Democracy Forum 2023
The 2023 Democracy Forum gathers experts, leaders, and young people for a day-long event focused on safeguarding democracy and exploring the impact of generative AI, deep fakes, misinformation, and social media's impact on mental well-being.
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About the 2023 Democracy Forum
As President Obama always says, the story of America is a story of progress, rooted in the great gift of our democracy—but we can’t afford to take either for granted. Both progress and our democracy itself are fragile. They depend on our constant engagement. And for all the true progress we have made together, there’s so much more we need to do to build an economy that’s fairer, a society that’s more just, a union that’s more perfect, and a democracy that not only weathers challenging times, but reflects changing ones. That’s why we’re bringing together leaders at this year's Forum who are focused on cultivating a healthier discourse, building a more inclusive economy, reinvigorating institutions to encourage active citizenship, and promoting democratic culture around the world.
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Show your support with t-shirts, mugs, and vintage gear.
Obama Foundation Shop (Opens in a new tab)Today, technology is poised to fundamentally transform how we work, communicate, and connect in American society—and once again, our democracy hangs in the balance. At this year's Democracy Forum, President Obama will join activists, thought leaders, and changemakers to discuss the challenges that innovations like AI pose to economic and social inclusion, and what we can do about it. After all, when it comes to our democratic future, there’s no sideline to sit on.
Highlights
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1/24
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2/24
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3/24
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4/24
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5/24
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6/24
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7/24
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8/24
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9/24
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10/24
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11/24
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12/24
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13/24
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14/24
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15/24
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16/24
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17/24
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18/24
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19/24
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20/24
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21/24
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22/24
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23/24
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24/24
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Speakers
Agenda
Obama Foundation CEO Valerie Jarret introduces the topics of the 2023 Democracy Forum and how they connect to the work of the Obama Foundation and its network to strengthen democracy around the world.
Technology is creating new and innovative ways for us to connect to the global society. However, research shows that alongside the growth of social platforms, our feelings of loneliness and isolation have reached unprecedented levels. In a candid conversation, panelists talk honestly about the real-world impacts of our online lives and how we can build meaningful connections and communities that contribute to an inclusive, democratic society.
Join the News Literacy Project to learn new skills to add to your toolkit so you can tell the difference between fact and fiction whenever and wherever you are online.
Media experts and journalists dive into the world of local news, the role that it plays as democracy’s immune system, and a much-needed plan to revitalize local news and journalism for the future, including reaching significant milestones by 2026—the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States.
Join Emma Grede, CEO and Co-Founder of Good American, Founding Partner of SKIMS, and Chairwoman of The Fifteen Percent Pledge, in conversation with Wemimo Abbey, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Esusu, Inc, as these global business leaders from the investment and retail sectors share how they are leveraging their own diverse backgrounds to develop inclusive business models that promise to broaden economic opportunities and foster change across industries.
President Obama delivers remarks on how technological innovations including AI impact the future of work and how economic inclusion is fundamental to safeguarding and expanding democracy in countries around the world. The President will be introduced by Aleena Agrawal, 2021-2022 UChicago Scholar.
Building on President Obama’s remarks, economist and Professor of Economics and Public Policy at the University of Michigan Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy Betsey Stevenson will host a lively discussion between leaders from the business world and progressive labor advocates to explore practical and principled approaches to creating more fairness and equal opportunity in our increasingly digitally-driven economy.
In a thought-provoking conversation, speakers from government, the tech industry, and academia delve into both the challenges associated with the use of statistical machine learning and the opportunities it presents to protect, strengthen, and expand a healthy democratic society.
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Take a look back at the 2022 Democracy Forum
At the first-ever Obama Foundation Democracy Forum in New York City, President Obama delivered remarks on how we can preserve and strengthen democracy around the world. He then joined global leaders and changemakers to hear their perspectives and learn the work they're doing to expand democracy.
See the highlightsSponsors
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Thank you to the 2023 Democracy Forum Sponsors: The Parker Foundation (Opens in a new tab), MacArthur Foundation (Opens in a new tab), Joyce Foundation (Opens in a new tab), Knight Foundation (Opens in a new tab), and The Sachs Family Foundation.