TED Democracy Philadelphia: Founding Futures: Full Schedule

10:00am EDT

Block-Bridge-Build: Finding Your Role in Democracy

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

Limited Capacity seats available

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.

Participants 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.

Speakers

Andrew Regaldo

Senior Organizer, The Horizons Project

Andrew Regalado is a Senior Organizer with the Horizons Project, where he leads cross-sector initiatives that engage business leaders, faith communities, lawyers, veterans & military families, labor unions, and civic organizations to strengthen civic trust and democratic resilience... Read More →

Evelyn Thornton

Senior Advisor, The Horizons Project

Evelyn Thornton is a facilitator and coach. She accompanies leaders and teams to be more aware, aligned, adaptive, and joyful in navigating change and complexity. Her consulting practice draws on a wide range of work experience, including time as the CEO at Inclusive Security (a global... Read More →

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

Discovery Session

1:00pm EDT

Dignity: Democracy's Most Essential Skill

LIMITED

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

Rendell Room

Limited Capacity seats available

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.

This session introduces the Dignity Index, an 8-point scale that makes the difference between contempt and dignity in language visible, measurable and changeable.

Through 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.

Leave with concrete tools, including a new lens for your own conversations and a personal commitment to the kind of communication that makes democracy possible.

Speakers

Alexa Merrill

Program Assistant, Dignity.Us

Alexa Merrill believes the way we speak can change the world—and shows up every day to prove it. At Dignity.Us, they work at the intersection of community, operations, and storytelling—translating the Dignity Movement's vision into the infrastructure and relationships that make... Read More →

Alicia Burke

Corporate Development & Training, Dignity.Us

Alicia Burke focuses on corporate partnerships and Dignity Index training at Dignity.Us.

Prior to Dignity.Us, Alicia spent 23 years at Bank of America (BofA), integrating across a dynamic team of leaders to develop and deliver on strategy for BofA’s brand, marketing, communications, events, public policy, and Environmental, Social, and Governance. Alicia also led BofA’s Supp... Read More →

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