The Stevens Initiative at the Aspen Institute’s Post

Today is Juneteenth, a pivotal moment in American history marking the end of slavery and celebrating freedom, resilience, and the pursuit of justice. It’s also an opportunity to honor those who continue to champion fairness and equality. One such leader is Dr. Joy Buolamwini, artist, poet of code, and founder of the The Algorithmic Justice League. Joy’s groundbreaking work addresses biases in AI systems, ensuring that technology serves everyone fairly and equitably. Her efforts are critical in our digital age, where technology has the power to shape our lives and societies. Just as Juneteenth symbolizes freedom and hope, the Algorithmic Justice League stands as a beacon for fairness in technology. By tackling these modern-day issues, Joy and her team are continuing the fight for civil rights, advocating for an equitable future for all. Let’s take this day to reflect on our progress and support initiatives that drive justice and equality in every aspect of life, including technology. #AIForAll #TechEquity #Juneteenth

The state depends only on how its' people create and nurture it 🇱🇹 Let's celebrate the day of our independency - March 11! For freedom and the right to create and choose 😌 #expertlab #businessconsulting #connectingexpertise #freedomtochoose

While the opinions on Chris Brown’s concert are clearly divided, what stands out is the value of healthy debate. Discussions on severe issues like GBV, accountability and redemption are important for any society. The fact that so many people are actively participating in this conversation is a good thing. Debate fosters understanding, encourages reflection and can lead to positive change. No matter what happens in December, the real victory here is the space this conversation has created for important issues to be addressed. Get the full story here (with links to both petitions):

Reclaim your voice and power in the shaping of these United States. When the founding Declaration of Independence was signed into law, it shaped the narrative of inequity, disproportionality, and harm to 99% of our population. As the 250th Anniversary of this event approaches in 2026, we envision using this moment as a hook to create collective power, join our voices, and develop a shared policy platform to shape our organizing efforts in the coming decade. We know this work needs collective dreaming, even as many of our bases are exhausted from years of fighting for our basic rights, so we thank you in advance for agreeing to host and facilitate a listening session with your base. Including the insights, voices, and inputs of your community will be critical as we continue to shape the narrative of what we want for the next 250.

The Spring 2024 volume of the National Civic Review is out. Check out some interesting articles about hope and democracy, a novel idea of participatory assembly budgeting, municipal proportional representation, and more!!! If you'd like to contribute to the NCR, please feel free to reach out.

We are very excited as we prepare for the WahlheYmat Talks on 🗓️ Wednesday, October 23, starting at 5:30 PM at the 📍Amerika-Gedenkbibliothek PopUp Saal. We'll be tackling a crucial topic with our guests — Mine Nang (Give Something Back to Berlin e.V. ) Kasia Wojcik (Berlin Polyphon) and Philipp von der Wippel (ProjectTogether) —young, talented leaders whose fresh perspectives, knowledge, and positive energy are truly transformative. It's a crucial topic because migration has become the number one social issue in Germany. But often, this focus is driven by fear, making us, newcomers for a projection surface of other problems in life. This reflects the core of our current situation: our city administration, politics, and democratic structures are too outdated to respond effectively to today’s challenges, big or small. So, how can we change this complex system? We see the role of civic society and civic organizations as essential. How can we transform this role? How do we strengthen civic organizations in terms of financial support, human resources, skills, and knowledge? How can we reimagine the relationship between politics and civic society? And how do we integrate the expertise, resources, and efficiency of the business sector into civic society? How can we do things differently? Civic organizations have a unique role in helping citizens to adapt. They can also help us see our lives, our roles, and our connections differently. As Erik Fernholm highlighted at the IDG Summit: What if we stopped viewing life as a journey with a fixed destination? What if life wasn’t a journey at all, but more like music—music we appreciate, music that inspires us to add to it. And adding to music means: dance. The purpose of music isn’t to reach the final note—it’s to dance. Seeing things differently is what ignites change. Please join us on Wednesday to experience the energy of civic society and reflect together on how we can innovate our democracy. Let’s start the discussion right now! Share your thoughts and questions in only 2 minutes here: https://lnkd.in/eKZae4gp Like. Share. Join. - Diverse voices tell the complete truth

To Create a Thriving Society To create a thriving society, three essential elements must be in place: peace, justice, and strong institutions. When societies are peaceful and inclusive, people can live without fear, focus on economic growth, and develop their communities. Access to justice ensures that everyone's rights are protected and that citizens can seek redress for grievances. Strong institutions provide the framework for good governance, accountability, and responsiveness to citizens' needs. Policy and democratic principles play a crucial role in achieving these elements. Policies that promote equality, social justice, and human rights help create a just and inclusive society. Democratic principles such as participation, representation, and the rule of law ensure that citizens have a voice in decision-making processes and that power is exercised responsibly. By prioritizing these elements and upholding democratic principles, we can build a society that is more equitable, prosperous, and just for all. This requires a collective effort and commitment from governments, civil society, and individuals to: - Promote policies that foster inclusive growth and development - Strengthen democratic institutions and the rule of law - Ensure access to justice and protect human rights - Encourage citizen participation and engagement in decision-making processes Together, we can create a world where everyone can thrive and reach their full potential. ✍🏾

#awarenessmadeeasy #lucidlens Progressive discussions are not moving beyond intellectual platforms to reach common spaces. Real societal change will remain impossible until these debates become part of everyday conversations, and common spaces become platforms for progressive ideas. If this doesn’t happen, intellectual platforms and social media will continue to serve as echo chambers for all streams of thought.

Come join the FAU Business and Human Rights Hub's mailing list to stay up to date on our next sessions: https://lnkd.in/e6Qf2B-J Exciting things to come! More information in the post below #bizhumanrights #BHR #sustainability #CSDDD #UNGPs

We are diving head-first into societal topics that highlight political campaigns, policy directions, and new ideas for pushing positive change at #SXSW. Explore over 50 thought-provoking sessions in the Government and Civic Engagement track. https://ow.ly/2we050QLCTW