Events

Human and humane, the arts open space for rethinking through visceral, participatory, and immersive experiences grounded in sound, movement, light, and revelation. They foster mutual trust and deeper understanding through emotional and sensory engagement.

Peter Sellars will share real-world examples drawn from a lifetime of cross-cultural, cross-disciplinary artistic collaborations around the globe—demonstrating how art responds to crisis and catalyzes social transformation in an era of profound stakes.

In today’s climate of deep political polarization, it can be difficult to understand the perspectives of those on the other side of the political spectrum and work together for the common good. With the holiday season approaching, many will encounter challenging conversations with friends or family who hold different views at their annual gatherings.

Learn more about the roots of this polarization — and how to navigate these tough conversations — from Alexandros Efstratiou and Madeline Jalbert, two researchers at the Center for an Informed Public who study these issues closely.

Too often, democracy is narrowly defined by the act of voting, reducing the citizen’s role to mere electoral participation. However, a truly thriving democratic society is one in which full inclusion is built upon a foundation of cultural goodwill between distinct communities. This vision of a beloved community—rooted in the philosophy of nonviolence—was championed by Martin Luther King Jr. It is this philosophy that we must revive to bridge the deep political and cultural divides that threaten American democracy today.

This talk will explore the idea that the endurance of the rule of law in the United States relies not solely on the provisions of the Constitution—its structural framework, the institutions it established, or the rights it enshrines—but fundamentally on the character of its citizens.

This lecture delves into the enduring struggle for democracy in the United States, challenging the notion that democratic backsliding began with the 2024 presidential election. Instead, it traces the deeper historical and structural forces that have long shaped—and strained—American democratic institutions.