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DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20240620T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20240620T133000
DTSTAMP:20260430T161641
CREATED:20240611T204519Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240621T165346Z
UID:2661-1718884800-1718890200@horizonsproject.us
SUMMARY:Organizing in Increasingly Repressive Environments: Pushing Against Criminalization
DESCRIPTION:With the global rise of authoritarianism\, civil society is experiencing an unprecedented crack down around the world. Drawing from the experiences of organizations in Florida\, Brazil\, and Nicaragua\, the conversation explored the challenges and opportunities of organizing in contexts where freedom of expression and assembly are severely restricted. Key questions addressed include: What tactics have proven effective in mobilizing communities under repressive regimes? How can organizers and civil society leaders navigate surveillance and crackdowns while still building momentum for change? How can civil society organizations monitor and be prepared for increasingly repressive attacks? This webinar dove into practical examples of strategies to organize and change in the most challenging environments. Participants gain valuable insights into spotting dangers\, sustaining momentum\, and building resilience in the face of adversity. \nSpeakers:  \n\nSaskia Brechenmacher\, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and author of Defending Civic Space in the United States: Lessons Learned Around the World\nDwight Bullard\, Florida Rising\nJulia Mello Neiva\, Conectas (Brazil) \nFelix Maradiaga\, Nicaraguan Academic and Political Activist\n\nCommentator/moderator:  \n\nScot Nakagawa\, 22nd Century Initiative\nMaria Stephan\, The Horizons Project\n\nWatch Recoring Here
URL:https://horizonsproject.us/event/organizing-in-increasingly-repressive-environments-pushing-against-criminalization/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20241028T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20241028T133000
DTSTAMP:20260430T161641
CREATED:20241016T140405Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241031T234907Z
UID:3521-1730116800-1730122200@horizonsproject.us
SUMMARY:Defending Democracy with Humor and Dilemma Actions Tactics
DESCRIPTION:Successful broad-based\, pro-democracy fronts often rely on a range of tactics and strategies to engage more people in their cause. One particularly powerful approach is the use of dilemma actions\, which place authoritarian regimes in a bind where any response they make will either backfire or highlight the absurdity of their oppression. By combining such tactics with creative use of humor\, these movements can magnify their impact. Humor\, when paired with dilemma actions\, does not just entertain—it can expose the contradictions of tyranny in a way that leaves regimes struggling to respond without losing legitimacy. \nMovements worldwide have used jokes\, memes\, and comedic videos not only to raise awareness but also to create situations where authoritarian figures are forced to react to ridicule. This strategic use of humor can catch people off guard\, sparking dialogue and inviting more open-minded discussions about serious issues. It also plays a crucial role in building a sense of agency within individuals and the movement\, shifting power dynamics by turning the symbols of oppression against their wielders. So\, how can a pro-democracy movement leverage both humor and dilemma actions to attract more people to its cause? What kinds of humor resonate with different audiences\, and how can these actions be employed to corner regimes in ways that expose their weaknesses? How can these tactics be used in the US context? \nMovement organizers and scholars from Serbia\, Zimbabwe\, and the United States\, explored how pro-democracy movements can use humor\, dilemma actions\, and other creative tactics to upend power imbalances\, inspire agency\, and foster a resilient\, sustainable coalition. Learn from global experiences on the effective use of these strategies in defending democracy. \nPanelists include: \n\nSophia McClennen (USA) – Director of the Center for Global Studies\, and Professor of International Affairs and Comparative Literature at Pennsylvania State University.\nKhumbulani Maphosa (Zimbabwe) – Director of the Matabeleland Institute for Human Rights\nIvan Marovic (Serbia) – International Center on Nonviolent Conflict\nPedro Silva (USA) – Founder of The Liberation Comedy Project\nDavid Purdue (USA) – Activist and Comedian\nModerator: Xochilt Hernandez (Organizing Fellow at Horizons Project)\n\nIf you missed the event\, go here for a recording of the event.
