Dahlia Hanson (she/her/ella)

For Dahlia, voting rights and immigration policy have never been abstract issues. Her dad was an immigrant who worked, paid taxes, raised a family, and built a life here but he could not vote on the decisions shaping that life and was later deported.

Growing up with that contradiction shaped how she thinks about civic participation today. She questions who gets a seat at the table, who is missing from the room, and who has to live with the decisions made there. This story is also a reminder that community power extends beyond elections through organizing, mutual aid, storytelling, advocacy, public testimony, and care.

If you have access to the ballot, don’t take it for granted. If you don’t, your experience, voice, and impact still matter. 💚🗳️

What makes politics personal for you?