On November 14, a forum of experts convened at Trinity Church Wall Street in New York City to discuss the urgent need for adult civic skills training. The panelist and speakers all agreed that the dangers to our democracy were serious and no one election could solve them. They also agreed that there are pragmatic steps we can take to revitalize our democracy by getting off the sidelines, so we don’t leave the playing field to extremist agitators. “We can no longer afford to be a nation of citizen spectators,” said Harry Pozycki. “It’s time for responsible citizens to get in the game.”
The speakers were:
- Danielle Allen, James Bryant Conant University Professor at Harvard University and co-author of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences report on reinventing democracy for the 21st century;
- Jonathan Holloway, President, Rutgers University;
- Peter Levine, Founder, Tufts University Center for Civic Learning and Engagement;
- Harry Pozycki, Founder and Chair, The Citizens Campaign;
- Rogers M. Smith, Professor Emeritus of Political Science, University of Pennsylvania and former president of the American Political Science Association;
- Reverend DeForest Soaries Jr., former New Jersey Secretary of State; former chair of the United States Election Commission;
- Samantha Castro, Perth Amboy Civic Trustee and Perth Amboy Public Safety Advisory Council chair; and
- Darren “Freedom” Green, Trenton Civic Trustee, Community Liaison – Trenton Housing Authority