The Kettering Foundation is proud to be a supporter of a new PBS NewsHour series, “Art in Action: Exploring the Intersection of Art and Democracy.” The series is part of the NewsHour’s ongoing arts and culture coverage, Canvas, and is an initiative of the Kettering Foundation’s Democracy and the Arts focus area.

We’ll feature new installments in each month’s issue of News & Notes. They air during the PBS NewsHour and can also be viewed on the PBS NewsHour website.

June 7: "Theater Adapts An Enemy of the People to Address Public Health after the Pandemic"

Theater of War Productions uses ancient and classic plays as a lens for exploring and discussing contemporary issues. Bryan Doerries, founder and artistic director, “sees it as a form of mediation” where the ancient and classical plays “create a kind of vocabulary for people to talk about hard things.”

June 24: "Moments of Solidarity Exhibition Highlights an Activist's Approach to Making Art"

LaToya Ruby Frazier uses photography, text, moving images, and performance to revive and preserve forgotten narratives of labor, gender, and race in the postindustrial era. The power of images can bring about democratic action through highlighting little-known heroes and inspiring people to see that they have the power to bring about change.

The Charles F. Kettering Foundation recently announced the appointments of five Kettering Foundation Global Fellows. The Global Fellowship for Advancing Inclusive Democracies, which began in early May, is a six-month program designed to promote leadership in global civil society and to nurture and support those working to build inclusive democracies around the world. These appointments are a part of the Democracy around the Globe focus area, and the fellows represent five different countries and draw on a wide array of backgrounds.

This week, the Charles F. Kettering Foundation announced the appointment of distinguished Ohio Governor's Award recipient, poet, and playwright Sierra Leone as its first artist-in-residence through fall 2025. Her understanding of the relationship between arts and activist communities will support Kettering's work to affirm and advance inclusive democracy through the arts. Leone's work with Kettering's Democracy and the Arts focus area will encompass collaborations with all of the foundation's work.

Upcoming Global Conversation on Intersectional Feminism and Democracy

As part of the Democracy around the Globe work, several feminist scholars and activists from the Global South are launching a global intersectional feminist network dedicated to exploring and advocating for democratic governance through an intersectional feminist lens. Join us on Friday, July 5, 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. ET, for an online discussion focused on the state of democracy, ways to enhance its inclusivity, and measures needed to enhance the inclusivity and intersectionality of political processes globally. To join the conversation, click here.

The Context, Kettering's podcast, is about the history, trends, and ideas shaping democracy in the United States and around the world. Every episode, host Alex Lovit, historian and senior program officer, will interview someone who has seen it all—scholars, politicians, journalists, and public servants. He'll get their take on how we got to where we are and what they've seen through their experience not only watching the news unfold but sometimes even being the news itself.

Katherine Gehl: "Elections Are Broken. How Do We Fix Them?"

American voters have never been more dissatisfied. Unlike in business, where more competition promotes accountability and innovation, our political system only allows for two competitors. For most voters, America’s two-party system makes elections more about defeating the other side than solving problems and delivering. Katherine Gehl proposes Final-Five Voting, where five candidates advance from a nonpartisan primary and then are ranked, to promote competition and ensure representatives are accountable to a majority of voters.

Kelley Robinson: "Defending LGBTQ+ Rights Is Defending Democracy"

The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) declared a state of emergency for LGBTQ+ Americans for the first time in 2023. In state houses across the country, we are seeing legislation that targets the rights and dignity of LGBTQ+ people. Kettering Senior Fellow and HRC President Kelley Robinson discusses how these attacks are part of a broader anti-democratic movement in the US and why it is important to develop a more inclusive culture for our democracy.

From Many, We aims to distill the aspirational goals of a diverse democracy, recognize patterns of exclusion and authoritarian creep, and identify and respond to urgent democratic threats. We invite you to join us in reading, thinking, and engaging with the insights in each post. Recent posts include:

"Honoring Brown v. Board of Education: A National Opportunity to Confront Today’s Challenges" by Max Altman

The 70th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education prompts reflection on its impact. Initially effective, gains have reversed, and systemic issues now limit opportunities. Addressing these issues presents a national opportunity for equity and is crucial for fostering an inclusive democracy.

