Frances Moore Lappé and Anna Lappé founded the Small Planet Institute in 2001. Small Planet Institute's mission is to spread (via writing, speaking, and social media) an empowering understanding of democracy as the wide dispersion of power, transparency in public affairs, and a culture of mutual accountability. We call it Living Democracy, enabling each of us to act effectively on emerging solutions from electoral politics and economic life to the environment, hunger, agriculture, and beyond.Our vision is thus a future where all communities are thriving with dignity as Living Democracies, fulfilling our essential needs for personal power, meaning, and connection.