BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 X-WR-CALNAME:teddemocracyphiladelphia X-WR-CALDESC:Event Calendar METHOD:PUBLISH CALSCALE:GREGORIAN PRODID:-//Sched.com TED Democracy Philadelphia: Founding Futures//EN X-WR-TIMEZONE:UTC BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260608T013138Z DTSTART:20260613T130000Z DTEND:20260613T150000Z SUMMARY:Morning Kickoff DESCRIPTION:Before you head into Marian Anderson Hall for the day’s TED Talks\, fuel up and explore everything happening around the campus. Stop by Tier 1 for a morning pick-me-up from local favorites Blkberry Juice Bar and Paffuto.\n\nThere are also tubs of canned La Colombe coffee available throughout the venue.\nThen swing by the Pew Spotlight Stage on the Plaza level for the Newcomer Session to get the full FYI on TED Democracy Philadelphia. Stick around for a live Rock the Vote panel discussion beginning at 10 a.m.\n\nThere’s plenty more to discover throughout the morning: Browse the Founding Futures Bookstore powered by Uncle Bobbie’s (opening at 10 a.m.)\, experience Xavier Cortada’s Declaration of Interdependence live art installation\, explore the Revolutionaries art exhibit on Tier 1\, regroup in the Recharge Zone or dive into discussion in The Civic Square on Tier 2.\n\nLet’s get the day started: Grab a coffee\, meet a neighbor and keep the conversation going. CATEGORIES:GENERAL LOCATION:Plaza\, 300 South Broad Street\, Philadelphia\, PA 19102 SEQUENCE:0 UID:66d1837cfed672feb8708575c7c26644 URL:http://teddemocracyphiladelphia.sched.com/event/66d1837cfed672feb8708575c7c26644 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260608T013138Z DTSTART:20260613T133000Z DTEND:20260613T135500Z SUMMARY:Newcomer Session DESCRIPTION:Ready to make the most of your TED Democracy experience? \n\nKick off your morning with this fast-paced\, 20-minute welcome session designed to help you navigate\, connect and thrive. You’ll grab expert insider tips on how to maximize your day\, followed by our high-energy Democracy Game Show — where you’ll break the ice\, make fast connections and maybe even walk away with a prize! Come learn how to show up\, level up and get the absolute most out of your day. CATEGORIES:PEW SPOTLIGHT STAGE LOCATION:Pew Spotlight Stage\, 300 South Broad Street\, Philadelphia\, PA\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:4e07f4a943225147896c7b1a4b4e29bb URL:http://teddemocracyphiladelphia.sched.com/event/4e07f4a943225147896c7b1a4b4e29bb END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260608T013138Z DTSTART:20260613T140000Z DTEND:20260613T145000Z SUMMARY:Block-Bridge-Build: Finding Your Role in Democracy DESCRIPTION:This immersive workshop explores the different roles individuals and organizations play in moments of democratic stress\, change and transformation. The session is designed to support participants in reflecting on their own instincts\, strengths and approaches to change-making\, while considering how collaboration across sectors\, communities and movements can create the conditions for stronger civic culture and broad-front organizing. \;\n\nParticipants will leave with a stronger sense of how diverse roles and strategies can integrate to make progress around common goals — and how these shared visions can shape a more resilient democracy. CATEGORIES:DISCOVERY SESSION LOCATION:Rendell Room\, 300 South Broad Street\, Philadelphia\, PA 19102 SEQUENCE:0 UID:305b21318b931c00a1b9687220ebfb5f URL:http://teddemocracyphiladelphia.sched.com/event/305b21318b931c00a1b9687220ebfb5f END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260608T013138Z DTSTART:20260613T140000Z DTEND:20260613T145000Z SUMMARY:Co-Authoring Democracy: Then\, Now\, Tomorrow DESCRIPTION:How can we co-author the future of democracy drawing on the wisdom held across generations? In this activation\, young people connected to Philadelphia's leading museums anchor table conversations in artifacts that illuminate the unfinished promise of American freedom\, then bridge them to the issues most alive right now. \;\n\nDrawing on the Youth250 Bureau's work across the nation to spread practices of intergenerational discourse and civic imagination\, the format mirrors TED Democracy itself: past\, present\, future\, with young people sharing an intergenerational model of a civic square.  \;\n\nThe goal:  \;to leave you ready and inspired to host rich\, imaginative and informed conversations about how to ensure that the principles of our democracy become a felt and lived reality for future generations. CATEGORIES:DISCOVERY SESSION LOCATION:Hamilton Garden\, 300 South Broad Street\, Philadelphia\, PA 19102 SEQUENCE:0 UID:ebeaa6944617d05fd08f7cc973fe64ec URL:http://teddemocracyphiladelphia.sched.com/event/ebeaa6944617d05fd08f7cc973fe64ec END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260608T013138Z DTSTART:20260613T140000Z DTEND:20260613T144500Z SUMMARY:Rock the Vote: Decades of Decibels and Democracy DESCRIPTION:Rock the Vote and MTV leaders past and present discuss the evolution of a partnership that became a pop culture phenomenon. From the “choose or lose” era of the early 1990s\, which made voting “cool” for GenX using a tour bus\, celebrity endorsements and the launch of the first voter registration website\, to today’s “defend the vote” focus on countering misinformation\, building trust in digital systems and holding elected leaders accountable for millions of Gen Z voters in the age of social media and AI. CATEGORIES:PEW SPOTLIGHT STAGE LOCATION:Pew Spotlight Stage\, 300 South Broad Street\, Philadelphia\, PA\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:cfeadbcd20f40b447af270ef9f35bcb5 URL:http://teddemocracyphiladelphia.sched.com/event/cfeadbcd20f40b447af270ef9f35bcb5 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260608T013138Z DTSTART:20260613T150000Z DTEND:20260613T163000Z SUMMARY:Session One: Foundations DESCRIPTION:To understand where democracy is headed\, we’ll begin with lessons from the past — both distant and recent — and hear how today’s thinkers are using them to imagine a more hopeful future. What emerges is surprising\, clarifying and urgent.\n\nThis session challenges how we think about citizenship\, power\, repair and what it truly means to govern ourselves. It also reminds us that Philadelphia is more than a backdrop for this conversation — it’s where the American chapter of democracy’s story was first written. CATEGORIES:TED STAGE LOCATION:Marian Anderson Hall\, 300 South Broad Street\, Philadelphia\, PA 19102 SEQUENCE:0 UID:431875ad7398db967eeb1a79e84c4cd6 URL:http://teddemocracyphiladelphia.sched.com/event/431875ad7398db967eeb1a79e84c4cd6 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260608T013138Z DTSTART:20260613T163000Z DTEND:20260613T180000Z SUMMARY:Lunch Break DESCRIPTION:It’s time to eat\, connect and dive deeper. Tier 1 transforms into a Philly food hall packed with standout local flavors. The afternoon’s culinary lineup includes Amy’s Pastelillos\, Del Rossi’s Cheesesteaks & Pizza Co.\, Baby’s Kusina\, Ba Le Bakery\, South Philly Barbacoa\, LUHV Vegan and Liberty Kitchen PHL.\n\nLooking for a midday boost? Tier 1 also features beverages and treats from Dope Botanicals\, La Colombe and Cake & Joe\, featured as this afternoon’s Flavors of Philly pop-up partners.\n\nAlso happening on Tier 1: Don’t miss the Speaker Meet-Up at the Founding Futures Bookstore. Chat with a few of today’s speakers\, pick up a copy of their book (if available) and get it signed onsite.\n\nHead to Tier 2 to explore Xavier Cortada’s live \;Declaration of Interdependence \;art installations\, enjoy a little R&R in the Recharge Zone or expand on the ideas presented in today’s talks in The Civic Square.\n\nGrab a friend\, grab lunch and keep the conversation going as you unpack the ideas shaping the day so far. CATEGORIES:GENERAL LOCATION:Plaza\, 300 South Broad Street\, Philadelphia\, PA 19102 SEQUENCE:0 UID:8bdba6bded7cb656bc43c629827f08b8 URL:http://teddemocracyphiladelphia.sched.com/event/8bdba6bded7cb656bc43c629827f08b8 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260608T013138Z DTSTART:20260613T170000Z DTEND:20260613T175000Z SUMMARY:Action + Community Are the Antidote: Rebuilding Trust in the Democratic Process DESCRIPTION:At a time when many Americans feel frustrated\, exhausted or disconnected from politics\, how do we rebuild trust in democracy at the local level? \;\n\nJoin Lauren Cristella\, President & CEO of the Committee of Seventy\, for an interactive session exploring how everyday action can strengthen civic life beyond Election Day. Through engaging conversation and facilitated small-group discussions\, participants will explore why voting still matters\, how local government shapes daily life and what meaningful community engagement can actually look like in practice. \;\n\nGrounded in real-world examples from Philadelphia\, this session moves beyond abstract conversations about democracy and focuses on tangible ways residents can become more informed\, connected and involved locally. \;\n\nAttendees will leave with new perspectives\, practical ideas and a stronger sense of how they can make a real impact in their communities. CATEGORIES:DISCOVERY SESSION LOCATION:Hamilton Garden\, 300 South Broad Street\, Philadelphia\, PA 19102 SEQUENCE:0 UID:15e17591aaaf1578bff001eb8183b247 URL:http://teddemocracyphiladelphia.sched.com/event/15e17591aaaf1578bff001eb8183b247 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260608T013138Z DTSTART:20260613T170000Z DTEND:20260613T175000Z SUMMARY:Dignity: Democracy's Most Essential Skill DESCRIPTION:Two hundred and fifty years ago\, a group of people who fiercely disagreed built something together anyway — and the language they used to do it mattered. \;\n\nThis session introduces the Dignity Index\, an 8-point scale that makes the difference between