PUBLIC SQUARE CONVERSATIONS
Discussion Leading to Action
CAPA is committed to making 2025 and beyond a period of deeper engagement with our membership and the broader community. With this in mind, we are hosting a series of Public Square Conversations, to provide a space for connecting with community, engaging in dialogue, and generating ideas for action.
Each Public Square Conversation will focus on a different topic, but the overarching theme is to explore how we can build a society where human dignity is our guiding principle. See our upcoming and past conversations listed below!
AUGUST 14TH, 2025: "Whose Speech is Free?"
Community Room, Evanston Public Library, Evanston, IL
Lines keep being crossed in the suppression of speech. From our schools and workplaces, to our streets and cyberspaces, U.S. leaders have signaled that there is no limit to how intimidation, retribution and violence will be used to silence dissent. These tactics threaten to further hobble human and civil rights as we lose access to important information, and learn to self-censor out of fear.
We will present three different case studies of free speech being either suppressed or defended, and dive deeper into what these examples teach us for taking effective action in the present moment. Join us for a conversation about how the fight to defend free speech could shape our shared future – and bring a friend with you!
Click here to register
WHEN: Thursday, August 14th, 6-8 PM
WHERE: Evanston Public Library – Community Room, 1703 Orrington Ave, Evanston, IL 60201
MAY 20TH, 2025: "Personal Power and Collective Action"
Edgewater Presbyterian Church, Chicago, IL
Our third Public Square Conversation focused on how we can get off the sidelines and into action. Together, we explored how civil resistance has prevented the backslide of democracy around the world—and how it remains our best shot at stopping the rise of authoritarianism here at home. Click here to read our main takeaways!
We discussed Gene Sharp’s insight that power depends on the cooperation of ordinary people, not just the decisions of elites, and how that truth can guide us now. We reflected on what resistance looked like for each of us, and what risks we’re willing to take to stand for human dignity and justice. For those of us tired of feeling outraged but unsure what to do, this was a forum to identify what we could do—personally and together.
MARCH 27TH, 2025: "Pillars of Democracy"
Lake Street Church, Evanston, IL
Our second Public Square Conversation focused on a discussion of these and other questions:
1. What are the pillars of democracy? 2. What forces and phenomena weaken a democracy? 3. What are our tools for fighting to uphold democracy?
Click here to read some of the main takeaways from our conversations. In addition, a cross-section of CAPA members have offered up the following resources for exploring the topics of democracy and authoritarianism. The views represented here are not endorsed by all CAPA members but are meant to spark discussion and invite further inquiry:
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”How Democracies Die,” Truth Dig, Jan. 13, 2020, Chris Hedges.
How Democracies Die, Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt, 2018.
The Myth of American Idealism: How U.S. Foreign Policy Endangers the World, Noam Chomsky and Nathan Robinson, 2024.
“The New Authoritarianism,” The Atlantic, Feb. 2025, Steven Levitsky.
A People’s History of the United States, Howard Zinn, 1980.
Tyranny of the Minority, Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt, 2023.
JANUARY 14TH, 2025: "Share Your Ideas on the Public's Role in a New Political Era."
Evanston Public Library, Evanston, IL
Our inaugural Public Square Conversation focused on hearing what was most on community members’ minds in our new political era. All voices were welcomed to share their current hopes, fears, and plans for action.
Click here to read some of the main takeaways which emerged from our conversations, as well as actions we can take to make change.
CONTACT US
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