College Park, Md. - On Oct. 10, 2024, the University of Maryland (UMD) Libraries will bring together influential voices on the importance of civic engagement, activism, intellectual and academic freedom, and journalism in preserving democracy for a special, free, one-day event, the Living Democracy Symposium.
Presentations will include:
An opening keynote address by columnist, New York Times bestselling author and MSNBC analyst Charles M. Blow. As an advocate for social justice and racial equity, Blow has spoken nationwide about income inequality, xenophobia and mental health, generating impactful conversations that resonate with audiences of all kinds.
A presentation and discussion on the 50th anniversary of the Watergate impeachment vote—featuring records from the Lawrence J. Hogan Sr. Archives at UMD—which will highlight the ways in which learning about shared political history can increase the understanding of current-day political challenges and inform a path forward.
A panel discussion on fostering respectful public engagement across opposing viewpoints, featuring the mayors of two Maryland communities, College Park’s Fazlul Kabir and Galena’s John Carroll.
Discussions on the press’ essential role in democracy and the rule of law, the role of libraries in fostering critical information literacy, and the interplay of activism, academia and democracy.
A closing keynote address by former Capitol Police officer Harry Dunn, who was awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal by President Joe Biden in recognition of his role in defending the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, and whose testimony before the bipartisan January 6th Commission provided a firsthand account of the events of that day.
The event is a culmination of work by UMD Libraries’ Living Democracy Initiative, which was launched in April 2023 and funded by a gift from the Ilona Modley Hogan Legacy Fund. In addition to the symposium, the initiative organizes library programming focused on advancing democratic values and civic education and engagement; works to increase access to the Lawrence J. Hogan Sr. Archives through digitization, the creation of finding aids and an online exhibition; and funds a graduate assistantship and travel scholarships for researchers interested in using the Hogan papers and other Maryland political collections.
The event will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. in the Colony Ballroom of the Adele H. Stamp Student Union at the University of Maryland. There is no cost to attend. To learn more and register for the event, please visit go.umd.edu/ldi-symposium.