At a time of deep political division, what gives us reason to be hopeful about the future of American democracy? In this episode of the NOW podcast, recorded live in Boston, Brown Advisory’s Ariel Fortunato sits down with Dr. Danielle Allen, Harvard University professor, political philosopher and acclaimed author of Our Declaration, for a thought-provoking conversation about democracy, citizenship and the enduring promise of America’s founding ideals.

As the nation marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, they explore the meaning of equality, why democracy must be continually “renovated,” and the essential roles of civic education, civil discourse and shared values in bridging our differences. Drawing on history, personal experience and her work as a scholar and educator, Danielle offers a refreshingly optimistic perspective on the future of American democracy, pointing to a resurgence of civic engagement in communities across the country and reminding us that each of us has a role to play in shaping our collective future.

 

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Guests

dr. shilo brooks

Danielle Allen, Ph.D.

James Bryant Conant University Professor, Harvard University; Director, Allen Lab for Democracy Renovation; Director, Democratic Knowledge Project-Learn

Danielle Allen is a political philosopher whose current research focuses on democracy renovation: how to reconnect citizens to civic power through education and institutional redesign, how to make political institutions more responsive, accountable, and participatory, and how to make public policy that supports democracy. Her most recent book, Justice by Means of Democracy (University of Chicago Press, 2023), provides the theoretical foundation for this work. Her forthcoming book, The Radical Duke, a biography of an 18th-century British political reformer, is due out with Liveright/Norton in 2026. Through the Allen Lab for Democracy Renovation at the Harvard Kennedy School, she leads applied research on electoral reform, civic infrastructure, institutional design, and democracy-supportive public policy. Through the Democratic Knowledge Project-Learn at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, she develops and scales civic education curricula for preK-12 students and higher education. She is the publisher and founder of The Renovator Substack and a contributing columnist at The Atlantic Magazine.  

 

Moderator

ariel fortunato

Ariel Fortunato, CFP®, CTFA

Strategic Advisor, Brown Advisory

Ariel is a partner and strategic advisor in Brown Advisory's Boston office. In this role, she advises individuals and families to help them define, create, and implement customized plans that support their long-term financial goals. Previously, she served as a senior trust associate with the Glenmede Trust Company, where she partnered with high-net-worth individuals and families to help navigate the nuances of multi-generational wealth. Ariel is deeply committed to financial literacy and previously worked as a financial planner for Society of Grownups, a start-up project aimed at making financial advice more accessible. While with Society of Grownups, she taught classes on a series of financial topics, wrote for internal and external media publications, and served as a subject matter expert for the development of digital learning tools.