The Democracy Center is honored to host the Smithsonian’s National Conversation on Race. Building on last year’s discussions at the intersection of race at issues of wealth, health, and the arts, this year’s dialogue examines the urgent contemporary forces shaping these issues. With a focus on youth empowerment and the role of creative practice in fostering equitable recovery from natural disasters, this gathering will illuminate pathways toward systemic change.
California Wellness Foundation Vice President of Public Affairs, Alex M. Johnson, will deliver the opening remarks and moderate a distinguished plenary panel featuring Changeist Chief Executive Officer, Mario Fedelin; California Community Foundation Chief Officer of Policy and Programs, Cielo Castro; and Democracy Center Director, James E. Herr. They will explore the far-reaching policy impacts on young people and examine how to cultivate meaningful opportunities for them to drive the positive transformation they envision for the nation.
The Democracy Center also welcomes Professor Anna Kennedy-Borissow from the University of Melbourne as the keynote speaker. A leading voice on the intersection of creative practice and disaster recovery, Professor Kennedy-Borissow brings deep expertise in fostering equitable recovery efforts, drawing from her extensive research on the wildfires that have devastated Australia over the past two decades. She will be joined by a panel of esteemed local experts, including Karen Mack, founder of LA Commons, to explore how Los Angeles can adapt and implement these models to enhance its own recovery initiatives.
Additional speakers to be announced.
Copresented by the Smithsonian’s Our Shared Future: Reckoning with our Racial Past Initiative, as part of their National Conversation on Race series.
The Democracy Center is honored to host the Smithsonian’s National Conversation on Race. Building on last year’s discussions at the intersection of race at issues of wealth, health, and the arts, this year’s dialogue examines the urgent contemporary forces shaping these issues. With a focus on youth empowerment and the role of creative practice in fostering equitable recovery from natural disasters, this gathering will illuminate pathways toward systemic change.
California Wellness Foundation Vice President of Public Affairs, Alex M. Johnson, will deliver the opening remarks and moderate a distinguished plenary panel featuring Changeist Chief Executive Officer, Mario Fedelin; California Community Foundation Chief Officer of Policy and Programs, Cielo Castro; and Democracy Center Director, James E. Herr. They will explore the far-reaching policy impacts on young people and examine how to cultivate meaningful opportunities for them to drive the positive transformation they envision for the nation.
The Democracy Center also welcomes Professor Anna Kennedy-Borissow from the University of Melbourne as the keynote speaker. A leading voice on the intersection of creative practice and disaster recovery, Professor Kennedy-Borissow brings deep expertise in fostering equitable recovery efforts, drawing from her extensive research on the wildfires that have devastated Australia over the past two decades. She will be joined by a panel of esteemed local experts, including Karen Mack, founder of LA Commons, to explore how Los Angeles can adapt and implement these models to enhance its own recovery initiatives.
Additional speakers to be announced.
Copresented by the Smithsonian’s Our Shared Future: Reckoning with our Racial Past Initiative, as part of their National Conversation on Race series.
Bios
Anna Kennedy-Borissow
Anna Kennedy-Borissow is a researcher, educator, arts manager, and theatre maker based on Wurundjeri lands in Melbourne, Australia. She is completing her Doctor of Philosophy – Arts at the University of Melbourne, where she researches community-engaged arts programs following disasters that improve community wellbeing and contribute to a culture of democracy.
Cielo V. Castro
Cielo V. Castro is the chief officer of policy and programs at the California Community Foundation, where she drives their programmatic strategies, fostering collaboration and advocacy across nonprofit, public, and private sectors to tackle community challenges.
Mario Fedelin
Mario Fedelin is the chief executive officer of Changist. In 2014 he conceived of, designed, and launched Changeist, which builds pathways for social changemaking by engaging young leaders with each other, with California’s critical issues, and with local agencies working toward solutions.
Alex M. Johnson
Alex M. Johnson is vice president of public affairs at the California Wellness Foundation (Cal Wellness) and oversees the department’s government relations, community engagement and strategic communications. Previously, he served as vice president at Bryson Gillette and as a senior leader at Cal Wellness in various grantmaking roles. He is a graduate of Morehouse College and American University’s Washington College of Law.
Karen Mack
Karen Mack founded LA Commons twenty years ago to leverage the power of arts and culture to empower individuals, build connections and develop communities. The South LA–based nonprofit implements a range of programs from murals to festivals to tours and beyond, reflecting the unique character of our diverse neighborhoods.