TED Democracy Philadelphia: Founding Futures: Full Schedule

10:00am EDT

Co-Authoring Democracy: Then, Now, Tomorrow

Saturday June 13, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am EDT

Limited Capacity seats available

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.

Drawing 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.

The 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.

Speakers

Fernande Raine

Founder, The History Co:Lab

Fernande Raine is an education innovator and founder of The History Co:Lab, a research and innovation lab that centers teens in learning redesign to enable civic thriving. Her path to this work runs through a series of apprenticeships in advancing democracy: she studied history... Read More →

Caroline Kilbanoff

Executive Director, Made By Us

Caroline Klibanoff is the Executive Director of Made By Us, a Senior Fellow with New America's US@250 initiative, and an Eisenhower USA Fellow. Since 2019, she has transformed Made By Us into a national civic force — building a network of 500+ museums and historic sites into hubs... Read More →

Saturday June 13, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am EDT
Hamilton Garden 300 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102

Discovery Session

1:00pm EDT

Action + Community Are the Antidote: Rebuilding Trust in the Democratic Process

LIMITED

Saturday June 13, 2026 1:00pm - 1:50pm EDT

Hamilton Garden

Limited Capacity seats available

At a time when many Americans feel frustrated, exhausted or disconnected from politics, how do we rebuild trust in democracy at the local level?

Join 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.

Grounded 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.

Attendees will leave with new perspectives, practical ideas and a stronger sense of how they can make a real impact in their communities.

Speakers

Lauren Cristella

President & CEO, Committee of Seventy

Lauren Cristella is President & CEO of the Committee of Seventy, where she became the first woman to lead the organization in its 120+ year history. Since joining C70 in 2018, Lauren has helped expand the organization’s impact through civic education, voter engagement, and public... Read More →

Saturday June 13, 2026 1:00pm - 1:50pm EDT
Hamilton Garden 300 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102