Future of American Democracy Series Announces Spring Event Lineup

NEWS RELEASE

Princeton Theological Seminary’s Future of American Democracy series continues this spring with two in-person events designed to engage broader communities with timely questions about our civic life together. The first half of the series, which debuted in October 2022, focused on the challenge of hyper-polarization and how this phenomenon affects not just high politics but also the texture of everyday life, including where Americans choose to live, shop, and worship. In 2023, the focus now turns to institutions and the role they might play in shaping our future.

The Future of Civil Rights with Sherrilyn Ifill, March 22 at 5:30 p.m. EST

Across society, and especially among younger generations, trust in institutions is waning — and at the very same moment when many are worried about the erosion of civil rights. As we look to the future, can established institutions deliver the change we need? Will new grassroots movements break through? What role might churches and other faith-based institutions play in building a better society? How can we achieve a country that makes good on the promise of "liberty and justice for all"? Explore these questions and more in conversation with civil rights champion Sherrilyn Ifill.

Faltering Faith in Institutions: A Panel Conversation
Featuring Jamelle Bouie, Walter Kim, and Shannon Watts, April 13 at 5:30 p.m. EST

This conversation brings together three individuals known for creative thought and distinguished leadership when it comes to the role of institutions in our society. This wide-ranging conversation will offer insight and new vantage points on the way we work with, within, and around institutions to build the future we want.

Dr. Heath W. Carter, associate professor of American Christianity at Princeton Theological Seminary, continues in his role as moderator for the series. "At a moment when our students and alums are, like millions across the nation, asking whether institutions can deliver the future we hope for," Carter shares. "I am excited to be in conversation with a wide range of brilliant leaders— each shaping institutions to address critical issues in our society—who are well poised to help us find answers."

Distinguished guests for this phase of the series include:

• Sherrilyn Ifill, former president and director-counsel, NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund
• Jamelle Bouie, New York Times columnist
• Walter Kim, president, National Association of Evangelicals
• Shannon Watts, founder, Moms Demand Action

Both events are held at the Wright Library (25 Library Place, Princeton, NJ), open to the public, and free of charge; registration is required. To secure tickets for the events, find additional details on the guests, and stay up to date on the complete series, go to bit.ly/FOADseries.

Catch up with the series so far

This fall, the Future of American Democracy series featured a wide range of voices and engaging ideas. View highlights below, and be sure to check out the complete series at bit.ly/FOADseries.