The College of Liberal Arts hosted CSU’s first-time, week-long Democracy Summit April 8-12 to help campus and community explore many facets of democracy. From exploring the meanings of democracy to building civic skills, from comedian W. Kamau Bell to political science scholar Robert Putnam, audiences heard, engaged and asked questions about democracy in the past and democracy now.
The Democracy Summit showcased how public universities can help improve the democratic health of their local community by involving students, faculty and staff, and community members in civic skill building and fostering healthy conversations about politics, justice and difference. More than 1,550 people attended the films, panels and workshops, with many repeat visitors from the community.
The Democracy Summit also gave CSU students and community members the opportunity to engage with well-known individuals with unique connections to democracy. President Amy Parsons facilitated a conversation about race, culture and democracy between herself, CSU students and W. Kamau Bell, an Emmy and Peabody award-winning comedian, director and producer.
Student participation was also a central theme of Robert Putnam’s closing keynote address. Speaking to an audience that exceeded the capacity of the scheduled ballroom, Putnam delivered an urgent yet hopeful message about how the future of our democracy depends on students’ engagement — with democratic institutions, community organizations and one another.
The Democracy Summit was a dynamic example of the role that public universities and the liberal arts play in fostering healthy democracy.
The Democracy Summit was funded by the College of Liberal Arts, the Thematic Year, an anonymous donation, Ram Events and a variety of departments in the College of Liberal Arts.