"Wrecking the Public Sphere: Democracy Is Undermined by Bad Actors, Not Platforms" by Simone Chambers

Healthy democratic opinion formation depends on a free and open public sphere, but big data and algorithmic curation pose threats by manipulating information and microtargeting. Tactics used by authoritarian forces exploit technology to undermine democracy and aim to disrupt the public sphere. Addressing these threats requires focusing on the human agents behind these actions, not just the technology itself.

"A Pro-Democracy Strategy to Defeat Extremism in 2024" by Maura Casey

Former President Trump’s dominance of the Republican Party and its shift from traditional conservatism to loyalty to his claims have caused internal unrest. Critics within the party, like Kettering Foundation Senior Fellows Michael Luttig and Christine Todd Whitman, highlight the need for change. Voters play a key role in this change through raising voices, becoming poll workers, and signing petitions to bolster democracy and maintain the integrity of the electoral system.

"To Counter Authoritarianism, Can Journalism Promote Democratic Culture?" by Subramaniam Vincent

Democracy relies on truth for informed decision-making, with journalism playing a key role in countering disinformation. To align with democratic culture, journalism should shift its ethics to prioritize democratic values in newsworthiness, determination, and sourcing. By doing so, journalism can effectively support democratic ways of life and combat authoritarianism.

Queries regarding the blog may be directed to fmw@kettering.org.

Dahlia Lithwick: "Supreme Court Captured by Special Interests?"

Slate senior editor and Amicus podcast host Dahlia Lithwick spoke with Kettering Chief External Affairs Officer and Director of DC Operations Brad Rourke about current issues surrounding the United States Supreme Court. As we begin one of the busiest months for the Court in recent history, Lithwick focuses on the capture of the Court by special interests, and how important it is for democracy that the Court act in ways that maintain public trust.

Kicking off Pride Month, Kettering Foundation Senior Fellow Kelley Robinson, president of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), was keynote speaker at the HRC Columbus Dinner on June 1. Kettering was proud to be a supporting sponsor of the event, which was held at the Ohio Union at The Ohio State University. Kettering’s Jamaal Bell, creative strategy manager; Laura Carlson, director of the Kettering Democracy Prize; Tayo Clyburn, chief strategy officer and senior advisor to the president; Paloma Dallas, senior program officer for Democracy around the Globe; and Mindy LaBreck, vice president for people and culture; attended.

On June 8, Kettering was a cosponsor of the Black Music Month Dayton Philharmonic concert, which honored the contributions made by African Americans to our cultural heritage. President and CEO Sharon L. Davies provided brief remarks at a preconcert reception, highlighting Kettering’s commitment to the ability of the arts to affirm and advance democracy. The first half of the concert featured works by Black composers and inspired by Black folk music. The second half featured a community choir—with members from the Jeremy Winston Chorale International, the Dayton Philharmonic Chorus, and church choirs from across the Dayton area—recounting the African American experience in song. In attendance were Kettering’s Jamaal Bell, creative strategy manager; John Dedrick, executive vice president and chief operating officer; Joni Doherty, senior program officer for Democracy and the Arts; Melinda Gilmore, director of communications; and Jasmine Olaore, digital communications coordinator.

Valerie Lemmie, senior advisor for state and local government, represented Kettering at the National Civic League’s 75th All-America City Awards on June 9. Ten communities were honored for their transformative, community-driven efforts to strengthen democracy through local action and innovation. These communities exemplify the power of civic participation and innovation, offering a blueprint for others aspiring to strengthen democracy.

On June 12, the Kettering Foundation participated in the Native Son Awards in New York City. This annual event honors and celebrates the inspiring work of Black queer mavericks who have made major contributions to civic life and culture. Damien Conners, senior program officer for Defending Inclusive Democracy, attended.

Several members of the Kettering staff—Damien Conners, senior program officer for Defending Inclusive Democracy; John Dedrick, executive vice president and chief operating officer; and Elizabeth Gish, senior program officer for Democracy and Community—presented at the Frontiers of Democracy conference at Tufts University, June 13-15. Conners participated on a plenary panel, “Violence, Nonviolence, and Robust Democracy,” while Dedrick and Gish led a breakout session on “What Can/Should We Do? Paths to Nonviolent Democracy-Building for Everyday People.”

Remembering Brown v. Board of Education

Throughout the month of May, the Kettering Foundation commemorated the 70th anniversary of Brown vs. Board of Education through blog posts, podcast episodes, and videos. The commemoration culminated in a blog post from our President and CEO, Sharon L. Davies, reflecting on her personal experience with and the significance of the case.

