Take a deep breath...

Hey there!

One of my goals for January was to clean up my inbox. Because for me, digital messiness makes my head feel...messy.

With that, keeping up with all the news — and, as democracy people, needing to perhaps respond — is exhausting. More on this below, but let me posit this: a deep breath is a powerful thing!

Anyway, onto the Encore!

Democracy Notes Encore 1/29/25

• 🎮 I'm going to be vulnerable here and admit that I...am a gamer 🤭...which is why I can attest to how online gaming spaces can feel both safe and toxic. Check out RUSI Europe 's latest report looking at the relationship between gaming, gender, and discrimination across seven countries. (Thanks Galen Lamphere-Englund for sharing!)
• AI makes me feel a range of confused emotions, which is why I love to keep up with Omidyar Network . CEO Michael Kubzansky and AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler write for Fast Company on bringing labor unions to the table when it comes to AI's future.
• Managing stress while staying informed can be... stressful😟 Journalist Rebecca M. Knight has some tips on keeping up with headlines without getting overwhelmed, via Harvard Business Review .
• 🎙️ Daniel Stid joins Rhodri Davies of the Philanthropisms podcast to talk philanthropy, pluralism, and democracy. Listen here (and scroll for a bunch of other great resources!).
• Reimagining the Civic Commons pulled together a gorgeous and hopeful photo series 📷from 10 civic commons efforts around the nation. Featuring Live6 Alliance - Detroit , Southern Center for Choice Theory , City of Memphis , The Center for Transformative Urban Design , and more!

Who am I?

I'm Jake Gómez, self-dubbed democracy squire🤺. I work with Gabe and the team to bring you all the best intel on the US democracy space via Democracy Notes Encore.

But that's just here. For those new to what we do, Democracy Notes (on Substack) is where we curate a weekly email with the best funder intel, job postings, articles, and events that we find.

Our goal is to be a thoughtful steward of your attention, your most valuable resource.

Outside of Democracy Notes, I'm a communications consultant, current Fulbright Scholar to Tunisia, and co-founder of a news app for young people, Newsreel.

If you'd like to connect or you'd like to see something included in the newsletter, DM me directly or reach out to Gabe at Gabe@Democracy-Notes.org.