Culture of Democracy Summit – Friday, June 10

Culture of Democracy Summit

Friday, June 10

Rewatch the Sessions:

All times listed are Pacific Standard Time.

9:00 am
Opening Remarks

  • Stephanie Young, Executive Director of When We All Vote
  • Kyle Lierman, CEO of Civic Nation
  • Valerie Jarrett, Board Chair at Civic Nation

9:05 am
Voting Leader Spotlight

Throughout the day, we will shine a spotlight on leaders who are running non-partisan voting organizations and highlight how you can get involved in the fight to ensure every American has equal access to the ballot box.

  • Andrea Hailey, CEO of Vote.Org

9:10 am
State of our Democracy: Where Are We Now?

This conversation will lay the foundation for the day and discuss the national landscape for voting and voting rights. 

  • Moderator: Astead Herndon, National Politics Reporter at the New York Times and CNN Political Analyst
  • Marc Elias, Founder of Democracy Docket
  • Sherrilyn Ifill, President and Director-Counsel Emeritus of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund

9:45 am
Voting Leader Spotlight 

  • Nsé Ufot, CEO of the New Georgia Project

9:50 am
State of our Democracy: What’s Happening on the Ground

This conversation will discuss what’s happening on the ground for voting rights in states experiencing voter suppression. 

  • Introduction: Jay Ellis, Actor
  • Moderator: Ari Berman, Award-winning Journalist and Senior Reporter for Mother Jones, Author of Give Us the Ballot: The Modern Struggle for Voting Rights in America (2015) and the first national reporter to cover voter suppression during the 2012 election
  • Tameika Atkins, Executive Director of ProGeorgia
  • Brianna Brown, Co-Executive Director of Texas Organizing Project
  • Juanica Fernandes, Executive Director of State Voices Florida
  • Judith LeBlanc, Director of Native Organizers Arizona

10:40 am
Voting Leader Spotlight

  • Maria Teresa Kumar, Founding President and CEO of Voto Latino

10:45 am
The State of Reproductive Rights

What does the impending Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision mean for reproductive rights? This panel will cover what’s happening on the ground and how groups are organizing in the states

  • Moderator: Jada Gomez, Executive Editor at POPSUGAR
  • Michelle Colon, Founder of SHEro Mississippi
  • Christina Soliz, Political Director of COLOR Colorado
  • Mini Timmaraju, President of NARAL Pro-Choice America

11:35 am
Voting Leader Spotlight

  • Cianti Stewart-Reid, Executive Director of Fair Fight

11:40 am
The State of Environmental Justice

From climate catastrophes to polluted air and toxic water, current and future generations are on the verge of experiencing irreversible environmental catastrophe. This panel will cover the state of environmental justice in America, particularly as it pertains to Black, Brown ,and Indigenous communities

  • Introduction: Liza Koshy, When We All Vote Co-Chair
  • Moderator: Nikhil Swaminathan, Editor in Chief & Interim CEO of Grist, a nonprofit, independent media organization dedicated to telling stories of climate solutions and a just future
  • Dr. Mustafa Ali, Vice President of Environmental Justice, Climate, and Community Revitalization at the National Wildlife Federation
  • Leah Thomas, Environmental Activist and Author
  • Allie Young, Founder of Protect the Sacred

12:30 pm
Voting Leader Spotlight

  • DeNora Getachew CEO of DoSomething, the largest nonprofit org exclusively for young people and social change

12:35 pm
From the Screen to the Streets: What Drives Gen Z to Action

Today’s young people are the most connected generation to date, and efforts to inform, organize and galvanize them demand an overhaul of traditional communications and outreach efforts. This panel will discuss what inspires young people to action and how to reach them

  • Introduction: Bretman Rock, WWAV Co-Chair and one of Time magazine’s 30 Most Influential Teens
  • Moderator: Judith Nwandu, Senior Associate Producer and Political Reporter at The Shade Room
  • Anto Chávez, Video Producer/Journalist United We Dream
  • Deja Foxx, Founder of Gen Z Girl Gang
  • David Hogg, Co-Founder & Board Member of March for Our Lives
  • Chelsea Miller, Co-Founder of Freedom March NYC

1:05 pm
Voting Leader Spotlight

  • Conor Sanchez O’Shea, Founder & CEO of  Up to Us, a collective of Gen Z creators, makers, and community builders dedicated to addressing some of the biggest challenges facing our generation.

1:10 pm
LUNCH BREAK 

2:00 pm
Voting Leader Spotlight

  • Cristina Tzintzun Ramirez, President of NextGen America

2:05 pm
Faith-led Change: How the Spiritual Community Inspires Movements

In this conversation, participants will discuss the critical role faith leaders have played in their communities to organize and get voters to the polls and how that role continues in 2022 and beyond. 

  • Introduction: Yvette Nicole Brown, Emmy-nominated actress, host, writer and producer who has publicly promoted civic engagement
  • Moderator: LaTosha Brown, Co-Founder of Black Voters Matter and award-winning organizer
  • Reverend William J. Barber II, Co-Chair of the Poor People’s Campaign
  • Bishop Reginald Jackson, Social Action Commission, African Methodist Episcopal Church
  • Ilyasah Shabazz, Award-winning Author, Professor, and daughter of Malcolm X

2:55 pm
Voting Leader Spotlight

  • Joshua Graham, CEO of Represent Us

3:00 pm The Power of the Pen: Music and Art’s Influence on Change 

Music has played a key role in social and political movements throughout history, and this conversation will focus on how artists, producers, and music industry executives leverage their impact to support lasting change.

  • Introduction: Common, Academy Award, Emmy and Grammy-winning artist, actor, author, and activist
  • Moderator: Valeisha Butterfield Jones, Co-President of The Recording Academy
  • Towalame Austin, Executive Vice President of Philanthropy and Social Impact at Sony Music Group
  • DJ D-Nice
  • Shawn Gee, President of Live Nation Urban

3:45 pm
Voting Leader Spotlight

  • Andy Bernstein, Co-Founder of Headcount

3:50 pm
Voting Leader Spotlight

  • Alexis Anderson-Reed, CEO of State Voices

3:55 pm
Map it Out: Gerrymandering’s Stronghold on Democracy

Gerrymandering is a consistent threat to Democracy. This conversation will break down how gerrymandering contributes to the polarization and dysfunction in our political system and steps to take to end map manipulation and finally have fair districts.

  • Introduction: Kerry Washington, When We All Vote Co-Chair
  • Moderator: Ana Navarro, Political Strategist and Commentator
  • Eric Holder, 82nd Attorney General of the United States and Chairman of All on the Line

4:30 pm
Closing Remarks

  • Stephanie Young, Executive Director of When We All Vote
to top