When Elise Britton talks about what shaped her commitment to civic life, she doesn't point to a class or a campaign. She points to the woman who raised her.

Her mother, aunt, and grandmother brought her along to the polls from a young age. They didn't just show her how to vote. They explained the privilege of it, and the adversity that generations of people overcame to win that right. Those early lessons stayed with her:

"It wasn't just about casting a ballot," Elise told us. "It was about understanding what it took to get there."

Now a third-year Political Science major at The Ohio State University, with minors in Social Justice Advocacy & Public Policy and Civic Engagement, Elise is one of three 2026 Summer Democracy Fellows heading to Washington, D.C. What drew her to the program wasn't just the chance to work on Capitol Hill. It was IDEA's mission itself, the work of keeping constituents and their representatives aligned, something she feels is more urgent than ever.

Elise is most passionate about equitable education, with a deep interest in social policy and public health. She sees these areas as deeply connected, and she brings a perspective grounded not in abstraction but in lived experience and community.

Heading into her summer in the nation's capital, Elise is looking forward to the challenge of working in a rigorous, fast-paced environment and to something she values just as much: building long-lasting connections with people she might never otherwise have crossed paths with.

When asked to describe herself in three words, Elise didn't hesitate: Empathetic, Passionate, and Zealous.

Stay tuned as we follow Elise's journey in Washington, D.C.