fandom conference intended for all ages, and the registration model is such that attendees are encouraged to pay what they can.

Attendees may select the registration level that best represents their financial situation, ranging from $25 to $75. For those unable to pay for a ticket, full scholarships are offered. Those interested in scholarships are asked to email gla@thehpalliance.org or send a message to the HPA on Instagram (@TheHPAlliance). There is no scholarship application and no justification is needed. Registration includes access to all Fall Into Democracy programming, including workshops, panels, actions, and socials and access to an event-exclusive Discord area to chat with other attendees. The first 50 registrations will also receive a free sheet of 4 ‘I VOTE’ stickers.

For more information, visit the Granger Leadership Academy website or check out the press release below. The registration link and schedule are also available.

Press Release

Harry Potter Fans Rewrite the Story of Our Democracy

As fans of epic stories, Harry Potter fans know what it means to face odds that feel insurmountable, to rally when the need is greatest. This October, they are coming together to prepare for the battle, rewrite, and reclaim the story of democracy.

From the team behind the annual Granger Leadership Academy comes Fall Into Democracy, a two-day virtual training and organizing conference. The event will take place from Saturday, October 17th to Sunday, October 18th, with a kick-off event the evening of Friday, October 16th. Attendees will learn how to cut through clickbait and find out what (and who) [is] really on their ballots, practice talking to their friends and loved ones about voting, and make an oath to cast their votes. The roster of over 20 expert speakers and panelists include Women's March Co-Founder Paola Mendoza, ACLU Voting Rights Attorney Molly McGrath, and activist, Tohono O'odham Nation member, and Co-Founder of Indivisible Tohono Gabriella Cázares-Kelly.

Fall Into Democracy and the Granger Leadership Academy are organized by the Harry Potter Alliance, an activist organization that over fifteen years has united hundreds of thousands of online members and 250 local chapters across six continents and 30 nations. The event follows the organization’s innovative and idea-driven approach to activism, holding as truth that anybody can change the world.

In addition to daily breakout sessions and interactive workshops such as “Somatic Care for Organizers” and “Utilizing Journaling to Practice Self Care,” there will also be a fall-tastic Jack-O-Lantern Fest and virtual wizard rock concert.

While convened by Harry Potter lovers, Fall Into Democracy is an all-ages event targeted to [M]uggles of all interests, with work groups planned for fans like Star Wars, the Marvel [Cinematic] Universe, Star Trek, Avatar: The Last Airbender/Legend of Korra, and more.

Fall Into Democracy works on a Pay What You Can registration model. Attendees may select the registration level that best represents their financial situation, ranging from $25 to $75. For those unable to pay for a ticket, full scholarships are offered. Those interested in scholarships are asked to email gla@thehpalliance.org or send a message to the HPA on Instagram (@TheHPAlliance). There is no scholarship application and no justification is needed. Registration includes access to all Fall Into Democracy programming, including workshops, panels, actions, and socials and access to an event-exclusive Discord area to chat with other attendees. The first 50 registrations will also receive a free sheet of 4 "I VOTE" stickers.

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UPDATE (October 30):

We’re less than one week away from the 2020 United States presidential election! The Harry Potter Alliance’s Granger 2020 campaign has compiled valuable resources for voters to encourage them to exercise their constitutional right on November 3. Check out the press release below.

Press Release

Fans Come Together [t]o Inspire One Another [t]o Get Out [t]he Vote

It’s that time again: election season.

Fan activists across the country are coming together utilizing the power of storytelling to inspire future generations to get out and vote and support our country’s democracy.

Earlier this month, [t]he Harry Potter Alliance hosted its annual Fall Into Democracy event. This campaign brought together fans across various fandoms to explore the ways in which they can make a difference in the world around them.

Just like the heroes in their stories, 110 fan activists came together to harness the power of storytelling to create proclamations to encourage other activists to get involved and vote. Fans of Percy Jackson, Doctor Who, Avatar: The Last Airbender, [and] Marvel, among many others, came together to create proclamations for, and by, the fans to inspire those within their communities in hopes that these beloved stories can help reshape the future of our democracy.

The HPA believes that democracy thrives when voters are engaged, informed and imaginative. With that in mind, the HPA put together ample resources for voters as a part of its Granger 2020 campaign, which includes a Map to the Polls and Ballot Guide for potential voters.

Over the last year, [t]he HPA has connected over 110,000 fan activists with the tools that they need to cast their votes and make their voices heard in the upcoming election on November 3rd.

 

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