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

Join WTTW and Braver Angels for this screening and discussion event centered on Firsthand: Democracy, the acclaimed docuseries produced by WTTW. During this event, we will screen the episode featuring Maryanne Colter, Illinois State Coordinator for Braver Angels.

Following the screening, Firsthand: Democracy’s co-executive producer Dan Protess will moderate a conversation featuring Maryanne Colter; Aubrey Barnett, 7th grade English Language Arts teacher at Marshall Gifted Academy, Rockford Public Schools; and Lindsay Tobias, teacher and coordinator, The Integrated Global Studies School at New Trier High School. The conversation will focus on how to foster dialogue across partisan lines.

This event is open to the public, and offers a unique opportunity to engage with residents and thought leaders as they reflect on ways to strengthen our democracy.

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.