The quest of our 501(c)3 nonprofit Democracy Cafe, of which the global grassroots Socrates Cafe is the flagship initiative, is to create a more perfect union — with ourselves, our families, between and among societies, and people the world over – by exploring questions that are as timely as they are timeless, discovering uncommon common ground and from there, quite often, taking actionable steps to solve our most seemingly intractable societal conundrums. This in turn helps evolve a kind of shared language that sparks greater humanism and humane-ism — and it’s why intellectually diverse luminaries from Dr. Cornel West of Union Theological Seminary to Dr. Robert George of Princeton to Professor Lawrence Lessig of Harvard readily agree to be on our advisory board.
The many thousands of diverse people — linked by their insatiable curiosity to question — around the globe who regularly take part in Socrates Cafe, Democracy Cafe, and our other flagship initiatives ‘Socratize’ and with one another, and become more thoughtful, connected and participatory souls.
Participants in our hundreds of ongoing gatherings, especially our flagship Socrates Cafe, which we launch in 1996 and which has more momentum than ever the world over, but also palette of other kindred initiatives, including Constitution Cafe, Democracy Cafe, Philosophers’ Club, and Declaration Project (which includes the Spirit of ’76 Cafe. They serve as proof positive that open and opening selves and societies (societies are kinds of selves, we hold) hinge on the continual, considerate, immersive and impassioned participation of an enlightened citizenry with open minds and hearts in which everyone matters and counts, and that the most topflight ideas tend to come from the bottom up.
Our track record of fulfilling our mission to make ours a more connected, understanding, participatory world is surely why people of such varied political, philosophical, spiritual walks of life are moved to participate in our initiatives and also help support us.
a) THE INITIATIVE FOR CHILD & YOUTH SELF-DETERMINATION: One-Third of Humanity. Zero Formal Agency.
Please see: https://socratescafe.com/the-global-assembly-for-the-stateless/
b)THE GLOBAL ASSEMBLY FOR THE STATELESS: 15 Million Political Ghosts. One Structural Demand
Please see: https://socratescafe.com/the-global-assembly-for-the-stateless/
Why these first two? Because since 1996, Socrates Cafe, has proven that when you give people an open, non-paternalistic space, they have profound things to say. Applying that exact same refusal of paternalism to the stateless and to young people isn’t a departure — it’s just taking the work to its logical conclusion.
c) SPARK™ : Socratic Inquiry. Mindfulness. Conscious Movement
Please see: https://socratescafe.com/our-projects/spark/
d) PHILOSOFOOD™: Think Deeper. Create Braver. Do More.
Please see: https://socratescafe.com/philosofood/
e) THE LONELINESS CAFE™: Reclaiming Connection. Eradicating the Epidemic of Isolation.
Please see: https://socratescafe.com/the-loneliness-cafe/
Be sure also to check out our eclectic YouTube channel at: www.Youtube.com/@SocratesCafe
And be sure to check out our store:
And sign up for our MailChimp so you’ll receive updates about our upcoming events and you’ll get cool guides like this one to accompany co-founder Christopher Phillips’s book Soul of Goodness
or this one on how to start and facilitate a Philosophers’ Club gathering for youth: