The groundswell and impetus toward democratic innovation will once again reverberate through the halls of Colorado State University as it prepares to host its renowned Democracy Summit on March 5-7. Featured prominently among the slate of esteemed speakers is economist Darrick Hamilton and NCAA President Charlie Baker, according to Colorado State University’s College of Liberal Arts. The summit, free and open to the public, invites the campus and community to a thought-provoking symposium of panels, research presentations, and a documentary screening centered on democratic principles and practices.
Last year's inaugural event attracted more than 1,500 members of the CSU and local community, showcasing the university’s commitment to fostering conversations critical for the democratic health of society, and this year's iteration aims to build upon that momentum with a theme honed in on democratic innovation. Central to the event is the engagement of CSU scholars deeply involved in research that supports democratic progress; Greg Dickinson, Joe Blake Center Director and co-chair of the CLA Steering Committee on Democracy, has been quoted as saying "The Democracy Summit will offer us a powerful opportunity to showcase that research and build deeper ties among scholars and artists," as reported by the Colorado State University’s College of Liberal Arts.
Among the highlights, the event boasts an opening keynote by Darrick Hamilton titled "Democracy, Race and Economic Inclusion: A Vision for a Human Rights Economy," setting the stage at 5:20 p.m. on Wednesday, March 5, after a reception. Hamilton, known for his work as Henry Cohen Professor of Economics and Urban Policy and founding director of the Institute on Race, Power and Political Economy at The New School for Social Research, recently added AFL-CIO chief economist to his roster of roles. Also on the docket is the Bernie Rollin Memorial Lecture delivered by Lori Gruen, concerning "Animal Dignity," elaborating on themes intersecting philosophy, gender studies, and animal welfare. A myriad of presentations by CSU faculty and students are on the schedule, along with a special screening of "CSU: The Democracy Project," a peek into the university's engagement with democratic exploration.
A session not to be missed includes a discussion with the NCAA's Charlie Baker alongside CSU President Amy Parsons, penciled in for Friday, March 7; Baker, a former Massachusetts governor and Harvard athlete, pivoted to the NCAA's presidency at a time ripe for reformation, his agenda stamped with the need to modernize the college sports model, secure its growth, and connect with essential communities. Further enriching the dialogues will be keynote talks from figures like Lee Drutman, offering an alternative perspective on American politics with "Building Back a Better Democracy-Breaking the Two-Party Doom Loop," a topic in tune with his advocacy for electoral reforms as co-founder of Fix Our House and the Center for Ballot Freedom, and his role as a senior fellow at New America.