contempt and dignity in language visible\, measurable and changeable. \;\n\nThrough hands-on scoring of real examples from politics and public life\, participants will practice the skills that turn disagreement into dialogue — and discover that the most important shift isn't in how you hear others\, but in how you hear yourself. \;\n\nLeave with concrete tools\, including a new lens for your own conversations and a personal commitment to the kind of communication that makes democracy possible. CATEGORIES:DISCOVERY SESSION LOCATION:Rendell Room\, 300 South Broad Street\, Philadelphia\, PA 19102 SEQUENCE:0 UID:133353e22211996422585baae1fff733 URL:http://teddemocracyphiladelphia.sched.com/event/133353e22211996422585baae1fff733 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260608T013138Z DTSTART:20260613T170500Z DTEND:20260613T174000Z SUMMARY:Unity Doesn’t Equal Agreement — Democracy Was Built to Withstand Differences DESCRIPTION:This fireside chat will explore how this moment in U.S. history offers an opportunity to recommit to our shared future and renew the role of dialogue and debate in a healthy democracy\, drawing on examples from federal\, state and Philadelphia policy. CATEGORIES:PEW SPOTLIGHT STAGE LOCATION:Pew Spotlight Stage\, 300 South Broad Street\, Philadelphia\, PA\, USA SEQUENCE:0 UID:95466d241016498cacbd5faeb603e30a URL:http://teddemocracyphiladelphia.sched.com/event/95466d241016498cacbd5faeb603e30a END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260608T013138Z DTSTART:20260613T180000Z DTEND:20260613T193000Z SUMMARY:Session Two: Friction DESCRIPTION:Some of the voices in this session are building new systems. Others are sounding an alarm. Some are doing both.\nEach speaker responds to this moment from a different vantage point\, bringing distinct tools\, lived experience and hard-won perspective. Together\, they offer a portrait of democracy as it exists right now: complicated\, contested and far more alive than the headlines often suggest. CATEGORIES:TED STAGE LOCATION:Marian Anderson Hall\, 300 South Broad Street\, Philadelphia\, PA 19102 SEQUENCE:0 UID:f3c9250428d3f5a3486cea0e8b5e6eef URL:http://teddemocracyphiladelphia.sched.com/event/f3c9250428d3f5a3486cea0e8b5e6eef END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260608T013138Z DTSTART:20260613T193000Z DTEND:20260613T200000Z SUMMARY:Afternoon Break DESCRIPTION:We’re in the home stretch! Take some time during this 30-minute break to stretch your legs\, reset and recharge before we gather again to close out the day.\n\nGrab a quick coffee\, check out activations or art installations you may have missed earlier and connect with fellow attendees about the ideas that have stuck with you most thus far. \;\n\nThis is also your last chance to visit the bookstore before it closes at 5 p.m. CATEGORIES:GENERAL LOCATION:Plaza\, 300 South Broad Street\, Philadelphia\, PA 19102 SEQUENCE:0 UID:233945d96ab4e4259d0d24e5f8b2fa5e URL:http://teddemocracyphiladelphia.sched.com/event/233945d96ab4e4259d0d24e5f8b2fa5e END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260608T013138Z DTSTART:20260613T200000Z DTEND:20260613T213000Z SUMMARY:Session Three: Forging Ahead DESCRIPTION:Two hundred and fifty years after the Declaration of Independence was signed just blocks from where we’re gathered\, the work of defining democracy continues.\n\nThis final session looks ahead: Who gets to shape what comes next\, whose voices are missing from the conversation and what becomes possible when we widen the circle and imagine beyond the systems we’ve inherited? CATEGORIES:TED STAGE LOCATION:Marian Anderson Hall\, 300 South Broad Street\, Philadelphia\, PA 19102 SEQUENCE:0 UID:0eb2b4409633e1a9ea8fc7a08e5feb09 URL:http://teddemocracyphiladelphia.sched.com/event/0eb2b4409633e1a9ea8fc7a08e5feb09 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260608T013138Z DTSTART:20260613T213000Z DTEND:20260613T233000Z SUMMARY:Closing Reception DESCRIPTION:What an incredible day of ideas! The sessions may be over\, but the energy is alive and well. The lobby officially transforms into a party featuring music by DJ Diamond Kuts!\n\nAll of our activations remain open for engagement\, and we are celebrating the conclusion of the day with some fantastic local pop-up treats. \;\n\nRhubarb Hospitality Collection provides savory flavors with plenty of passed appetizers like sliders\, mac and cheese\, and quesadillas.  \; \;\n\nThinking sweet treats? Make sure to sample goodies from Milk Jawn\, Éclat Chocolate and All Aboard Candy.\n\nFind a drink\, find some friends (old and new!)\, and celebrate and reflect on the powerful day we've shared together. CATEGORIES:GENERAL LOCATION:Plaza\, 300 South Broad Street\, Philadelphia\, PA 19102 SEQUENCE:0 UID:087908a9ab809f4f90a288e3d951935b URL:http://teddemocracyphiladelphia.sched.com/event/087908a9ab809f4f90a288e3d951935b END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR