The first in a series highlighting ideas and insights from the 2026 OpportUNITY Summit.
What does democracy have to do with fighting poverty and expanding opportunity?
According to renowned civil rights lawyer and scholar Sherrilyn Ifill, quite a lot.
As part of the 2026 OpportUNITY Summit, Ifill joined community leaders from across the Philadelphia region for a timely conversation about the future of American democracy. As our nation approaches the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, she challenged us to think beyond elections and politics and consider the institutions, relationships, and responsibilities that make democracy possible.
"Democracies are not just people showing up and voting," Ifill said. "Our institutions are part of the ecosystems that uphold our democracies."
For United Way, that message resonates deeply. Expanding opportunity requires more than individual effort. It depends on strong communities, trusted institutions, civic participation, and a shared commitment to ensuring that everyone has the chance to thrive.
Drawing on key moments in our nation's history - from Reconstruction to the Civil Rights Movement - Ifill reminded us that democracy has never been static. It has evolved because people, organizations, and communities chose to expand who belongs and who has access to opportunity.
"The reset is all about reimagining who we are as citizens and what it means to be a citizen in a democracy," she said.
Her message was ultimately one of responsibility and possibility: that building a stronger democracy is not the work of any one leader or institution. It belongs to all of us.
As we continue working toward a region where every person can reach their full potential, that call to participation and shared responsibility remains as relevant as ever.