The Karsh Institute’s Democracy360 arrives at a pivotal moment as the United States approaches the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence—a chance to reflect on our founding ideals and imagine what the next 250 years could hold. As Americans raise urgent questions about the health and direction of democracy, the Karsh Institute’s signature event brings together voices from a variety of perspectives to confront these questions, wrestle with competing ideas, and envision a democracy strong enough to thrive for generations to come.
Over three days, October 15–17 in Charlottesville, Democracy360 will bring together thought leaders, journalists, policymakers, scholars, artists, and students of all ages to explore democracy’s challenges and to imagine bold, future-oriented solutions.
“As we near the nation’s 250th anniversary, we have an extraordinary opportunity not just to reflect on the ideals that launched the American experiment, but to consider what those founding principles mean in the 21st century and for building the next 250 years,” said Melody Barnes, executive director of the Karsh Institute. “Democracy360 is designed to create space for thoughtful engagement and meaningful action.”
"We have an extraordinary opportunity not just to reflect on the ideals that launched the American experiment, but to consider what those founding principles mean in the 21st century and for the next 250 years,” said Melody Barnes.
A multi-day, biennial event, Democracy360 welcomes back The Atlantic as Democracy360’s official media partner and VPM as distribution partner, ensuring the conversations reach audiences across Virginia and the nation.
The Path Ahead at 250
The convening opens with “Becoming America: Past, Promise, and the Path Ahead at 250,” a powerful exploration of the nation’s founding. The evening will feature an exclusive advance screening of Ken Burns’ upcoming PBS documentary The American Revolution, followed by a panel discussion on what the Revolution was really about and how its ideals and contradictions resonate today.
The content of the evening also connects directly to a national broadcast this fall on PBS. On November 24, immediately following The American Revolution premiere, Barnes will cohost A More Perfect Union: Inspiring Civic & Civil Conversations Across America. The special, part of PBS’s America @ 250 initiative, features Barnes and National Constitution Center President Jeffrey Rosen in conversation with Burns, Yuval Levin of the American Enterprise Institute, and other experts, exploring the enduring significance of America’s founding values and how they continue to shape debate today.
Founding Questions, Contemporary Challenges
As the country approaches its 250th year, many of the issues faced by our country’s founders remain central: the execution of the rule of law; the relationship between individuals, the government, and the economy; and the nation’s role in the world. Tested and redefined over two and a half centuries, those issues remain at the core of many of today’s debates.
Democracy360 builds on this legacy by exploring how foundational questions resonate in contemporary life. Public sessions such as Building the American Dream: Work, Tech, and Community in a Shifting Economy will examine how technological change, economic mobility, and the meaning of work are reshaping opportunity in 21st-century America. Guardrails of Democracy: The Law, Institutions, and the American Experiment will ask how the Constitution, courts, and civic norms adapt in moments of strain. And in Stories that Bind Us: A Conversation With Beth Macy, the acclaimed author will reflect on how economic upheaval, cultural tensions, and polarization have transformed both her Ohio hometown and the nation.
The convening also reaches into the present with Washington Week with The Atlantic @D360, a special Democracy360 edition of PBS News’ flagship program. Moderated by Jeffrey Goldberg, the session will focus on national security and foreign affairs, probing how America engages with the world at a time of geopolitical change and what role the United States should play in global democracy. Livestreamed nationwide, it ensures that Democracy360’s conversations resonate far beyond Charlottesville.
A Place for Action
Democracy360 is designed to be more than a series of talks. What makes it distinctive are its participatory “Join the Conversation” events and working sessions, which invite attendees to engage directly with one another.
“Declaration Next,” a day-and-a-half working session that brings together students from colleges and universities across Virginia will be a vibrant and important part of the convening. Hosted in partnership with Monticello and More Perfect, and supported by Lumina Foundation, students will be asked to immerse themselves in the history of the founding while drafting a “Declaration for the Future of American Democracy.”
During the session, students will gain historical context from leading scholars, practice civic skills, and collaborate across campuses and backgrounds. Their work will help shape future efforts to expand student-led civic learning and engagement in high schools, community colleges, and intergenerational settings across the country.
Looking Ahead
In its second year, Democracy360 continues to affirm the Karsh Institute’s mission: to bring people together to generate ideas and solutions that build a better democracy for all. By connecting the nation’s founding with engagement around today’s most pressing issues, Democracy360 challenges participants to think boldly about the next 250 years.
Democracy360 events are free and open to the public. Tickets are available now through the Paramount Theater box office.