Past Events Archive

Faculty experts will expand on key concepts from the Democracy and Civic Engagement Teach-Out®, including how governments and elections work, how people and communities influence public decisions, the role of information and media, and the challenges that can weaken democratic systems. The conversation will center on clear, accessible questions and invite learners to consider how informed participation, strong institutions, accountability, and civic action contribute to a healthy democracy. Learners will also have an opportunity to engage with the panel through a moderated Q&A.

Women represent over 24.7% of Michigan's local chief administrative officers today, up from just 16% in 2018. Although women continue to be underrepresented as municipal managers, there is a growing contingent of dedicated women serving their communities and challenging the status quo in local government.

Panelists:

• Emilie LaGrow, Village Manager, Village of Cassopolis
• Dr. Sheryl L. Theriot, City Manager, City of Albion
• Mariah Walton, Deputy City Administrator, Ann Arbor
• Rachel Witherspoon, City Administrator, City of Gibraltar

The elections come at a consequential moment for Brazil, amid concerns about corruption and inflation, disputes over tariffs and trade, and growing tensions with the Trump administration.

The Latin American Elections Hub (LATAM-EH) brings together a group of experts to discuss the stakes of the election for Brazil and its broader regional and international implications. The panel will analyze the results of the first round, the factors shaping voter behavior, and the prospects for a potential second round on October 25, 2026.

The panelists will be Cesar Zucco (Columbia University), Raphael Nishimura (University of Michigan, ISR), and Malu Gatto (University College London). The event chair is Pedro Luz de Castro of the University of Michigan. Edgar Franco-Vivanco, Director of the Latin American Elections Hub, is the discussant.

The evening centers on Nwanevu's new book, The Right of the People: Democracy and the Case for a New American Founding, which argues that America's democratic troubles run deeper than any single election. The real problem, Nwanevu contends, lies in institutions that were never designed to let majorities govern, and in an economy that keeps power far from ordinary people.

Anderson, one of the country's most influential political philosophers, brings her own work on democracy, equality, and the workplace to the exchange. Together they take up the questions this election season keeps surfacing. Who really holds power in America? Why do so many people feel unheard, and what would it take to build a democracy worthy of the name?

The conversation is free and open to students, faculty, and the broader Ann Arbor community, with time for audience questions.


Schedule

Graduate student workshop with Osita
Central Campus, room sent to registrants.
2:00 to 3:30 pm
Sign up:

RVSP Form

Main Event
Friday, October 9, 2026
Ross School of Business, Robertson Auditorium
5:30 pm Doors open, light refreshments and Literati book sales in the lobby.
6:00 pm The program begins, including questions and answers at the end.
7:30 pm Refreshments and book signing / sales in the lobby until 8:00 pm.

RSVP -- free, but please sign up to help us plan refreshments:

RVSP Form


Sponsors and Partners
U-M Department of Philosophy; Energy Club at Ross; Rackham Graduate School; Poverty Solutions; Business+Impact at Ross; Wallace House; Institute for the Humanities; U-M Department of History; Eisenberg Institute for Historical Studies; U-M Department of English Language & Literature; Ford School of Public Policy; Center for Positive Organizations; Center for Political Studies; U-M Department of Political Science; Michigan Law; the Philosophy, Politics, and Economics Program; Science, Technology & Society; Science, Technology & Public Policy at the Ford School; the Erb Institute; Net Impact; U-M Department of Sociology, and Department of Afroamerican and African Studies.

Join us to take a look back at the 1961 Michigan Con-Con and consider how the work done by delegates shapes our lives today. Speakers include: Lynn Liberato, author of Michigan’s Con-Con 11: Women and State Constitution-making in 1961 Michelle McClellan, Bentley archivist working to grow Con-Con collections and other political history in the State of Michigan

We will hear from the Ann Arbor City Clerk Jackie Beaudry, Michiganders for Civic Resilience, and members of the Ford community who have volunteered in the past. Lunch provided.

As part of the University of Michigan's Democracy Week, join the Ford School for a bipartisan conversation with the Michigan leadership team of the Democracy Defense Foundation on election security, public trust, and democratic participation.

The discussion will feature former Michigan Governors John Engler and James J. Blanchard, former U.S. Representative Michael D. Bishop, and former Lieutenant Governor John D. Cherry, Jr. Their work with the Democracy Defense Foundation focuses on strengthening public understanding of the transparency, safety, security, and validity of the electoral process. The conversation will explore Michigan's history of secure elections, the safeguards already in place to protect election outcomes, and the role of bipartisan dialogue in defending democratic institutions.

Timed with Constitution Day and the broader U-M Democracy Week initiative, the event comes as Michigan prepares for the 2026 elections and as absentee voting and campus voter engagement efforts begin. Voter registration and election information resources will be available.
It is open to the U-M community and the public.

Sponsoring Organizations: Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, Center for Democracy & Civic Empowerment

University of Michigan students, faculty, and staff are invited to join a respectful conversation centering on a highly challenging issue. Braver Campus Dialogues enable participants to discover that differing viewpoints are not obstacles, but essential components in addressing our most controversial topics. Guided by an experienced moderator, participants navigate the intricate complexities of the issue, share diverse perspectives, and gain deeper understanding of root causes and potential solutions for its most pressing social and political challenges.

Questions? Contact Landon Myers -- [email protected]

Registration appreciated but not required. Eventbrite.com/university-of-michigan

Food and refreshments will be provided.

Sponsoring Organizations: College Debates & Discourse Alliance, Center for Democracy & Civic Empowerment