Join the Wende Museum, the Thomas Mann House, and dublab radio for the third program in this series on the current state of democracies. How should a democracy deal with its own vulnerabilities? How do democracies need to evolve to deal successfully with increasing global levels of ecological crisis, geopolitical tensions, economic disparities, and culture wars? How much vulnerability can a democracy endure?

The Student Council consists of a team of highly engaged, talented, and diverse undergraduate and graduate students who invite prominent guest speakers to discuss topics relating to society, politics, culture, and art. In conversation with academics, journalists, politicians, and artists, the students will explore the various threats to democratic institutions and principles worldwide, as well as strategies to potentially overcome these threats.

The guest speaker for our March program is Triston Ezidore, at 19 years old the youngest elected official in the history of Los Angeles County and the first black male to serve on Culver City Unified Board of Education. Ezidore serves on the Culver City School Board, works as a Youth Employment Manager with the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles, and has served his community as an Equity Specialist, Legislative Organizer, and committee member on the District’s Equity Advisory Committee, Restorative Practice’s Committee, Positive Behavior and Intervention’s Support Committee, and the Sexual Assault and Misconduct Reform Committee. Ezidore wholeheartedly believes that the people closest to the pain, should be closest to the power, he leads with a deep understanding of the vital safety net our schools provide to thousands of students and families and he is committed to advocating for, and building capacity around, the issues of education, labor, women’s reproductive health and political empowerment.