As the nation gears up to celebrate its 250th anniversary, the pivotal questions surrounding American democracy have never felt more pressing. This September 24-26, The Texas Tribune Festival in Austin will assemble a diverse array of voices who are actively engaged in addressing these fundamental issues, guiding us in our exploration of identity and the future direction of our country.
Among the notable speakers joining this critical dialogue are Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt; Sherrilyn Ifill, founding director of the 14th Amendment Center for Law and Democracy at Howard University School of Law; former White House Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove; National Book Award-winning author Imani Perry; former U.S. immigration judge Carla Espinoza-Grcic; and Avi Loeb, founder and director of the Galileo Project at Harvard University.
In his role as chair of the National Governors Association, Governor Stitt has adopted “Reigniting the American Dream” as his flagship initiative. Ifill, a former president of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, has characterized the ongoing fight to fully implement the 14th Amendment as “the defining constitutional battle of the 20th and 21st centuries.”
Rove, known for his role in the political ascent of George W. Bush, brings a unique perspective on the evolution of the Republican Party. Meanwhile, Perry, a Harvard professor and MacArthur “Genius” Fellow, has established herself as a leading voice on Black American life, history, and culture.
Espinoza-Grcic is notable for being among the many immigration judges dismissed during Donald Trump’s second term, while Loeb, an astrophysicist at Harvard, has dedicated years to scientifically investigating the possibility of extraterrestrial intelligence, a topic that has recently captured public attention.
Additionally, the festival will welcome other influential national and Texas figures, including state Representative Mitch Little, R-Lewisville; Elisa Villanueva Beard, president and CEO of Houston Endowment; former San Antonio mayor and Bexar County judge candidate Ron Nirenberg; and Joanna Lydgate, president and CEO of the States United Democracy Center.
With just three months until TribFest, attendees will be invited to engage with a dynamic lineup of speakers in a collective effort to tackle these significant questions.
Tickets are available now, providing an opportunity to influence discussions that will shape the future of both Texas and the nation.
The festival is presented by JPMorgan Chase, and features an expanding lineup that includes prominent figures such as Kevin Stitt, Sherrilyn Ifill, Mitch Little, Imani Perry, Ron Nirenberg, Carla Espinoza-Grcic, Karl Rove, Elisa Villanueva Beard, Avi Loeb, and Joanna Lydgate.
