Voices & Votes: Democracy in Action

As part of a series of programs celebrating and recognizing the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, APPE is excited to invite members to a discussion centered around themes from the Smithsonian's Voices and Votes: Democracy in America exhibition.

APPE is proud to host this exhibit at our headquarters in Greencastle, Ind., along with the Prindle Institute for Ethics. Greencastle is one of seven Indiana communities selected by Indiana Humanities to host the exhibit for six weeks.

Coleen Watson, chair of the Law, Government, and Military Ethics Affinity Group and visiting assistant professor of philosophy in the Department of Law & Philosophy at the United States Military Academy (USMA), will lead APPE members through a facilitated discussion about the themes from the exhibit, which you can read more about here.

About Voices and Votes: Democracy in America
Voices and Votes explores the action, reaction, vision and revision that democracy demands as Americans continue to question how to shape the country. From the revolution and suffrage, to civil rights and casting ballots, everyone in every community is part of this ever-evolving story—the story of democracy in America. Exhibition sections explore the origins of American democracy, the struggles to obtain and keep the vote, the machinery of democracy, the right to petition and protest beyond the ballot and the rights and responsibilities of citizens. Voices and Votes features historical and contemporary photos; educational and archival video; engaging multimedia interactives with short games; and historical objects like campaign souvenirs, voter memorabilia, and protest materials.

Some of the questions that the exhibit asks us to consider include:

• Who has the right to vote?
• What are the freedoms and responsibilities of citizens?
• Whose voices will be heard?
• How do you participate as a citizen?
• How do we encourage more people to participate in our democracy?

Voices and Votes is a springboard for discussions about those very questions and how they are reflected in local stories. Our democracy demands action, reaction, vision, and revision. From revolution and suffrage, to civil rights and casting ballots, everyone in every community is part of this ever-evolving story – the story of democracy in America.

Learn more about the exhibit, and the events that APPE and the Prindle Institute for Ethics have been hosting.

---

Voices and Votes: Democracy in America is part of Museum on Main Street, a collaboration between the Smithsonian Institution and State Humanities Councils nationwide. The Museum on Main Street program works with rural communities to design and host high-quality exhibits and create dynamic public programs across the United States. Voices and Votes is based on an exhibition by the National Museum of American History. Support for Museum on Main Street has been provided by the United States Congress.