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September's jobs report came in. The economy added 29,000 jobs, while the unemployment rate ticked up to 4.2 percent. The report marked a shift from last month's painting a mixed picture of the labor market. Still, jobs and topline unemployment only tell part of the story. A strong labor market should do more than create jobs. A strong labor market should do more than create jobs. It should mean workers are better able to meet their needs and share in economic growth.

Washington, D.C. – A new case study released by Dēmos examines the Arabic-language voting access initiatives in Michigan that have played a critical role in expanding ballot language options for limited-English-proficient (LEP) voters who fall outside the federal Voting Rights Act’s language-assistance requirements.

Introduction Language assistance is essential to ensure that voters who lack English proficiency can participate fully in our democracy. Since the federal Voting Rights Act (VRA) was amended to include language assistance provisions in 1975, many voters throughout the country have had access to translated election materials and interpreter services. This assistance has led to higher rates of voter registration and voter turnout in many communities.

We are in a contest for power. And we have been here many times before. In the pursuit of collective liberation, freedom fighters have always been forced to confront cycles of white-led backlash, and today is no different. American history is defined by periods of progress that inherently clash with the engineers of white supremacy, patriarchy, and xenophobia.

The latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that the unemployment rate fell slightly to 4.1 percent in July. Someone glancing quickly at the headline might assume that falling unemployment means rising hiring. But falling unemployment rates can also mean that more people are exiting the labor force altogether. Black women have historically had relatively high rates of participation, making their recent decline worth examining.

Executive Summary In 2025, New Mexico became the first state in the nation to offer universal child care, culminating a more than decade-long effort led by a broad coalition of advocates, parents, educators, and community organizations. This case study examines how movement organizations in New Mexico successfully led the fight for one of the most ambitious social policy victories in the country despite significant financial, political, and structural barriers.

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In this moment of democratic crisis, a Third Reconstruction is necessary to complete the unfinished work of the first two Reconstructions. This series explores what it will take to build a new era of racial justice, radical citizenship, and genuine multiracial democracy. In November 2025, we launched a six-week series, co-produced and published by Nonprofit Quarterly, featuring articles by labor leaders, grassroots organizers, philanthropic innovators, and democracy defenders.

The right to vote must be protected. Big money must be purged from our politics. The democratic process must serve our diverse electorate. Demos strives to create a democracy rooted in racial equity and shaped by voters, not dollars. We have helped get 3 million low-income voters registered at DMVs and public agencies.