Reflecting, Recharging, And Getting Ready for What’s Ahead

Into the early hours of November 6, many of us felt frozen in disbelief as the reality of election night washed over us.

After months of tireless work to defend our democracy and our planet, we faced an outcome that underscored the steep challenges ahead. In the days that followed, we turned to one another—to grieve, to process, and to prepare ourselves. Through it all, we found a beacon in the enduring strength of this community.

In an email to supporters, Third Act’s CEO, Kafia Ahmed, shared a powerful reminder:

This work is not a sprint; it’s a marathon. To endure, we must not only remain open to discovering our unique gifts and talents but also take care of ourselves and lean on each other. Community is what brought me back from burnout. It’s what allowed me to plug into this fight more meaningfully. And it’s what will sustain us in the years ahead as we confront new and profound challenges.

At Third Act, we’ve taken this lesson to heart. Just last week, our team gathered for a staff retreat to reflect and recharge after the election season. Together, we reaffirmed our commitment to this work and started charting a path forward for 2025. It’s clear that this next phase will demand focus, strategy, and a collective endurance.

This was Third Act’s first presidential election cycle. But for our volunteers—elders who’ve lived through decades of history—this moment carries the wisdom of experience. They’ve seen movements thrive, falter, and rise again. That perspective will guide us as we step into the next phase of this fight with clear eyes and renewed resolve.

Together, over the past few months, we achieved extraordinary things:

• We built GrayPAC, a Political Action Committee, from the ground up channeling elder power for climate and democracy
• We sent hundreds of thousands of postcards to low-propensity voters, and registered thousands of new voters, ensuring their voices were a part of this crucial election
• We mobilized phone banks and canvassing teams in communities nationwide, directly reaching tens of thousands of voters
• We equipped dozens of volunteers with skills in nonviolent resistance, practicing them for the fights ahead in summer actions demanding banks stop funding fossil fuel expansion 
• We strengthened coalitions in key states during Silver Wave Tour with Bill McKibben, Rebecca Solnit, and special guests
• We learned together about the pivotal role of public utility commissions and how to hold them accountable––localized work which will be even more crucial in the next years

These accomplishments are the foundation for what comes next. The work we’ve done together has prepared us for the challenges ahead.  And while this preparation may not lessen the grief or anger, it does amplify our resolve. We are committed to a deliberate and steady approach––ensuring that our efforts are sustainable and impactful for the road ahead.

As  Rebecca Solnit wrote in The Guardian following the election:

I want to talk about being resolute and lining up resources, the way people generations ago laid up supplies for winter. Just like the fossil fuel industry loves doomers who give up on defeating it, so authoritarians love fear, surrender, people who’ve decided they’re already defeated, who are already afraid to resist. 

Now is the time to dig deep, share your talents, and ask how you can best serve your conscience by serving your neighbors and the most vulnerable among us. There’s a role for everyone.

Let’s keep moving forward, together.