The Democracy Center

08/04/2026

In 2026, the Smithsonian and 25 Smithsonian Affiliate organizations nationwide will commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence with the Making History, Making Change Lecture Series.

From January to September, Smithsonian experts—curators, scientists, educators, and historians—will visit communities across the country to share stories that reflect the richness and complexity of the American experience. Each lecture will explore how people, moments, and ideals have shaped our history and continue to drive change.

JANM is honored to welcome Dr. Anthea Hartig, director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, for a conversation exploring the enduring significance of the Declaration of Independence and the ideas that have shaped the American experience for nearly 250 years.

Following the keynote discussion, participants will have the opportunity to consider many of the same questions that confronted the nation's founders. Young adults from across the country have taken part in this exercise, discussing the issues they believe are most important, and drafting declarations that reflect their aspirations for the future.

Now it’s your turn. This interactive activity invites participants to reflect on the principles of the Declaration of Independence, discuss issues that matter to them, and create their own declaration for the future.

Saturday, August 22
11 a.m–2 p.m. PDT

Visit janm.org/democracy

07/17/2026

It’s official! entertwine’s 6th annual Grand Event is back at the on July 26th in The Democracy Center ! This isn’t just a performance—it’s a celebration of culture, community, and the voices that make the Asian diaspora so vibrant. Come enjoy incredible performances, meet amazing artists, and be part of this special day. Let’s celebrate together!

🎟️ Tickets in BIO 🎟️🎭

07/04/2026

This is what is looks like when we bring community together to reimagine the American flag 🫶 Seeing all their amazing flags reminds us that there is not a single way to represent patriotism in America on this 250th anniversary!

Thank you to all the artists and community members who came out to share this film and creative experience with one another 🫶⭐️✨

07/03/2026

Nothing like summer days and double plays ⚾️Thank you to everyone who joined us for our Civic Season Sip of History!

Special thank you to Kristen Hayashi and Far Bar Little Tokyo for making this event a home run! 🎉

01/14/2026

Join the Democracy Center at JANM and meet the thinkers, artists, organizers, and civic leaders confronting authoritarianism today.

This day-long symposium challenges us to imagine how we can build a democracy that endures by recognizing the threats before us, learning from communities resisting them, and envisioning new civic spaces and shared legacies for the future. The symposium also includes tours of the timely exhibition Monuments at and a mobile “banned bookmobile” presented by Bloom Wild Bookshop

A participatory musical event by Great Leap featuring visionary artist-activist Nobuko Miyamoto inspires us to celebrate memory, joy, and collective action. Groove to the beat, learn the FandangObon circle dance, and add your hopes and wishes to the dance circle’s centerpiece.

Get tickets at janm.org/democracy

Top image: Glenn Kaino, In the Light of a Shadow (detail), 2021. Image courtesy of the artist.

12/20/2025

📣 CALLING ALL ANGELENOS 📣Today is the final day to register for the Civic Assembly scheduled for January 11th at the Democracy Center at JANM! It’s not too late for you to get involved. Check out the link in BIO to sign up now! Remember, when people feel heard and are involved, democracy gets stronger.

12/19/2025

Los Angeles is rewriting its City Charter, a rulebook for how the city works. It decides who holds power, how decisions are made, and how billions of public dollars are spent. 💰

Los Angeles’ Charter Reform Commission is partnering with Rewrite LA to ensure that everyday Angelenos have a direct voice in shaping how the city is governed. Mini-Assemblies is a unique opportunity to learn, deliberate, and develop community-informed recommendations that will help guide the Charter Reform process. 🗳️

The Commission has pledged to consider the recommendations that come from the Assemblies, so your recommendations can really make a difference in how LA operates.

For more information, visit rewritela.org 📎

10/08/2025

Join us for a short film screening and discussion about the Delano Grape Strike this Sunday, October 12 at 2 p.m.!

Sixty years ago, Filipino and Mexican farm workers stood shoulder to shoulder in the Delano Grape Strike, igniting a movement that reshaped labor history and inspired generations. Celebrate the courage of past generations, honor the creativity that sustains movements, and plant seeds for the struggles ahead with the Democracy Center and Great Leap’s free program.

Learn how the strike’s lessons are carried into today’s urgent struggles through a short film by award-winning filmmaker Juan Mejia's short piece on the strike and carrying its lessons into today’s urgent struggles. Then join a conversation moderated by Democracy Center Director, James E. Herr, about how movements are remembered, inherited, and renewed with Victor Viesca, Quetzal Flores, and Faith Santilla. Together they’ll explore how music and artistry fuel collective action—whether in the fields of Delano or the streets of Los Angeles—and how those tools remain vital as communities today face climate crises, inequality, and threats to democracy.

Sixty years ago, Filipino and Mexican farm workers stood shoulder to shoulder in the Delano Grape Strike, igniting a movement that reshaped labor history and inspired generations. Celebrate the courage of past generations, honor the creativity that sustains movements, and plant seeds for the struggl...

09/11/2025

Silencing History: Protesting Truth in Public Spaces and Museums
Across the country, National Park Service sites are becoming ground zero in a growing battle over historical memory. New QR codes, promoted under recent executive orders, invite the public to report “negative” or “unpatriotic” portrayals of American history. On the surface, these codes claim to ensure “accuracy”—but for communities like Japanese Americans, who have fought for decades to have the truth of their incarceration recognized, this development raises troubling questions. Who decides what version of history is “patriotic”? What happens when telling the truth about injustice is deemed “negative”?

Compounding these concerns is the administration’s call to eliminate a majority of protected areas—such as national monuments and historic sites under NPS management. And the same struggles also unfolding inside museums, which have long been spaces where narratives are curated, contested, and too often erased.

This program will explore the politicization of public memory, the dangers of historical erasure, and the consequences of silencing hard truths—whether in our shared outdoor landscapes or in our cultural institutions.

This virtual program is free with registration. Visit JANM.org/events for more information.

08/01/2025

The Democracy Center presents two solo shows that explore what happens when two Asian American performers fall deeply in love with Western mediums—movies and opera—they discover that they both may be in too deep. Catch these live performances from Thursday, Aug 21 - Saturday, Aug 23, 2025. Visit Janm.org/democracy to buy your tickets today.

Link in Bio 🎟️