As the city gears up to celebrate America’s 250th birthday, Visit Philadelphia is joining forces with TED for ‘TED Democracy Philadelphia: Founding Futures’, a truly unique event designed to spotlight the bold thinkers, community leaders and changemakers shaping the city’s future.
Set for Saturday, June 13 at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts ( 300 S Broad St.), the showcase will bring together civic, cultural and community leaders whose ideas and work are helping to define modern Philadelphia. Co-hosted by author Scott Shigeoka alongside TED Democracy curator Kelly Stoetzel, the speaker series aims to inspire conversation, connection and new perspectives through the power of local voices.
“We really wanted to make sure that in Philadelphia, during the 250th anniversary of this country, that there was a discussion about democracy and ideas—the very thing that started this country right here in America’s birthplace,” says Angela Val, President and CEO of Visit Philly. “TED has been around for 40 years and they are known to talk about ideas to get everyone thinking. And those conversations and that thought leadership is still something that happens here in Philadelphia, and something that should take place during this important year.”
‘Founding Futures’ is designed to be more than a traditional conference. Organizers describe the one-day event as a “think tank” where thought leaders and people from all walks of life can come together to share ideas, with each perspective carrying equal weight in shaping the conversation. Discussions throughout the day will explore topics like media literacy, civic engagement, economic policy, workforce development and immigration, all centered around the role democracy plays in everyday life.
Local voices, global stage
Diversity and representation were also a major focus in building the speaker lineup. The event will feature 19 speakers, including 13 full-length TED Talks and six Philadelphia Flash Talks, with eight speakers coming from the greater Philadelphia area. Organizers say it was important not only to bring global voices to Philadelphia, but also to ensure Philadelphians are part of the broader conversation about democracy and the future of the country.
With an expected audience of nearly 1,700 attendees from around the world, the event aims to create meaningful dialogue at a time when many believe these conversations are more important than ever.
“America has created and given the world a lot of things over these last 250 years and one of them is democracy,” continues Val. “It’s the engine that really propels us forward: The invaluable rights that we have here in this country, what it takes to keep them, what it means to us in our daily lives, and what it means to participate in it.”
Organizers hope attendees will fully immerse themselves in the all-day experience, which will run from 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. With the entire venue reserved for the event, the main presentations will take place in Marian Anderson Hall, while additional activities and smaller discussion spaces throughout the building will encourage discussion, reflection and connection.
Beyond the talks themselves, the goal is to create an engaging environment where people can relax, exchange ideas and reflect on their own role in democracy while enjoying everything Philadelphia has to offer. To expand access beyond the city, the event will also be livestreamed to 65 libraries across 42 states and territories. The national livestream initiative is supported by The Pew Charitable Trusts in partnership with the American Library Association, helping ensure people who cannot attend in person still have the opportunity to participate in the conversation.
“Libraries are a trusted civic space in every kind of community,” notes Val. “This extends the conversation far beyond the Kimmel Center and it brings the ideas that are onstage into small neighborhoods and towns. So it’s something that we’re really excited about, and these videos will live on after this day. This could also be part of curriculums, or people just taking a look to see what democracy means.”
‘Dear Democracy’
The endeavor took three years of planning, with different sponsors and partners helping to ensure the success of the event. In the lead-up to TED Democracy Philadelphia: Founding Futures, organizers also launched the “Dear Democracy” initiative, an effort designed to bring community voices into the national conversation about democracy. As part of the project, a traveling truck first debuted at the National Constitution Center before making stops at notable locations across the country, including the Stonewall National Monument and Navy Pier.
The initiative invited people to share their personal thoughts and experiences surrounding democracy today, helping organizers incorporate a wide range of perspectives into the larger TED event conversation.
“Our country is made up of immigrants and so is Philadelphia. This is not just a celebration of this country, but it’s a celebration of all of us. We’re the only country in the world that everyone who makes this place up came from some place else pursuing something bigger, and that should be celebrated,” says Val.
“We do have our challenges as a country, but we also have a lot of bright spots. And the great thing about our country, which I think is reflected in Philadelphia’s culture, is that we are continually evolving. It’s a place where you take sometimes a step back, but you can also take two steps forward and we’re always changing.”
Ticket prices will range from $25 to $250 and include access to all speakers and programming. Overall, attendees can expect a strong Philadelphia influence throughout the day, including curated culinary offerings that celebrate the city’s food scene.
“There are so many events [this year] that are parties and festivals and fireworks and sporting events, and that is all really important… But we also thought that there should be a serious conversation here in Philadelphia and that people who are coming to Philadelphia for the first time — who don’t know us at all — get to know us, and those who haven’t been here in a long time get to know a different version of us,” finishes Val.
“I hope for the residents here, the people from Philadelphia, that you feel a sense of pride and place… We don’t have to be any other city but our own. And this is an opportunity for us to put our best foot forward, and it’s not an ending point, but just a starting point.”
To find out more information on TED Democracy Philadelphia: Founding Futures, visit visitphilly.com
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Keywords
TED Democracy,
America250,
Visit Philadelphia,
Kimmel Center,
Philadelphia events,
civic engagement,
democracy,
TED Talks,
Angela Val,
Philadelphia culture