July 4, 2026 marked the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. This historical marker arrived at a moment of strain for American democracy, as political polarization deepens and the public trust shifts.

Join WTTW and Illinois State Senator Rachel Ventura for this screening and discussion event centered on FIRSTHAND: DEMOCRACY, the Emmy Award-nominated docuseries produced by WTTW. Through firsthand accounts, WTTW’s FIRSTHAND: DEMOCRACY shares the stories of five Chicagoans who are tapping into the power of community-driven work to get back to the basics of democratic action and improve their communities. Visit the FIRSTHAND website to explore the project.

During this event, we will screen an episode from the series, and immediately following, executive producer Dan Protess will moderate a conversation with Illinois State Senator Rachel Ventura; DuPage Township Clerk Barbara Parker; Will County Clerk Annette Parker; Pamela Fort, Speak Up and Vote; and Jane Ruby, President of the League of Women Voters.

This event is an opportunity to hear from local leaders whose daily work shapes the state of local, state, and national democracy. The conversation will explore what active citizenship in a democracy looks like, how we prepare ourselves for the challenges that continue to face our communities, and how we ensure that our government serves all its constituents.

Major support for FIRSTHAND: DEMOCRACY is provided by the Julian Grace Foundation, the Edwardson Family Foundation, and the Lohengrin Foundation. Additional support is provided by the Alvin H. Baum Family Fund, Nancy Clark, Sylvia Furner, and the Marc and Jeanne Malnati Family Foundation.