Hello! My name is Zen, a 2025 addition to Democracy NC’s Friendternship, and I’m raising $500 to start a community education initiative called L.E.A.D. (Learn, Engage, Act, Disrupt). This program is all about teaching high school through college students in Eastern North Carolina the importance of civil disobedience and how to properly and safely engage with protesting.

The youth of America for generations have fought for a better future. However, many of our teens and young adults fallen victim to either a fear that advocacy will lead to life-altering consequences, or have already become victims of violent or legal actions. That’s where L.E.A.D. comes in. This August, Brianna Howard and Zen Sauatl will set out and  visit educational institutions to teach students how to organize effectively, know their rights, and safely navigate the rapidly changing world of politics. The organizers, politicians, and scholars of the next generation cannot change the world from a jail cell. Your support will help Democracy NC create a space where students can learn from history, connect with each other, and walk away with the confidence to take action whether through protest, policy, or organizing in their own schools and neighborhoods.

If you believe in the power of protesting with purpose, and in investing in young leaders, we’d love your support.

Thank you for helping us aid a new generation of disruptors, the ones who are ready to lead.

L.E.A.D.

Learn, Engage, Act, Disrupt

From passion to power. Raising up leaders who LEARN the truth, ENGAGE their communities, ACT with purpose, and DISRUPT with strategy.