On Election Day, the Carter School at George Mason University invites students and teachers across the DMV to Dialogue for Democracy, a hands-on summit exploring the complexity of current issues. Students and Teachers will engage directly (see separate tracks and register below) with Carter School faculty and join in dialogue with one another about the challenges facing our democracy—and the solutions we can create to strengthen it.
Student Track
On Election Day 2025, high school students from across the DMV will gather for a interactive workshop designed to explore the big issues shaping democracy—immigration, misinformation, extremism, the energy & the environment, and the global rise of populism. Through university faculty presentations, expert panel discussions, dialogue circles, and workshop activities, students, together with their peers, will explore the complexity of many issues facing this generation.
Current Student Track Sessions:
Round 1 sessions (Select 1):
- Democracy & Immigration, Professor Tehama Lopez-Bunyasi
- Session Description: Coming Soon
- Populism and Polarization, Professor Dan Rothbart
- Session Description: Coming Soon
- Children Under Fire: An American Crisis, Jordan Emely
- Session Description: Columbine. Virginia Tech. Sandy Hook. Marjory Stoneman Douglas. [Insert next school here]. Each of these schools faced unthinkable tragedy, and yet real action to keep students safe hasn't happened. In this session, we’ll take a closer look at school violence—why it happens, what can be done to prevent it, and how it has shaped our democracy for decades. We’ll use powerful stories from John Woodrow Cox’s book Children Under Fire: An American Crisis, along with research and real evidence, to better understand the crisis and to think about democratic solutions.
Round 2 sessions (Select 1):
- Democracy & the Environment: Local Energy and Data Centers, Professor Sylvia Danielak
- Session Description: Coming Soon
- Youth Engagement in Democracy, Professor Linda Mann
- Session Description: Coming Soon
- What is Viewpoint Diversity?, Professor Solon Simmons
- Session Description: Coming Soon
Teacher Track
On Election Day 2025, teachers from across the DMV will gather for a interactive workshop designed to explore the Conflict Analysis and Resolution topics in the classroom. Through university faculty presentations, dialogue circles, and workshop activities, teachers will explore the complexity of many issues facing this generation and find solutions to discuss it productively in the classroom.
Current Teacher Track:
- The Role of History & Memory in Classroom Instruction - Dr. Karina Korostelina
- Session Description: Coming Soon
- Integrating Conflict Resolution into Curriculum - Dr. Jeff Helsing
- Session Description: Coming Soon
- Fostering Curiosity: Removing the Echo Chamber - Dr. Solon Simmons and Jane Walker
- Session Description: Coming Soon