Antioch’s Year of Pro-Democracy Action

Event: The Fight for Women’s Rights Then and Now: Gloria Steinem in Conversation with Carol Jenkins
Organizer: AW4D Planning Team        
Date: July 19

The “Education for Democracy” speaker series kicked off with a keynote interview with internationally recognized political activist, feminist organizer, compassionate humanitarian, and public intellectual Gloria Steinem. This one-hour conversation was facilitated by Carol Jenkins, herself a well-known civil rights activist, author, and Emmy-winning television anchor. Over 200 Antiochians attended the event, and over 1,400 have watched the recording on YouTube.

Event: Environmental Justice and Democracy Colloquium Series       
Organizer: School of Environmental Studies
Dates: September – December

A four-part speaker series marked the 50th anniversary of Antioch Environmental Studies program with presentations centering the critical role of justice, leadership, and collective action in the fight for a sustainable future. The series featured global changemakers, including Nobel Laureate and current president of Timor-Leste, José Ramos-Horta ’84 (Midwest, MA), Environmental Lawyer Mia Montoya Hammersley, Climate Justice Leader Jacqui Patterson, and Yale Professor Gerald Torres. From Ramos-Horta’s reflections on peacebuilding to Patterson’s intersectional approach to climate justice and Torres’s celebration of environmental joy, the series inspired renewed purpose among students and alumni alike. As Department Chair Abigail Abrash Walton says, “There’s no better antidote to despair than taking action—especially if you’re with people whom you enjoy collaborating with.”

Event: Dedicated to Democracy in the Deep South        
Organizer: Kimberly Hardy   
Dates:  September – present

Kimberly Hardy had just started as a Core Faculty member at Antioch when she learned she could get a grant of up to $2500 to foster a community project. Suddenly, she had just one month to apply for one of these grants. “I started working May 1, and the application for this grant was due on May 31,” Hardy says. “So I’ve been with Antioch Works for Democracy since my inception, and it makes me even more hopeful about our mission and our commitment to social justice.” The idea behind her grant application was to create a program where elementary and middle school students would engage with the idea of democracy and the importance of voting while creating artwork and poetry. The proposal was accepted, and soon Hardy was organizing the work with a school near where she lives in Jackson, Mississippi. But as student interest grew during the 2024 national election, the project grew in scope and impact. Hardy began going to Thomas A. Cardoza Middle School on a near-weekly basis, and the project evolved into a multi-dimensional curriculum with a closing assembly and celebration. “The kids were really excited to showcase the art they produced around the importance of voting,” Hardy says. “So what became of this was that we began to work with an art class, a group of twenty-one eighth graders, and we began to really dive a bit deeper into this history of democracy, this fight for democracy, and voting rights in the South.”

Event: Poetry Is Democracy        
Organizer: The Antioch MFA        
Date: October 8

For this event, the Antioch MFA commissioned new poems from six working poets and then brought them and the whole Antioch community together for a night of readings and reflection. The five alumni poets and one student poet—Jessica Abughattas ’18, Elena Karina Byrne ’22, Shonda Buchanan ’10, Grant Chemidlin ’23, and Leonora ‘Leo’ Simonovis ’20 (all Los Angeles, MFA) and Jonathan Chou (MFA candidate)—each read their original pieces as well as pieces from other poets responding to democracy and poetry’s role within it at the culminating Poetry Is Democracy event. That event, held on Zoom on October 8, 2024, drew an audience of 76 community members from across the University. Each poet received a $500 commission for their participation.

Event: Latinx/Latiné Voter’s Forum      
Organizer: Santa Barbara Campus      
Date: October 12

This forum focused on local issues in Santa Barbara that impact Latinx/Latiné voters. The event included a panel of five experts in the Santa Barbara community, including current Santa Barbara City Council members. The organizers also provided voter registration services with a table staffed with volunteers from one of Santa Barbara City College’s student voter groups. The event ended in the courtyard, where guests, speakers, and volunteers enjoyed lively conversation. A local caterer provided tacos with fresh corn tortillas and refreshing drinks. The forum was organized by Jody Burns, Alex Guerrero, Ryan Kasmier, and Kayla Young, with key help from students in the MA in Clinical Psychology’s Latinx Mental Health Concentration. 

Event: The Role of Black Women in Democracy      
Organizer: Anti-Racism Task Force
Date: September 17

Black women have long stood at the forefront of democracy and liberation, their advocacy and resilience propelling movements for justice and equity—often without the recognition they deserve. “We have always been there, helping to lead the march,” said Judge Faye Chess during this panel discussion. “We have a voice. We have a reason to be here. We have something to contribute.” Chess, along with Judge Ashley Parker of North Carolina, Cassandra Stokes of the North Carolina Black Alliance, and Stephanie Helms Pickett, Antioch’s Vice Chancellor for Equity, Belonging & Culture, explored the historical and ongoing contributions of Black women to democratic movements, alongside the structural barriers they continue to face—including racism, patriarchy, and misogynoir. Judge Parker offered candid reflections on navigating the judiciary as a young Black woman: “They told me I was too young… too inexperienced… unqualified. These are things that we are constantly told as Black women.” The panel also offered clear and actionable guidance for allies, urging them to go beyond words and engage in meaningful support. “When Black women are in charge, just make sure that you’re being supportive,” said Stokes. “Are you actually being a supportive ally or a proactive ally?”

Event: Celebrating the Freedom To Read:  Book Banning, Censorship, and Democracy      
Organizers: School of Education + American Association of School Librarians    
Date:  September 24

This event brought together five respected library professionals to explore the impact of censorship, the rise of book bans, and the urgent need to protect students’ rights to read and learn freely. Moderated by Becky Calzada, District Library Coordinator and current president of AASL, the conversation featured Antioch University education faculty members Jen Sturge and Miranda Doyle, University of Baltimore librarian Allison Jennings-Roche, and award-winning middle school librarian Sheri Massey. Massey stressed the value of documenting and celebrating the joyful moments libraries bring to communities. “It’s easy to focus on the fights,” she said, “but we also need to remember the good we’re doing every day.” That sense of purpose, the panelists agreed, is key to sustaining the energy required for long-term advocacy.

Event: Antioch Book Conversations for Democracy       
Organizer: Gordon Alexandre        
Dates: July-November

Over five gatherings, participants from across Antioch discussed critical books on the rise of authoritarianism and the threats to our democracy. The conversations were facilitated by retired professor and U.S. historian Gordon Alexandre. In advance of each session, Gordon prepared questions for readers, and the Antioch library secured digital and hard copies of all books. As one participant noted, “From July to November, our country’s political landscape felt like a rollercoaster, with the threat of authoritarianism looming. Looking back, what helped me navigate my fears and anxieties were the insightful book conversations… I found myself looking forward to each gathering, eager to meet like-minded people, discover new books, and learn more about our country’s history and democracy. These conversations were also profoundly inspiring, motivating us to stay engaged and hopeful despite the political challenges we face.”