Over 70 West/Southwest IAF leaders from across 10 states gathered for a seminar with Danielle Allen, James Bryant Conant University Professor at Harvard University and Director of the Allen Lab for Democracy Renovation and the Democratic Knowledge Project at Harvard. 

The focus of the conversation was Justice by Means of Democracy - the latest book by Professor Allen that reconsiders the foundations of justice and democracy at a time of social and political turmoil.

Reflecting on the political, economic, and philosophical history of the past two centuries up to the present day, Allen laid out core elements for a thriving society and healthy democracy that are central to our practice of organizing. These include:

• Membership in political and social networks
• Strengthening social bonds and bridging relationships across differences
• Challenging systems and policies that benefit a small elite at the expense of the larger public, and 
• Organizing opportunities for everyday people to participate in the decisions that impact their lives

Allen credited the leaders and organizers present for doing the work that gives ordinary people the freedom to steer their own lives.

“Freedom grows when people live free,” said Allen. “The work you’re doing is living free - that’s what it means to be an organizer.”

[Photo credit: Jackie Johnson]