“I really needed this positivity and community today.”

That’s what one participant shared with us after attending their first Power Rising Summer event—and they weren’t alone in that sentiment. We launched Power Rising Summer to provide people with a sense of purpose, clarity, and connection in these extraordinary, and often overwhelming, times. And Arena is delivering.

Over the past month, more than 1,000 people from all walks of life and all over the country have joined workshops, tuned into panels, and connected with organizations doing the work on the ground. And we’re just getting started.

What We’ve Done So Far

Since kicking off Power Rising Summer on June 4 with a launch call featuring surprise guests Congressman Maxwell Frost and State Senator Mallory McMorrow, we’ve held seven virtual events, delivered 72 one-on-one coaching sessions, and referred thousands of potential volunteers to partner organizations. Our programming has included:

Finding Yourself in the Movement: A hands-on session to help participants connect their skills and values to concrete ways to act. Watch the recording here!

Organizing Where You Live: A hands-on session to teach participants actionable steps to build local power and connect with their neighbors. Watch the recording here!

How to Fight Back Against Trump: A conversation about the threats we’re facing and what it will take to win, featuring former Wisconsin Lt. Governor Mandela Barnes, Dirt Road Organizing Founder Chloe Maxmin, New Disabled South Rising Executive Director Dom Kelly, SEIU Kayci Moodie, Portland City Council Member April Fournier, Battleground Texas Executive Director Terry Bermea, and Swing Left Executive Director Yasmin Radjy. Watch the recording here!

Innovations to Take Back Congress: A look at proven and new organizing and campaign strategies that will shape 2026, featuring Zoe Stein from Movement Labs and Contest Every Race, David Searle from Analyst Institute, Dalia Rodriguez from U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal’s Resistance Labs, and Shripal Shah from House Majority Project. Watch the recording here!

Arena Career Coaching Week: A full week of programming dedicated to helping campaign staff navigate the job market, network, and make strategic next steps in their careers.

Ranking the Vote: Lessons from NYC’s Mayoral Primary: A conversation exploring the results of the New York City Primary election and the impact ranked choice voting had on the strategies and outcomes. The panel featured Arena-trained staffer Andrew Epstein, Communications Director, Zohran for NYC; Rebecca Rodriguez, Campaign Manager, Lander for Mayor; Deb Otis, Director of Research and Policy, Fair Vote; and Susan Lerner, Executive Director, Common Cause New York. The panel was be moderated by Arena board member Meera Marti. Watch the recording here!

Our Impact So Far

Since we launched, 1,474 people have signed up for 3,281 seats at Power Rising Summer Events. This group has raised their hands 1,311 times to say that they wanted to be referred to a partner organization to get more deeply involved in the movement. Notably:

29% want to work on a campaign;
7% want to run for office;
36% want to volunteer locally; and
28% are looking for help to figure out how they can have the most impact

Every day, we’re connecting folks to the movements, campaigns, and causes that need them most.

This is how we scale power—by honing skills, building community, and guiding people from interest to action!

What Participants are saying

Our impact extends beyond the numbers. Here are some of the things participants are saying:

Arena, you are all amazing. There is so much value in each event you create.

Santiago really helped me figure out how I should position my skills and where I should look for roles.

I really enjoyed hearing from the panel about how RCV has been gaining popularity in NYC. Hearing about the 2021 initial RCV in NYC and how it has been used in primaries only there was informative. I live in Michigan, and there is momentum for a RCV ballot initiative.

Great Panel! Enjoyed the insights related to experimenting in the off-year cycle and being real about what reaches voters.

I learned about a lot of different organizations and amazingly was actually inspired despite the horrible times we’re living in.

It was really great to have an opportunity to speak with Myra about how my skills could translate into a new career in politics!

Highlights from the first month

What’s Next?

The best is yet to come! In July, we’ll host a book club discussion about the book Let This Radicalize You by Kelly Hayes and Mariame Kaba, a session with Google about Cybersecurity and Generative AI, a workshop about building local political pressure and more! And there’s more programming throughout August! You can find the full Power Rising Summer schedule here >>

Support Our Work

We keep every Power Rising Summer event free, because everyone deserves a place in this fight. But behind the scenes, it takes time, care, and resources to make that possible. From designing hands-on workshops, to coordinating inspiring panels, to offering one-on-one coaching, our team is working hard to meet this moment.

If you’ve found value in Power Rising Summer—or want to help someone else find their place in the movement—consider chipping in $5, $10, or $100 to help sustain this work.

Your donation helps us keep these spaces accessible, impactful, and full of possibility. Every bit makes a difference.