Democracy Summit Returns This Fall
The College of Liberal Arts Democracy Summit is moving to the fall!
Join students, scholars, and community partners October 26–27 for a smaller fall gathering focused on conversation, connection, and democratic engagement.
The Summit is part of the College of Liberal Arts’ Strengthening Democracy initiative, which brings together people across CSU and Colorado to explore and advance democratic engagement through teaching, research, dialogue, and meaningful collaboration.
After gathering for the 2026 Spring Democracy Summit in March, the College is moving the Summit to the fall as part of a new annual rhythm. This October gathering marks the transition and creates a new opportunity to come together around the work of democracy.
Highlights and photos from the March 2026 Summit are available below.
Monday, October 26
Ramplify: Civic Engagement Fair
Find your people, discover ways to get involved, and see how you can make an impact right here in Fort Collins and beyond. Meet local and national organizations, explore civic opportunities, and get hands-on with ways to turn your interests into action.
Lory Student Center Plaza
9–11 a.m.
Building Civic Capacity in Colorado: Models for Democratic Innovation
Explore how Colorado communities are building civic capacity, bridging differences, and developing new approaches to democratic participation. During the first hour, you’ll hear from civic innovators across the state about how to strengthen democracy in Colorado. The second hour, you’ll get a chance to think through those ideas and help shape the future of democracy in Colorado. Participants can choose to come to only one of the sections or can attend both.
11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Lory Student Center Ballroom D
Lunch provided
When Politics and Pop Culture Collide
The Center for Democracy, Art, and Popular Culture invites students to explore how politics and civic life increasingly take shape through television, comedy, art, and digital media—and what that means for democracy. Students will engage with different forms of political pop culture and one another as they reflect on how popular culture can be used to build healthy democratic community.
4:30-6 p.m.
Lory Student Center
Room 308-310
Voices of Justice
Conversations with the Court
As part of the Democracy Summit, the Pre-Law Club hosts a conversation with Larimer County Chief Judge Lammons and Colorado Supreme Court Justice Richard Gabriel on their paths to the judiciary, experiences on the bench, and careers in law. Jessie Padilla from Human Resources will also share practical insights into career opportunities with the Colorado Judicial Branch.
The conversation will include a student Q&A.
5-7 p.m.
Lory Student Center
Ballroom A
Celebrating 20 Years of the Center for Public Deliberation: A Longer Tables Dinner
Join the Center for Public Deliberation for a special Longer Tables dinner celebrating 20 years of elevating local democracy, building stronger communities, and creating spaces for meaningful public dialogue. Since 2006, the Center has helped communities navigate complex issues through deliberation, collaboration, and informed civic engagement. Join us for dinner, connections, and a chance to celebrate democratic engagement in our community.
6:30–8:30 p.m.
Museum of Discovery
Tuesday, October 27
Keynote Speaker | Prof. Kyle Saunders
The Political Crossroads of
Artificial Intelligence
11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Lory Student Center
Ballroom A
Steal This Story, Please!
Taking on politicians, CEOs and riot police, Amy Goodman has spent three decades reporting some of the most urgent and underreported stories of our time. Steal This Story, Please! follows the trailblazing journalist behind Democracy Now! as she navigates a media landscape transformed by technology, corporate consolidation and political attacks on the press.
Drawing on an extraordinary archive, Academy Award-nominated filmmakers Carl Deal and Tia Lessin (Trouble the Water, Citizen Koch, The Janes) offer an intimate look at Goodman’s commitment to asking hard questions and challenging powerful institutions. Urgent, provocative and unexpectedly funny, the film is both a critique of mainstream media and a celebration of independent journalism and those who refuse to look away.
Extended post-film Q&A with Amy Goodman.
Presented in partnership with the ACT Human Rights Film Festival.
6:30 p.m.
Lory Student Center Theatre
Free with RSVP
Notice of Filming & Photography
By entering this Colorado State University building, event, or program, you are entering an area where photography, audio, and video recording may occur.
Through your entry, presence, or participation in or at the event premises, you acknowledge that you have been informed that you may be photographed, filmed, and/or otherwise recorded and grant the Board of Governors of the Colorado State University System permission to use your voice, name, and/or likeness without any compensation, credit, or other consideration for exploitation in any media now known or hereafter devised, in perpetuity, throughout the universe, and the advertising and publicity thereof.
Furthermore, you hereby release the Board of Governors of the Colorado State University System, its officers, employees, and each and all persons involved from any liability connected with the taking, recording, digitizing, or publication and use of the above-mentioned recording including, but not limited to, any claims for invasion of privacy, violation of the right of publicity, defamation, copyright infringement, or for any fees, payment, or royalties for use of such recorded media.
2026 Democracy Summit in Photos
Explore highlights from the 2026 Democracy Summit through our photo collection on Flickr, capturing key moments, conversations, and community engagement throughout the event.
CLA Democracy Summit Committee Members
If you have questions about the group or about the summit, please feel free to reach out.
Director
Katherine Knobloch
- Professor
- Director, Democracy Initiative, College of Liberal Arts
- Associate Director, Center for Public Deliberation
Chair
Member
Elissa Braunstein
- Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Programs
- Professor of Economics
Member
Sam Houghteling
- Program Manager Straayer Center for Public Service Leadership