URL:https://horizonsproject.us/event/defending-democracy-with-humor-and-dilemma-actions-tactics/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241203T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241203T143000
DTSTAMP:20260430T161641
CREATED:20241125T233349Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241125T233442Z
UID:3555-1733230800-1733236200@horizonsproject.us
SUMMARY:Resilience and Post-election Management
DESCRIPTION:In the aftermath of elections\, whether they bring victory\, disappointment\, or controversy\, movements promoting democracy and human rights often face critical challenges in sustaining momentum and navigating political realities. This webinar brings together trainers and seasoned practitioners from the United States and Zimbabwe to share insights\, strategies\, and lessons learned from managing movements during the crucial post-election period. With a focus on resilience\, care\, innovation\, and solidarity\, this discussion will explore how movements can adapt to shifting landscapes\, attract new people\, and build resilience for the long-term movement work needed to push for systemic change. \nOur panelists will address pivotal questions central to post-election movement management. How can movements maintain momentum and sustain public engagement once the immediate focus of the election fades? What measures can be taken to protect activists from burnout in politically volatile environments\, while building resilience? How can movements effectively transform short-term campaigns into enduring efforts\, and adapt to electoral outcomes? Drawing on real-world experiences\, speakers will provide actionable insights into these critical areas\, helping attendees navigate the complexities of post-election advocacy. \nWhether you are an organizer\, bridgebuilder\, civil society leader\, or simply interested in the resilience of democratic movements\, this webinar offers an invaluable opportunity to gain actionable insights. Join us to learn from experienced leaders\, engage in a dynamic discussion\, and deepen your understanding of how to build enduring movements that thrive beyond election cycles. \nPanelists include: \n\nEvan Mawarire – Zimbabwean activist and Senior Fellow at Renew Democracy Initiative\nAndre Henry – US-American Singer-Songwriter\, Author\, and Community Organizer\nIsabella Cuomo – Trainer and Head Researcher at the Center for Applied Nonviolent Actions and Strategies
URL:https://horizonsproject.us/event/resilience-and-post-election-management/
LOCATION:Virtual
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250115T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250115T130000
DTSTAMP:20260430T161641
CREATED:20250107T145154Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250116T145737Z
UID:3595-1736942400-1736946000@horizonsproject.us
SUMMARY:How we can Block\, Bridge\, and Build our Democratic Future Together
DESCRIPTION:As part of the 2025 National Days of Dialogue\, we hosted a session entitled\, “How We Can Block\, Bridge\, and Build Our Democratic Future Together”\, the recording of which can be found here.  \nThis session is a born of our current moment in history that requires us to develop new organizing modalities where dialogue is complementary with other approaches. Civic actors have to come together to block the threats we are facing to our democratic values\, we need to bridge across differences to foster broad-based movements with the widest participation\, and we have to build together the future we want to live in our communities and our nation. As we seek to work towards belonging for all\, protect democracy\, and combat authoritarian trends\, civic actors have to be and do several things at once: in this session we explored together the many paradoxes of being both in resistance mode while also being restorative. How we stay future-oriented and hopeful while acknowledging and redressing past and current harms? In conversation together\, we interrogated these seeming tensions and investigated how we can wrestle in practice with these paradoxes\, allowing us to move forward together with the broadest participation possible along many lines of difference.
URL:https://horizonsproject.us/event/how-we-can-block-bridge-and-build-our-democratic-future-together/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251211T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251211T133000
DTSTAMP:20260430T161641
CREATED:20251202T053859Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251202T182903Z
UID:4153-1765454400-1765459800@horizonsproject.us
SUMMARY:Militarization of Our Communities: What Business Can Do in Response
DESCRIPTION:Business Briefing on Federal Deployments: Know Your Rights and Options \nCharlotte\, Portland\, Washington\, D.C.\, Los Angeles\, Memphis\, Chicago….\nIs Your Community Next? \nREGISTER\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nJoin us on December 11th\, 2025\, at 12 PM EST\, for a live\, virtual briefing co-hosted by American Sustainable Business Network\, West Philadelphia Corridor Collaborative\, The Horizons Project\, National Security Leaders for America\, Secure Growth Initiative\, and the South Carolina Small Business Chamber of Commerce\, to help business leaders understand the economic and rule of law implications of National Guard deployment and Border Control & ICE actions in their communities. Such activities have a negative impact on a city’s economic vitality and residents’ sense of security. The Posse Comitatus Act generally prohibits the military from engaging in civilian law enforcement\, with few exceptions. \nThis briefing will provide non-partisan facts and offer insights into how businesses can respond. Speakers include former military leaders experienced in civil-military affairs\, business leaders\, and attorneys. \nWhat you’ll learn: \n\nThe legal authorities under which National Guard troops can be deployed.