The Charles F. Kettering Foundation hosted the second annual Dayton Democracy Summit on Monday, October 27, at Sinclair College in Dayton. It was a gathering of people from all walks of life who wanted to learn from each other, be inspired, and be encouraged as they work to create a just and fair world. 2025 Dayton Democracy Fellow Te'Jal Cartwright guided participants throughout the day, providing important announcements and linking together themes from the speakers. 

Jessica Bloomingdale, a 2024 Dayton Democracy Fellow, opened the event sharing about the first time she felt seen and true belonging in a safe space. She said, "We need to create safe spaces not just to comfort, but to empower. . . . They're where courage is born; they're where movements happen. These are the places where we change the world: one voice, one story, one connection at a time." 

In welcoming remarks, Kettering President and CEO Sharon L. Davies reflected on the theme of the day: hope. She said that in many conversations people are "talking about anxiety, concern, fear . . . even about the question of whether democracy could fail in the United States. . . . We thought we should focus on hope because hope is necessary for us to move toward action, and action will be necessary for us to save democracy." Davies went on to highlight the three Cs needed for this moment: clarity, courage, and coalition, which require hope. She said we must be clear "about the nature of the threat to our democracy," have the "courage to face down the threats to our democracy . . . and stand up to the forces that are responsible for those threats," and work together because that "is critical to our success in preserving democracy in the United States." 

Julio Mateo, Kettering program associate for Democracy and Community, reminded participants why a gathering like the summit is needed. He said, "The work of democracy in community is hard. It's challenging. It can be exhausting. And, it is work that requires all of us to work together. It is something that we cannot do alone. We need each other." Following this reminder, Taylor Johnson, 2024 Dayton Democracy Fellow, led attendees in a connecting and centering exercise. She encouraged them to be fully present with an open mind and heart. Johnson suggested envisioning the world as already being the world we want to see: "Where every person knew and felt that their voice mattered." 

The panel, Creating Hope in Hard Times: Building Our Shared Future, included five 2025 Dayton Democracy Fellows: Robbie Brandon, Tara Campbell, Larry Hayden, Lake Miller, and moderator Nick Hrkman. Panelists shared what gives them hope even while democracy is under strain: the next generation and their communities. They find inspiration in young people's passion and commitment to overcoming challenges. After acknowledging the reality of burnout, they emphasized the importance of staying connected and engaged with your community. 

Following the panel, participants were invited to attend 30 different workshops throughout the rest of the day that focused on building an inclusive democracy starting at the community level. Topics included navigating local government, mentorship, storytelling, and  a healthy media diet. More than 300 people engaged in small group discussions in the workshops and over lunch. 

During lunch, Meadowdale Career Technology Center students read a declaration describing the world in which they want to live. Bridget Flaherty, a community storyteller, shared about interactions she had with a homeless man in Dayton. A small act of purchasing him a cell phone led to him obtaining a job, which she found out about later. She said, "When I feel like nothing that I do matters, I remember that we transform our world through small acts of solidarity. We simply need to keep showing up." 

After the second set of workshops, the World House Choir, a diverse, multicultural, mixed-voice choir based in Yellow Springs, Ohio, led participants in several songs rooted in social change and civil rights. Then, Poet Laureate of Dayton and Kettering Artist-in-Residence Sierra Leone gave a powerful spoken word poetry performance of her poem, "City of Seeds: Sankofa Is Liberty." Leone said that the poem is rooted in the ancient word Sankofa, which means that we have the capacity to learn from the past and apply it to the present. The poem is a reminder about the importance of remembering history, especially as much of it is being erased. 

Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II, Kettering senior fellow, president of Repairers of the Breach, and founding director of the Center for Public Theology and Public Policy at Yale Divinity School, gave the keynote address. Barber focused on what it would take to change the nation's heart: repentance for the disregard of humanity and denial of equality, a diagnosis of the serious challenges of the moment, and people to stand up. "We really do need a serious analysis about why this moment is a moment where we need all hands on deck," he said, "because we are not merely facing in this moment a crisis of democracy. I would suggest we are facing a crisis of civilization itself." Barber's passionate call to action emphasized the need for unity and moral revival and urged each person to use their voice and vote to challenge destructive policies.  

The summit ended with closing words and a call to action from 2024 Dayton Democracy Fellow Daj'za Demmings. She said, "This summit is more than just a convening; it's a call to action. . . . We will continue to build this democracy that we deserve. One grounded in justice, one grounded in belonging, and one that understands that the power of people is more important than the people in power."