The CCDD Story

Concerned Citizens Defending Democracy (CCDD) is a network of some 40 citizens from across the country concerned with the state of democracy in our nation. Founded by Vivian Lowery Derryck, CCDD members include highly experienced and committed civic innovators — including senior business and nonprofit executives, attorneys, artists, peace activists, faith leaders, specialists in community dialogue, educators, and international development experts.

CCDD began meeting monthly in early 2020, initially with a focus on free and fair elections. The murder of George Floyd that May demonstrated once again the pervasive, systemic racism in our society and brought tens of millions of our fellow citizens into the streets in protest. We concluded that strengthening our democracy and promoting racial justice and reconciliation were inseparable. A fully functioning democracy requires inclusion of all members of society.

CCDD Roots: The 2013 Mali Presidential Election. Mali Watch ended after its goal was met: the restoration of democratic governance.

The Bridges Institute

CCDD is a project of The Bridges Institute (Bridges), a nonprofit that works to strengthen African governance and democracy. Bridges was also founded by Vivian Lowery Derryck. One of Bridges’ most successful programs has been the creation of a "watch" when an African democracy is in trouble. After the 2012 coup in Mali, Malian and international non-profits, businesspersons, civil society groups met and determined what the “watch” group could contribute to resolve the crisis and the criteria for the restoration of democracy.

The Mali Watch lasted nine years, building strong enduring partnerships with local groups and stressing the importance of sustained citizen engagement in restoring a failed democracy. In 2024, the government of Mali awarded Vivian Lowery Derryck the Knight of the National Order of Mali Medal in recognition of Bridges’ work to further Mali’s democracy.

With democracy in the United States at its own crossroads, the watch methodology seemed appropriate to the American context. That led CCDD to focus on ways to support enhanced citizen engagement through voting, advocacy, and the Stories of Local Activism project.