\nWhat business leaders can expect during a deployment.\nEconomic impacts on businesses of militarizing our cities and communities.\nLegal options for businesses to respond to ICE actions\, including how to protect your workforce.\nStatus of federal and state lawsuits challenging Guard deployments and ICE activities.\n\nSpeakers: \n\nSteven Dyme\, CEO\, Flowers for Dreams (Chicago)\nChristopher Purdy\, President\, The Chamberlain Network\, former Army National Guard\nDaniel Schwartz\, Advisor\, National Security Leaders for America\, Senior Counsel\, BCLP LLP and former general counsel at the National Security Agency\nJonathan Grode\, Managing Partner\, Immigration\, Green & Spiegel LLP\n\nREGISTER
URL:https://horizonsproject.us/event/militarization-of-our-communities-what-business-can-do-in-response/
LOCATION:Virtual
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260120T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260120T130000
DTSTAMP:20260430T161641
CREATED:20260107T154653Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260108T035759Z
UID:4195-1768910400-1768914000@horizonsproject.us
SUMMARY:The Risks That Crony Capitalism Poses to Our Democracy
DESCRIPTION:REGISTER\nA conversation for business leaders on how crony capitalism under the Trump administration distorts markets\, undermines fair competition\, erodes public trust in democratic institutions\, and what can be done to counter it. \nOnce heralded as the world’s leading free-market economy\, the United States is increasingly facing criticism over what many see as a new era of corruption and crony capitalism. Recent examples of self-dealing by administration officials and family members\, along with selective regulatory enforcement\, pardons to donors\, mercurial tariff policies\, and direct government involvement in private companies are fueling concerns across the political spectrum that the playing field is tilted toward those aligned with the president. Those in the private sector willing to use their financial resources to curry favor with the White House only make matters worse. \nCrony capitalism is a system in which political power and private enterprise become entangled\, and proximity to those in power matters more than merit or market performance. It is an amoral\, principles-free\, transactional approach to governance that prioritizes personal or political gain over the public interest. While the United States has never been immune to cronyism\, we are in a new era where political favoritism\, not innovation\, determines success. \nCronyism imposes real costs on small and medium-sized enterprises\, which find themselves competing on an uneven playing field. When the federal government opaquely selects “winners”\, it disadvantages competitors—particularly startups and smaller firms that lack political access. Empirical evidence consistently shows that countries with higher levels of corruption experience weaker economic growth and greater market volatility. While safeguards against such practices exist in U.S. law and custom\, oversight procedures and ethics norms are being disregarded. \nSpeakers: \n\nThomas Berry\, Director of Constitutional Studies\, Cato Institute\nJeff Smulyan\, Chief Executive Officer\, Emmis Corporation\nElizabeth Doty\, Executive Director\, Third Side Strategies\nRobert Maguire\, Vice President for Research and Data\, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington\nRichard Eidlin\, Business Pillar Consultant\, the Horizons Project\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nREGISTER
URL:https://horizonsproject.us/event/the-risks-that-crony-capitalism-poses-to-our-democracy/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260122T233500
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260123T003000
DTSTAMP:20260430T161641
CREATED:20260120T163259Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260120T163347Z
UID:4285-1769124900-1769128200@horizonsproject.us
SUMMARY:Horizons’ Maria J. Stephan Talks Strategic Nonviolent Action with Stephen Colbert on The Late Show
DESCRIPTION:  \n \nWATCH ON CBS \nAt a moment when American democracy is under threat and political violence and authoritarianism are on the rise\, people and groups around the country are turning to strategic nonviolent action. From walkouts to boycotts to organizing networks of community care\, there is a growing call for everyday Americans to drop their support from harmful authoritarian policies and fight for something better. \nHorizons’ Maria J. Stephan will explain what nonviolent action is\, why it works\, and how to take part in this growing broad-front pro-democracy movement. \n——— \nDr. Maria J. Stephan is the Co-lead & Chief Organizer at the Horizons Project\, an initiative focused on strengthening connections and collective action among US pro-democracy movements and sectors. Maria is an award-winning author and organizer whose work has focused on the role of nonviolent movements advancing human rights\, democracy\, and peace. She co-wrote (with Erica Chenoweth) Why Civil Resistance Works: The Strategic Logic of Nonviolent Conflict\, which received the American Political Science Association’s award for the best book published in political science in 2012\, and the Grawemeyer Award for Ideas Improving World Order.
URL:https://horizonsproject.us/event/horizons-maria-j-stephan-talks-strategic-nonviolent-action-with-stephen-colbert-on-the-late-show/
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