(Hartford, Connecticut) – Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas delivered a powerful call to action at Wednesday night’s Aurora Luminary Celebration, urging attendees to embrace civic engagement and recognize their own power to lead.

Speaking to a crowd of nearly 400, including corporate leaders, lawmakers, and young women from across the state, Thomas shared her personal journey from a shy, working-class child to a nonprofit executive and now Connecticut’s chief elections official.

“I didn’t grow up thinking I’d run for office,” she said. “But I started paying attention, asking questions, and getting involved. And when no one else stepped up, I realized maybe I was the one I was looking for.”

Thomas emphasized that civic participation doesn’t require expertise — just the willingness to show up and speak out. “Our representative democracy only works if we all take part,” she said. “You don’t have to be an expert. You just need to be present.”

She then turned to a question she hears often: Is our democracy in real trouble? “I have my concerns,” she said, “but I remind people that in a representative democracy, it’s the people who rule. So, I ask them — what are you doing to make sure it’s not in trouble?”

Too often, she said, that question is met with silence. “Many people haven’t stopped to think about their obligations. Or worse, they’re waiting for someone to tell them what to do — or they’ve convinced themselves that nothing they do will matter.”

Thomas pushed back on that mindset, reminding the audience that history tells a different story. “It doesn’t matter what age you are, what you do for a living, or how much education you have. Our voices matter. Our actions shape our communities. Women’s rights, civil rights, gay rights, labor rights, disability rights, voting rights — none of those movements started with permission. They started with people who believed their voices could make a difference.”

She closed by encouraging young women in the room — including participants in Aurora’s Young Women’s Initiative — to lead with authenticity and courage. “Confidence is contagious,” she said. “And together, we can build something stronger than any one of us could build alone.”

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