Kettering Global Fellows at Work: Maame Afua Asantewaa Adusei

For her fellowship project, CFK Global Fellow Maame Afua Asantewaa Adusei examined challenges to youth political participation as well as how the political involvement that is happening could be enhanced. While her efforts focused primarily on the conditions in her home country of Ghana, the role of youth in democracy is important for the sustainability of government in any country.

Countering Authoritarianism: Insights on Protecting Democracy in a Critical Election Year

In a recent Kettering webinar, experts Steven Levitsky, Maria J. Stephan, and Ziad Majed discussed the threats to democracy, the tactics used by authoritarian leaders, and the importance of broad-based coalitions. They highlighted lessons from past global movements and the need for a global pro-democracy alliance to strengthen democratic resilience. The session concluded with actionable steps for citizens to counter anti-democratic threats.

Longwell: We Need to Tell a Better Story about America

GOP strategist Sarah Longwell, publisher of The Bulwark, discussed the ongoing political realignment within the Republican Party at the May 9 Kettering Conversations on Democracy. Longwell emphasized the need for strong pro-democracy leadership and promoting a positive narrative about democracy to inspire civic engagement and optimism.

Democracy Is on Fire

As part of the May 9 Kettering Conversations on Democracy, Kettering Senior Fellows Neal Katyal and J. Michael Luttig, along with moderator Melissa Murray, discussed the state of democracy and institutions in the US. Katyal and Luttig offered contrasting views on the state of democracy, with Katyal seeing pluralism as an advantage and Luttig warning of democracy’s fragility.

The Tbilisi Protests: What Georgians Are Really Fighting For

Since mid-April 2024, massive protests have erupted in Georgia against the controversial Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence, which would force NGOs and media receiving foreign funds to declare they are pursuing foreign interests. Critics argue the bill threatens Georgia’s democracy, paralleling Russian tactics as Georgian citizens fight for their democratic future amid authoritarianism.

Celebrating Juneteenth: A Testament to Freedom, Unity, and Democracy

On June 15, the Dayton community came together in downtown Dayton to commemorate Juneteenth, a pivotal moment in American history that marks the end of slavery. Kettering was honored to cosponsor the event, and as a part of our cosponsorship, Dayton Democracy Fellows Taylor Johnson and Destiny Brown staffed a table that featured their work with Spectrum New Beginnings, the Dayton Tenant Union, and Advocates for Basic Legal Ability (ABLE).

As a supporter of Judy Woodruff Presents: America at a Crossroads, we’ll feature new installments in each month’s issue of News & Notes. The episodes air during PBS NewsHour and can also be viewed on the PBS NewsHour website. 

May 29: "How Open Primaries and Ranked-Choice Voting Can Help Break Partisan Gridlock

In 2022, Alaskan voters participated in an open primary and a ranked-voting general election. Many Alaskans are in favor of this new system because it allows independents to vote in the primary, leads to bipartisan work in the state legislature, and requires candidates to rethink how they campaign. However, there are still some who feel the old system worked better and question if this will help alleviate polarization.

June 12: "Israel-Hamas War Reopens Old Divisions and Reveals New Ones Among Americans"

Judy Woodruff traveled to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, to speak with a group of Jewish Americans and a group of Arab Americans about the impact of the Israel-Hamas war on their lives. Both groups shared how their lives will never be the same after October 7, 2023. They have lost friends, experienced increased polarization, and are scared for their people in America, Israel, and Palestine. 

June 26: "Christian Communities Face Growing Political Divide as Religious Affiliation Declines"

The rise of the "nones" (those without religious affiliation) reflects a broader trend of distrust in institutions, including churches. Political and social issues further complicate church dynamics, leading to closures and shifting congregations. Despite these trends, there are some churches that strive to remain inclusive and politically neutral.

Last month, Jasmine Olaore joined the Kettering Foundation as digital communications coordinator. She will play a key role in content creation for Kettering’s website and social media platforms to further elevate and make visible the work of the foundation.

Olaore’s talents in content creation, community engagement, photography, video editing, and email marketing has led to impressive audience growth and heightened engagement. Passionate about storytelling and building vibrant online communities, Olaore uses her expertise to help organizations achieve their goals and flourish in the digital landscape. She holds a BA in mass communications from Wright State University, along with advanced certifications from Google and HubSpot.