Obama Foundation Announces Agenda, Speaker Lineup for its First-Ever Democracy Forum
November 10, 2022 at 11:00 AM CST
Today the Obama Foundation announced the agenda and speaker lineup for its first-ever Democracy Forum in New York City on Thursday, November 17. President Obama will deliver closing remarks and join emerging leaders from the Obama Foundation’s global network in conversation about the state of global democracy and the promise and potential of the next generation of leaders.
The slate of speakers represent a diverse mix of leading experts and thought leaders alongside practitioners who are working to strengthen and expand democracy across the globe. The Forum will explore the issues critical to strengthening democracy, and highlight leaders who are on the frontlines of democracy and offering models of hope including the four areas President Obama has outlined as areas of focus to strengthen democracy: 1) Detoxifying our discourse, 2) Developing models for a more sustainable and inclusive system of capitalism, 3) Revitalizing our institutions so that people believe participation is worth the effort, and 4) Building democratic culture.
The full list of speakers and the agenda for the Forum can be found at https://www.obama.org/discover/stories/democracy-forum-2022/.
MEDIA RSVP: Media interested in covering the entire first day of the Forum, some of the first day, or just the President’s remarks should fill out THIS FORM (Opens in a new tab) no later than Monday, November 14 at 12 PM ET. Space is limited and you will be notified whether or not you are credentialed with additional logistics.
BACKGROUND ON THE DEMOCRACY FORUM
On Thursday, November 17, the Obama Foundation will host its first-ever Democracy Forum in partnership with Columbia University and the University of Chicago at the Javits Center in New York City. Against the backdrop of democratic backsliding across the globe, we know that if we want democracy to flourish, we will have to fight for it, we will have to nurture it, and we will have to demonstrate its value, again and again, in improving the lives of ordinary people. The Forum will bring together emerging leaders from across Obama Foundation programs with leading experts and practitioners who are reimagining our institutions and strengthening democratic values across the globe.
The Forum will consist of two days of programming. The first day will be open to press featuring remarks from President Obama, lightning talks by subject matter experts about projects and models that are working, and discussions with established experts and emerging leaders about the ways in which we all can work towards strengthening and expanding democracy across the globe.
The convening will bring together hundreds of emerging leaders from across Obama Foundation programs, including Scholars at Columbia University and the University of Chicago; Leaders from Africa and Asia-Pacific, the inaugural class of 100 Voyager Scholarship recipients, the Obama-Chesky Scholarship for Public Service, and additional program alumni.
On the second day of the Forum, Obama Foundation program participants from across the globe will meet in smaller working groups with democracy experts and President Obama to collaborate and exchange ideas on real-world approaches to the challenges democracy faces today.
WHEN: Thursday, November 17, 2022
TIME: 12:30 PM – 6:00 PM ET
LOCATION: Javits Center (445 11th Ave, New York, NY 10001)
MEDIA RSVP: Media interested in covering the entire first day of the Forum, some of the first day, or just the President’s remarks should fill out THIS FORM (Opens in a new tab) no later than Monday, November 14 at 12 PM ET. Space is limited and you will be notified whether or not you are credentialed with additional logistics.
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Contact: Gloria Nlewedim, press@obama.org