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SUMMARY:The Next Wave: New Leaders\, Real Change
DESCRIPTION:On Tuesday\, April 21\, Congressional candidates\, Shannon Bird (CO-8)\, Paige Cognetti (PA-8)\, and Nancy Lacore (SC-1)\, shared relatable stories in a powerful discussion moderated by Alli Peters of Majority Democrats. From voters struggling with rising costs and deepening distrust in government to a growing sense that leaders have lost touch\, no issue was off the table. The candidates pointed to stark examples—a senior forced to choose between groceries and medical care\, and communities demanding greater transparency—to underscore a consistent message: the country is facing a dual crisis of affordability and accountability. \nEach candidate emphasized practical leadership rooted in service—whether balancing budgets\, defending democratic institutions\, or putting people over special interests. They pushed back on extremism and highlighted the need to rebuild trust through responsiveness and results. \nThe throughline: change won’t come from Washington alone. Citizens are urged to take action—engage locally\, support candidates who reflect their values\, stay informed\, and speak up consistently. \nThe stakes are real\, and so is the opportunity—this moment demands participation\, not spectatorship. \n  \nABOUT THE SPEAKERS: \nShannon Bird\, raised by a hardworking single mother and grandmother\, understands the struggles families face and is committed to fighting for hardworking Coloradans. After a career in law and public service\, she became a strong advocate for equitable education and community empowerment. In the Colorado State House\, she has fought for job creation\, small businesses\, reproductive rights\, and climate action. Now\, she is running for Congress in Colorado’s Eighth District to defend democracy and ensure Colorado remains a place where everyone can achieve their dreams. \nMayor Paige Cognetti has built her career on making government more accountable\, transparent\, and responsive. After uncovering corruption as a state auditor and serving on the Scranton School Board\, she ran for mayor in 2019 as an Independent and won\, becoming the city’s first woman mayor. In office\, she has taken on special interests\, eliminated waste\, restored finances to investment grade\, secured over $155 million in funding\, and driven economic growth. She is now running for Congress to bring that commitment to Washington. \nNancy Lacore served for 35 years in the Navy\, beginning as a helicopter pilot and rising to three-star admiral and Chief of Navy Reserve\, leading more than 60\,000 sailors. Her career took her around the world\, grounded in family and a deep love of country. Following her father’s footsteps\, she earned an ROTC scholarship to the College of the Holy Cross and was commissioned after graduation. She and her husband Pat\, also a Navy pilot\, have been married 30 years and raised six children with a strong sense of service. \nAlli Peters is Chief Digital Officer at Majority Democrats and a director and editor based between Los Angeles and Madison\, Wisconsin. She most recently managed Adam Schiff’s successful U.S. Senate campaign. Her work focuses on reshaping how people perceive the Democratic Party: restoring trust through human\, optimistic storytelling that shows how politics can meaningfully improve people’s lives.
URL:https://bigtentusa.org/event/the-next-wave/
LOCATION:BigTent Zoom Room
CATEGORIES:BigTent Spotlight Speaker Series,BigTent Events,Preserving Democracy
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://bigtentusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Recap_Bird_Cognetti_Lacore.webp
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