October 1, 2025 @ 10:00 am – 11:30 am UTC-7
As authoritarianism has overtaken sixty countries around the world, what strategies and approaches can make a real difference to restore and strengthen democracy? In Democracy Action Lab, we learn from activists, practitioners, and experts to make informed funding choices, and identify opportunities for mobilization and collaboration as a global community facing shared threats. This is a safe, confidential space where leaders in the field offer candid reflections on their work, and members workshop their own challenges with supportive peers. Through case studies and deep dives, members gain valuable insight and resolve to keep up the fight.
While the current assault on liberal democracy may feel unprecedented in the United States, it follows a familiar authoritarian playbook seen in many countries – including the former Yugoslavia. In October’s DAL, we are honored to host Ivan Marović, a founding leader of Otpor! (Resistance!), the student movement that successfully overthrew dictator Slobodan Milošević in 2000.
After this historic victory, Marović devoted his career to advising and training pro-democracy movements worldwide, equipping activists with tools for strategic nonviolent resistance. Today, he serves as Executive Director of the International Center on Nonviolent Conflict (ICNC), where he continues to champion the power of civil resistance and resilience as essential strategies for safeguarding democracy.
Questions? Contact Jocelyn Berger: jocelyn@forward-global.org