BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//BigTentUSA - ECPv6.17.5//NONSGML v1.0//EN
CALSCALE:GREGORIAN
METHOD:PUBLISH
X-WR-CALNAME:BigTentUSA
X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://bigtentusa.org
X-WR-CALDESC:Events for BigTentUSA
REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H
X-Robots-Tag:noindex
X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H
BEGIN:VTIMEZONE
TZID:America/New_York
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20250309T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20251102T060000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20260308T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20261101T060000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20270314T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20271107T060000
END:STANDARD
END:VTIMEZONE
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260910T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260910T130000
DTSTAMP:20260915T223909Z
CREATED:20260909T004436Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260915T223909Z
UID:67783-1789041600-1789045200@bigtentusa.org
SUMMARY:Your Ballot\, Your Voice: Showing Up For Democracy
DESCRIPTION:Democracy starts with showing up—and it starts with being vote ready. \nWith Election Day just weeks away\, BigTentUSA welcomed Chyann Sapp organizer of National Voter Registration Day on September 10\, for a timely conversation on turning voter registration into meaningful civic action. Chyann highlighted the importance of not only registering for the first time\, but checking and updating registration—especially as voting rules and deadlines vary widely by state. \nThe message was clear: know your community\, know the rules\, and use the tools already available. From state-specific voter guides and social media toolkits to local voter registration drives\, there are plenty of ways to get involved without reinventing the wheel. \nAnd the work doesn’t stop on National Voter Registration Day. Voter education\, early voting\, absentee ballots\, sample ballots\, and getting people to the polls all matter. Whether you’re organizing a drive\, helping a college student navigate registration\, or simply reminding a neighbor to check their status\, every action counts. Let’s get America vote ready. \n  \nABOUT THE SPEAKER: \nChyann Sapp brings a wealth of strategic planning experience across diverse sectors\, including government\, nonprofit\, advertising\, and real estate sales and development. In 2011\, Chyann made history by becoming the first Youth Voter Coordinator for the City of New York\, where she led youth programming including the NYC Youth Poet Laureate program and Student Voter Registration Day\, which was inspired by her participation in National Voter Registration Day. She also served as the Associate Director of a tech-focused nonprofit\, where she led East Coast business development and established relationships with government and nonprofit partners to advance 2020 Census outreach efforts.
URL:https://bigtentusa.org/event/showing-up-for-democracy/
LOCATION:BigTent Zoom Room
CATEGORIES:Tent Talks,BigTent Events,Preserving Democracy
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://bigtentusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Recap_NVRD_Chyann-Sapp.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260917T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260917T200000
DTSTAMP:20260921T173808Z
CREATED:20260901T201728Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260921T173808Z
UID:67699-1789671600-1789675200@bigtentusa.org
SUMMARY:The Next 250: Why Civic Education Matters
DESCRIPTION:Civics is not a spectator sport—it is the operating system of democracy. \nIn a timely Big Tent USA conversation held on September 17\, moderator John Avlon joined iCivics CEO Louise Dubé and Citizen University CEO Eric Liu to make the case for rebuilding civic learning as a source of democratic resilience. They defined civics as more than memorizing branches of government: it combines knowledge\, practical skills\, and the confidence to exercise civic power. The panelists urged educators to connect lessons to real-world problems\, local decision-making\, civil dialogue\, and hands-on experiences—from interactive games to student-led community projects. They also emphasized supporting teachers amid political pressure\, teaching history and civics together\, and helping young people understand both their rights and responsibilities. On AI\, they argued for human-centered learning\, with technology serving as a carefully governed supplement—not a substitute for relationships and judgment. \nThe call to action was clear: learn the system\, engage locally\, and put civic power to work. \n  \nABOUT THE SPEAKERS: \nJohn Avlon is an award-winning journalist\, author\, news anchor\, and media executive. A former CNN senior political analyst and anchor\, editor-in-chief of The Daily Beast\, and the 2024 Democratic congressional nominee in New York’s First District\, he hosted “How to Fix It” on The Bulwark and serves as Chairman of Citizens Union. Avlon has authored six books\, including “Lincoln and the Fight for Peace” and “Washington’s Farewell“. A Yale University and Columbia Business School graduate\, he advocates for building a vital center in American politics. \nLouise Dubé serves as CEO of iCivics\, the nation’s largest provider of civic learning\, which champions and re-imagines history and civic education. Previously\, she served as Managing Director of Digital Learning at WGBH\, where she helped launch PBS LearningMedia\, a platform reaching 1.5 million educators. Before WGBH\, Louise built a successful career in K-12 educational technology. She has received numerous awards\, including the 2017 People’s Voice Award\, the 2018 Civvys Civic Collaboration National Award\, and recognition as a 2019 Donaldson Fellow by Yale SOM. Louise began her career as an attorney in Montreal and holds a law degree from McGill University and an MBA from Yale University. \nEric Liu is the co-founder and CEO of Citizen University. He is the author of numerous acclaimed books\, including most recently “Become America: Civic Sermons on Love\, Responsibility\, and Democracy” — a New York Times New & Notable Book — and “Live Like a Citizen: 8 Ways to Change Your Mindset and Our Country“\, to be published in October 2026. Liu served as a White House speechwriter for President Bill Clinton and as the President’s deputy domestic policy adviser. He was later appointed by President Barack Obama to the board of the Corporation for National and Community Service. A graduate of Yale College and Harvard Law School\, Liu was elected in 2020 to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and co-chairs its Our Common Purpose commission. He lives in Seattle\, where he has served on the boards of the Seattle Public Library and the Washington State Board of Education.
URL:https://bigtentusa.org/event/why-civic-education-matters/
LOCATION:BigTent Zoom Room
CATEGORIES:BigTent Spotlight Speaker Series,BigTent Events,Preserving Democracy
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://bigtentusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Recap_Louise-Dube_Eric-Liu_John-Avlon.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260930T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260930T200000
DTSTAMP:20260922T191345Z
CREATED:20260921T172520Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260922T191345Z
UID:67812-1790794800-1790798400@bigtentusa.org
SUMMARY:From Service to Congress: Veterans Shaping the Future
DESCRIPTION:Veterans know what it means to serve. But what happens when that service moves from the battlefield to the halls of Congress? \nJoin BigTentUSA on Wednesday\, September 30 at 7 PM ET for a conversation with Congressional candidates and veterans Rebecca Bennett\, Cait Conley\, Nancy Lacore\, and moderated by Janessa Goldbeck\, Special Advisor to VoteVets. \nThey’ll share how their military experiences shaped their leadership\, what they learned transitioning to civilian life\, and how they’re bringing those lessons into the fight for their communities—and the country. \nBecause service doesn’t end when the uniform comes off. \n  \nABOUT THE SPEAKERS: \nRebecca Bennett is a former U.S. Navy helicopter pilot\, officer in the Air National Guard\, business leader in healthcare\, and mom of two. Rebecca served in the Navy for over a decade as a helicopter pilot and aircraft commander. After serving her country for over fifteen years in the military and making waves in healthcare innovation\, Rebecca is running for Congress to build a better future for our community. As a mom to two young girls\, Rebecca understands first-hand the challenges of balancing work & family while navigating inflation and the rising cost of living. \nCait Conley is a fourth-generation Hudson Valley native\, the daughter of a postal worker and a construction worker. She applied to West Point the day after 9/11 and went on to serve in the Army\, first as a military police officer and then in special operations leadership\, deploying six times and earning three Bronze Stars. She concluded her active-duty career as Director for Counterterrorism at the National Security Council\, where Russia sanctioned her for her work\, and then served as a senior executive at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency\, protecting critical infrastructure and the systems that run our elections. She put her life on the line to serve this country\, not any person or political party\, and especially not corporate special interests \nNancy Lacore served our nation for 35 years in the Navy\, a career that began as a helicopter pilot and culminated as a three star admiral and the Chief of Navy Reserve where she was entrusted to lead more than 60\,000 sailors. Nancy’s career took her around the world\, but it was always anchored by family and a deep love of country. In Nancy’s family\, service runs deep. Following in her dad’s footsteps\, Nancy accepted a ROTC scholarship to the College of the Holy Cross\, and was commissioned into the Navy after graduation. \nJanessa Goldbeck is the Senior Advisor to VoteVets\, an organization dedicated to lifting up the voices of veterans on matters of national security\, veterans’ care\, and everyday issues that affect the lives of those who served\, and their families. As a Marine Corps Combat Engineer Officer\, Janessa led missions overseas and served as a Uniformed Victim Advocate\, supporting fellow service members through some of their toughest moments. While on active duty\, in addition to her assigned duties\, Janessa worked to reform the military’s broken sexual assault reporting process and played a role in overturning the discriminatory Combat Exclusion policy. Janessa holds a B.A. from Northwestern University and a Master’s in Public Leadership from the University of San Francisco. She currently serves as a Senior Advisor to VoteVets and on the California Governor’s Veterans Board.
URL:https://bigtentusa.org/event/veterans-shaping-the-future/
LOCATION:BigTent Zoom Room
CATEGORIES:BigTent Spotlight Speaker Series,BigTent Events,Preserving Democracy
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://bigtentusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/RSVP_Sept-30_Bennett-Lacore-Conley-Goldbeck.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261013T123000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261013T133000
DTSTAMP:20260915T164440Z
CREATED:20260915T164440Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260915T164440Z
UID:67789-1791894600-1791898200@bigtentusa.org
SUMMARY:“I Disagree:” The Politics of a Healthy Debate
DESCRIPTION:Ever found yourself bracing for a political argument at the dinner table? You’re not alone. And if you’ve ever wondered how to stand your ground without losing the relationship\, this conversation is for you. \nJoin BigTentUSA on Tuesday\, October 13 at 12:30 PM ET for a livestream conversation with Jessica Tarlov\, Fox News political strategist and author of “I Disagree: Winning Arguments Without Losing Friends”\, moderated by Rachel Janfaza\, The Bulwark contributor and founder of The Up and Up. \nDrawing on her experience debating politics on “The Five”\, Jessica will share practical tools for navigating disagreement with honesty\, confidence\, and a little more grace. Together\, Jessica and Rachel will explore why listening matters\, how to find common ground\, and how we can disagree without turning every conversation into a battle. \nWatch live on BigTentUSA’s Substack\, YouTube\, Facebook\, and Instagram. \n50 FREE copies of Jessica’s book will be given away to livestream viewers. Tune in to the discussion for details! \n  \nABOUT THE SPEAKERS: \nJessica Tarlov joined FOX News Channel as a contributor in 2017 and serves as a rotating co-host of “The Five” (weekdays\, 5-6PM/ET). She also offers political analysis across FNC and FOX Business Network’s (FBN) programming. Tarlov has played a role in coverage of major political headlines since joining the network\, providing analysis throughout the 2024 election cycle from the primaries to Inauguration Day. Notably\, “The Five” made television history as the first non-primetime program to rank as the number one program in viewers and the A25-54 demo. Tarlov also hosts the podcast “Raging Moderates” alongside Scott Galloway. \nRachel Janfaza is the founder of The Up and Up\, a research\, media\, and strategy firm focused on Gen Z. A member of Generation Z herself\, Janfaza is best known for her theory of The Two Gen Zs. Her written work has been featured in The New York Times\, The Washington Post\, CNN\, Vox\, The Free Press\, Glamour\, POLITICO Magazine\, Teen Vogue\, Vogue\, Elle\, Cosmo\, and Bustle. And her on-air analysis has been featured on CNN\, CBS\, C-SPAN\, NY-1\, and WNYC Public Radio. She is also a contributor to The Bulwark.
URL:https://bigtentusa.org/event/i-disagree/
LOCATION:https://open.substack.com/live-stream/363589?utm_source=live-stream-scheduled-upsell
CATEGORIES:BigTent Spotlight Speaker Series,BigTent Events,Preserving Democracy
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://bigtentusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Invite_Jessica-Tarlov_Rachel-Janfaza.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261021T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261021T190000
DTSTAMP:20260917T191155Z
CREATED:20260917T191155Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260917T191155Z
UID:67808-1792605600-1792609200@bigtentusa.org
SUMMARY:America at 250: The Promise of Democracy and Freedom
DESCRIPTION:What happens when America’s founding promises collide with the realities of American history? \nOn Wednesday\, October 21 at 6pm ET\, in honor of the United States’ 250th anniversary\, BigTentUSA is taking a closer look at two of the most powerful—and contested—words in our political vocabulary: democracy and freedom. \nThis event launches BigTentUSA’s new discussion series\, Words\, Power & Politics\, exploring how the words we use to describe our politics have been defined\, debated\, and weaponized throughout American history—and what they mean today. \nHistorian Heather Cox Richardson\, moderated by independent journalist Aaron Parnas\, will examine how the meanings of democracy and freedom embedded in the Constitution have evolved\, and how they have been invoked to expand rights—and\, at times\, to justify taking them away. We’ll explore who has been included in America’s promises\, who has been excluded\, and what history can teach us about the political battles unfolding today. \nWhat will it take to make America’s promises real for everyone—and protect them for the next 250 years? \n  \nABOUT THE SPEAKERS: \nHeather Cox Richardson is a renowned historian\, writing widely about Reconstruction\, the Civil War\, and the history of the Republican Party. She is the author of seven books including the bestselling “Democracy Awakening: Notes on the State of America and How the South Won the Civil War“. Her newsletter\, “Letters from an American“\, a daily chronicle of the history behind American politics\, is read by over 6 million subscribers. \nAaron Parnas is one of the leading Gen Z voices shaping how news is consumed today. An independent journalist\, political commentator\, strategist\, and attorney\, Aaron has quickly become a key figure in the national political conversation\, offering sharp insights at the intersection of law\, media\, and policy. \nHe first gained widespread attention through viral\, educational content that breaks down complex political issues in a fast\, accessible way—particularly resonating with younger\, highly engaged audiences. His rapid-response analysis of major court decisions\, legislative battles\, and election narratives has made him a trusted voice for millions across platforms.
URL:https://bigtentusa.org/event/democracy-and-freedom/
LOCATION:BigTent Zoom Room
CATEGORIES:BigTent Spotlight Speaker Series,BigTent Events,Preserving Democracy
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://bigtentusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/RSVP_HRC_Aaron-Parnas.webp
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR