In a democracy, people should be architects of their own future. Yet in many of today’s democracies, people don’t feel like they can effectively influence the world around them—sometimes close to home, but especially when observing national or world events. This perceived lack of power can lead to anxiety and even paralysis, preventing people from exercising their purpose and developing the civic muscle democracies need to be successful. Our symposium focused on how we can foster our own sense of agency to benefit ourselves, our communities, and ultimately democracy itself.
