Theory of Change

Three working-class women from across North Carolina take part in a bold grassroots experiment—testing whether ordinary people, not institutions or heroes, can reclaim democracy by uniting rural communities against a rising authoritarian threat.

"Theory of Change is an intimate, ensemble-driven documentary that follows three rural North Carolinians—Nicole, Dolly, and Shikara—as they step into political power at a moment when American democracy is backsliding. When Donald Trump wins a second term in November 2024, organizers at Down Home NC wake to a grim national reality—but also to the startling truth that their year-round organizing helped deliver every one of their statewide goals. They broke a Republican supermajority, defeated extremist Mark Robinson, and grew a multiracial working-class base across rural counties. The paradox sets the stage: in a moment of darkness, these three women choose to build. Nicole rises from a lifetime of instability to organize her community in Vance County;
Dolly mobilizes her Appalachian neighbors after Hurricane Helene;
Shikara helps defend local elections and expands access to food and care in Johnston County. We follow them across North Carolina—from flooded mountain towns to fast-growing suburbs to counties grappling with housing insecurity—witnessing the daily, difficult work of organizing in places too often ignored by national politics. This observational, ensemble-cast documentary explores the daring experiment of Down Home NC, a multiracial grassroots organization working to empower rural communities long written off by both parties. Through an intimate, character-driven lens, the film captures their attempt to bridge deep racial, economic, and cultural divides while pursuing their ambitious theory of change: a long-term vision for shifting power back into the hands of everyday people. Can this bottom-up attempt to rebuild democracy succeed in an era of polarization, disinformation, and political disillusionment? Without offering easy answers, Theory of Change presents a raw and hopeful glimpse into the messy, inspiring work of true multiracial democratic movement building. At its heart, the film is a story about the experiment itself—the possibility of finding common ground and reimagining the future of representative democracy in a nation on the edge."

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theoryofchangefilm

Director | Matthew Durning

Producer | Carey Kirk