Thrive2: United for Democracy and Global Action
Thrive2: United for Democracy and Global Action is a free, two-part virtual democracy activation experience produced by Actionable Innovations Global in partnership with the Charter for Compassion. It is designed for people who are concerned about democracy but may not know where to begin, what information to trust, or what meaningful action they can personally take.
Rather than operating as a conventional conference where participants simply watch speakers, Thrive2 follows a practical progression:
Learn → Connect → Act → Report Back
Participants will take part in interactive workshops, solution labs, democracy clinics, resource demonstrations, conversations and action-planning activities. The intention is for each participant to identify one realistic civic action they can undertake within the following 7–30 days.
The two days serve different purposes. September 10 — “Understand + Choose” helps participants understand the current democratic moment, explore tools and resources, and choose an action pathway. September 17 — “Build + Commit” moves participants into planning, problem-solving, finding collaborators and committing to concrete next steps.
Additional Details
What You'll Learn
Identify realistic ways to become more involved in democratic and civic life. Better understand the challenges affecting democratic participation today. Develop civic confidence rather than feeling overwhelmed or powerless. Evaluate different pathways for participation and decide where their time and skills can have the most impact. Strengthen media literacy and information resilience. Support civic learning and youth participation. Organize neighbors or communities around shared concerns. Facilitate constructive dialogue across differences. Support trustworthy local journalism and access to reliable information. Understand local democracy and how decisions are made. Use civic technology and digital-democracy tools. Build coalitions and community partnerships. Convert a concern into a specific 7–30 day action goal.
Why This Matters
Many people are worried about polarization, misinformation, declining trust and the health of democratic institutions, yet concern does not automatically translate into participation. People often need clearer information about what they can actually do, where they can contribute and who they can work with. Thrive2 addresses that gap by treating democracy as something people practice, not simply something governments administer or citizens participate in only during elections. Civic participation can mean developing media literacy, supporting local journalism, attending local government meetings, organizing neighbors, volunteering, bridging differences, protecting human rights or helping others understand how public decisions are made. Its central question is particularly clear: How can more people become informed, confident, connected and active participants in democratic life?
Action Level - ACT
What You'll Leave With
A clearer understanding of the democratic challenges they care about. A better sense of where they personally fit into civic action. One realistic action they can take within 7–30 days. A SMART civic goal: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Timebound. Practical civic-engagement skills. New contacts and potential collaborators. Strategies for community organizing and coalition-building. Media-literacy and information-resilience resources. Dialogue and facilitation tools. Civic-learning and youth-engagement resources. Access to tools, guides, templates and other materials contributed to the Thrive Democracy Action Library. Opportunities for continued involvement with participating organizations and initiatives
Best For - Community Leaders, Systems Designers, Researchers, Educators, Students, Journalists / Media, Businesses, Local Governments, NGOs / Civil Society, Technology Professionals, General Public
Systems It Connects To - Circularity & Whole-System Design, Clean & Renewable Energy, Food Production & Distribution, ICT & Cybersecurity, Public & Planetary Health, Smarter Cities & Communities, Mobility & Transportation, Media & Storytelling, Infrastructure, Supply Chains
Languages - English
Practical Next Step - Don't leave with just another idea. Choose one issue, find one useful tool or collaborator, and commit to one concrete civic action you can complete within 7–30 days.