2023 Frontiers of Social Innovation Conference: Reading List
Democracy is under threat in many parts of the world. Economic inequality has given rise to calls for a new economy in which the fruits of economic activity and power are shared more equally and democratically. Within the social sector, nonprofit organizations and philanthropists are facing demands for greater inclusion, power-sharing, and more democratic governance.
This year’s Frontiers of Social Innovation convening, “The Role of Social Innovation in Democracy,” will gather international leaders from nonprofit organizations, philanthropy, academia, research, business, and government to debate and discuss the role that social innovation plays in creating a more just and democratic society.
This reading list covers topics related to each panel, including global threats to democracy, workplace power, capitalism, civic engagement, and more. There’s still time to register for this online event and take part in what promises to be a thought-provoking and inspiring dialogue.
March 14, 2023 at 9:05 a.m. Pacific
Speakers: Johanna Mair, academic editor of Stanford Social Innovation Review and professor of organization, strategy, and leadership at the Hertie School, will be joined by Xavier de Souza Briggs, senior fellow at the Brookings Institute and author of Democracy as Problem Solving: Civic Capacity in Communities Across the Globe; Liz McKenna, assistant professor of Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School; and Claudia Chwalisz, CEO of DemocracyNext, to discuss what it means to have a true democracy.
Speakers: Larry Diamond, senior fellow at the Hoover Institution and the Mosbacher Senior Fellow in Global Democracy at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies at Stanford University; Joseph Wong, author of From Development to Democracy: The Transformations of Modern Asia; and other panelists will examine global trends and region-specific challenges to democracies around the world.
Speaker: Kendra Davenport Cotton, activist, community organizer, and CEO of The New Georgia Project, will share how she and her team empowered and registered thousands of Black, Latinx, and other disenfranchised voters, and how the organization will use its success in Georgia to extend its work to other Southern states.
March 14, 2023 at 12:10 p.m. Pacific
Speakers: Isabelle Ferreras, professor of sociology at University of Louvain (Belgium), co-creator of the #DemocratizingWork Global Initiative, and coauthor of Democratize Work: The Case for Reorganizing the Economy; Sarita Gupta, vice president of US Programs at the Ford Foundation; and other panelists will discuss what it takes to create a more democratic workplace.
Speakers: Ben Jealous, incoming executive director of the Sierra Club; Nick Tilsen, president and CEO of NDN Collective; and Nina Ozlu Tunceli, executive director of Americans for the Arts Action Fund; all of whom have 501(C)(4) organizations, will discuss why they were created, what role they play, and what lessons they have for other nonprofits who are interested in doing the same.
Speakers: Bhaskar Sunkara, author of The Socialist Manifesto, founding editor of Jacobin, and former vice-chair of Democratic Socialists of America, and Matthew Bishop, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, author of Philanthrocapitalism, and former global business editor of The Economist, will debate dueling economic philosophies. Eric Nee, editor in chief of Stanford Social Innovation Review, will moderate what is sure to be an inspiring and spirited discussion.
March 15, 2023 at 10 a.m. Pacific
Speakers: Johanna Mair, academic editor of Stanford Social Innovation Review and professor of organization, strategy, and leadership at the Hertie School, will be joined by Yordanos Eyoel, founder and CEO of Keseb; Caroline Weimann, founder of JoinPolitics; Christiana Bukalo, cofounder of Statefree; and Anthony Ubani, pioneer executive director of #FixPolitics Initiative to discuss the growing field of political innovation.
Speaker: Gabriel Marmentini, executive director of Politize! Brazil, will discuss threats to democracy in Brazil and the role of political activists in sustaining Brazil’s democracy.
March 15, 2023 at 12:10 p.m. Pacific
Speakers: Lukas Haynes, founder of Leveraged Philanthropy, and former CEO of the David Rockefeller Fund, will join Bryan Maygers, deputy editor, digital of Stanford Social Innovation Review, for a conversation about efforts philanthropists have been taking to preserve and rebuild a vibrant democratic society and its institutions.
March 15, 2023 at 1:05 p.m. Pacific
Speaker: Hear from Vu Le, one of philanthropy’s most outspoken critics, the author of the blog NonprofitAF, and the former executive director of RVC, a Seattle nonprofit that works to promote social justice by supporting leaders, organizations, and communities of color.
Speakers: Rob Reich, professor of political science and codirector of the Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society at Stanford University, and a soon-to-be-announced speaker will debate the role of big philanthropy in a true democracy.
Speakers: Michael Smith, CEO of AmeriCorps, Hemakshi Meghani, cofounder of the Indian School of Democracy; Grace Williams, founder and director of Citizens Tasmania; and Shawon Jackson, founder and CEO of Vocal Justice, will discuss the importance of engaging with and organizing young people to create social change.
March 16, 2023 at 12:10 p.m. Pacific
Speaker: Jonathan Reckford, president and CEO of Habitat for Humanity International; Suzanne McCormick, president and CEO of YMCA of the USA; and Eboo Patel, founder and president of Interfaith America, will discuss the impact that nonprofit organizations can have in engaging citizens and building bridges to help reunite communities.
Speakers: Cheryl Dorsey, president of Echoing Green; Gillian Caldwell, chief climate officer and deputy assistant administrator at USAID; and Rajiv Vinnakota, president of Institute for Citizens and Scholars, will explore the role that social innovation can play in creating a vibrant democracy.
Read more stories by SSIR Editors.