The Obama Foundation Democracy Forum

[brooklynite]

On November 17 in New York City, the Obama Foundation in partnership with Columbia University and the University of Chicago will host a global convening focused on the ideas that are essential to our democracy.

Tune in to the live stream of the Democracy Forum right here on Thursday, November 17 and join the conversation online using #DemocracyForum.

At a time when democracy is under threat around the world, the promise and potential of the next generation of leaders is more important than ever. The Forum will bring attention to the biggest challenges democratic institutions face today and showcase democracy in action around the world. We will bring together hundreds of emerging leaders from across Obama Foundation programs, leading experts, and practitioners who are reimagining our institutions and protecting democratic values.

The best chance we have to solve our greatest challenges is to solve them together. We hope you’ll join us.

OBAMA FOUNDATION DEMOCRACY FORUM AGENDA

12:35PM ET | Welcome
Obama Foundation leadership, alongside partners Columbia University and University of Chicago, welcome guests to the Forum.

Speakers:
Lee C. Bollinger, President, Columbia University
Dr. Paul Alivisatos, President, University of Chicago
Valerie Jarrett, CEO, Obama Foundation

12:45PM ET | Panel: Tackling Disinformation, Protecting Democracy

Speakers:
Renee DiResta, Stanford Internet Observatory (moderator)
Nikole Hannah-Jones, Howard University
Anil Dash, CEO, Glitch
Zeynep Tufekci, Craig Newmark Professor of Journalism and Director of the Craig Newmark Center for Journalism Ethics and Security

1:45PM ET | Lightning Talk: Dismantling Hate in the Digital Age

Speaker:
Vidhya Ramalingam, CEO Moonshot, United Kingdom, Obama Europe Leader 2020

1:50PM ET | Lightning Talk: Youth and the Future of Democracy

Speaker:
Cathy Cohen, Professor of Political Science, UChicago

1:55PM ET | Lightning Talk: Lessons from New York and Chicago

Speakers:
Will Howell, Founder and director of UofC Center for Effective Government, UChicago
Dr. Anael Alston, Assistant Commissioner, NY State Dept of Education

2:25PM ET | Fireside Chat: Embracing a Culture of Democracy
A conversation on the benefits of a democratic culture, and the importance of demonstrating democracy’s value again and again.

Speakers:
Ben Rhodes, Former Deputy National Security Advisor, Obama Administration
Alex Soros, Deputy Chair, Open Society Foundations

2:35PM ET | Panel: Pluralism, Identity, and Democracy
With polarization increasing in democracies across the globe, how can leaders across sectors work to advance a sense of belonging, resiliency, and connection among disparate groups within communities and nations? As societies become more diverse, what are the tools, resources, and policies that can help us break through the limitations of identity politics and build a unifying political identity rooted in our common values?

Speakers:
Jelani Cobb, Professor of Journalism, Columbia University
Tabata Amaral, representative, lower house, National Congress of Brazil
Jana Kobzova, foreign policy advisor to Slovak President Zuzana Caputova
Yascha Mounk, writer and academic
Ben Rhodes, moderator

3:30PM ET | Lightning Talks: Democracy and Climate Change

Speakers:
Juan Carlos Monterrey Gómez UChicago Scholar (Panama)
Peggy Shepard, We Act for Economic Justice (Harlem)
Dr. Austin J. Shelton, Director, University of Guam Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant and Steering Committee Co-Chair of Guam Green Growth

4:15PM ET | Panel: Toward a More Inclusive Capitalism
A conversation on the resources and approaches at hand to build more inclusive economies—making sure every person from every walk of life has a fair shot and can participate fully in their democracy.

Speakers:
Austan Goolsbee, Professor, University of Chicago (moderator)
Rep. Ro Khanna, House of Representatives (D-California)
Dr. Dambisa Moyo, author, “Edge of Chaos: Why Democracy is Failing To Deliver Economic Growth – And How to Fix It”
Mariana Mazzucato, Professor UCL, and author of Mission Economy: a moonshot guide to changing capitalism

5:10PM ET | President Obama in Conversation with Obama Foundation Leaders
President Obama gives remarks on the state of democracy around the world and the importance of a new generation of leaders to safeguard institutions and build a more sustainable future. He then joins a conversation with emerging Obama Foundation leaders from across the globe.

Speakers:
President Obama
Introducer: Gift Ostallos Siziba, Africa Leader 2022
Doussouba Konaté, Mali, Africa Leader 2022
Natalia Herbst, Argentina, Columbia Scholar 2019-2020
Landisang Kotaro, Palau, Asia-Pacific Leader 2022
Nick Antipov, Belarus, Europe Leader 2020

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[mcar]

1. This looks like an amazing forum! nt