New Platform Launches to Help Americans Participate in Democracy

Sacramento, CA, February 09, 2026 --(PR.com)-- As political anxiety rises across the United States, many Americans want to engage—but don’t know how. With primary and midterm elections approaching this year, confusion around the process continues to suppress participation.

That’s where SparkCivic.org comes in. Built by founder Sara Lashanlo, the platform is designed to connect civic education and engagement simply and seamlessly. Lashanlo has also launched the SparkCivic podcast, available on Spotify.

“SparkCivic is a way to channel people’s frustrations with and worries about the world into impactful, everyday actions—in a very supported way,” Lashanlo says.

After an unsuccessful but formative 2022 run for local office in California, Lashanlo set out to build a civic-engagement platform that bridges the gap between “thousands of nonprofits doing incredible work in politics and the millions of Americans who don’t know where to begin.”

“The civic ecosystem is strong but fragmented,” Lashanlo says. “SparkCivic helps stitch it together and help people build civic habits that last.”

At the center of the platform is a five-step Civic Apprenticeship designed to help users move from confusion to confidence in about 20 minutes. The process includes assessing civic knowledge, discovering nonpartisan organizations, identifying elected representatives, preparing for upcoming elections, and crafting a personal civic plan.

To encourage long-term engagement, SparkCivic also offers a civic habit calendar with daily five-minute actions designed to fit easily into everyday life and build strong civic skills.

SparkCivic is a volunteer initiative for Lashanlo, a 31-year-old Cal Poly San Luis Obispo graduate with a degree in mechanical engineering and professional experience in both the medical device and national security sectors.

The nonprofit is now beginning its fundraising campaign; all donations are tax-deductible.

Lashanlo emphasizes that SparkCivic is not a political news outlet. “We’re an onramp,” she says. “Our goal is to help people get their bearings, build civic literacy, and understand how to participate in democracy. SparkCivic is a first step for people who want to make a difference.”