SOUNDING THE ALARM: Pride, Power & the People Who Tell the Truth - Friday Power Lunch

This week’s Friday Power Lunch focuses on the people willing to speak up, sound the warning, protect vulnerable communities, and refuse silence during dangerous moments for democracy. As Pride Month begins, we will connect the growing concerns around accountability, immigration detention, attacks on oversight, and the erosion of public trust in institutions with the work of whistleblowers, advocates, organizers, and community leaders who continue to stand up for truth and human dignity. RSVP at https://tinyurl.com/FPL2026a

This conversation asks an important question: Who tells the public what is really happening when systems stop protecting people? Whistleblowers do. Advocates do. Communities do. Throughout history, LGBTQ+ communities have understood this deeply. Pride itself began as protest, visibility, resistance, and the refusal to disappear quietly. This week’s guests embody that spirit of courage and action in very different but deeply connected ways.

Dana Gold, Senior Director of Advocacy & Strategy, Government Accountability Project. The Government Accountability Project is one of the nation’s leading whistleblower protection organizations. Dana has spent more than 30 years working with whistleblowers who exposed risks and abuses involving nuclear safety, food safety, climate science censorship, banking fraud, illegal surveillance, immigration detention, and threats to democracy.

Evelyn BruMar, Executive Director & Founder of Casa BruMar Foundation. Evelyn is one of Virginia’s leading LGBTQ+ advocates and community leaders. As Pride Month begins, she joins us to discuss dignity, visibility, belonging, and protecting LGBTQ+ communities during a time of escalating political attacks targeting identity, education, healthcare, and public life.

BIG TEN Women’s Summit Preview. In our final segment, we shift into BIG TEN Women’s Summit season as we celebrate ten years of grassroots organizing, movement building, creativity, activism, and community. We will preview this year’s BIG TEN Women’s Summit in Tysons, VA from Aug 21-23, including the SHOP • LIVE • VOTE Your Values Expo, Friday Power Lunch LIVE, movement storytelling, organizing spaces, networking, music, and community-building experiences designed to energize and connect people for the work ahead. Register for our 10th Women's Summit with early bird pricing until June 15 at networknova.org/ws2026/

This year’s Summit theme says it all: SHOW UP • POWER UP • FIGHT BACK! RSVP for the Friday Power Lunch zoom podcast at tinyurl.com/FPL2026a