Next System Studies at GMU
March 2025
Join us on April 26-27 for “Building Community Power, Growing Community Wealth” on the Fairfax Campus of George Mason University!
It is time to gather the energies and initiative of the many people of Northern Virginia who are working to plan and build a Northern Virginia that is truly inclusive, equitable, sustainable, and democratic.
Additional Information
Northern Virginia is in the midst of a rapid transformation - the choices made today will define the region for years to come. What kind of community will emerge over the next decade? Whose voices will shape its future? And whose interests will get priority? Through a lively mix of workshops, panel discussions, interactive activities, tabling, and cultural events, participants in the Democratizing NOVA Summit will dig into the regional challenges that are affecting us, learning from each other as well as from experts in the fields of community wealth, solidarity economics, just transition, restorative justice, community safety, participatory democracy, democratic technologies, and constitutional change.
What to expect?
The first day of the Summit (Saturday, April 26) will offer a community roll call, workshops, sharing of stories, dynamic panel discussions featuring organizations such as the Virginia Solidarity Economy Network, Lazera Ministries, Fairfax County, and The Democracy Collaborative, and a keynote address by Dr. Anthony Cook, founder of the Coalition for Racial Equity and a Democratic Economy (CREDE) at Georgetown Law.
On the second day (Sunday, April 27), we will roll up our sleeves and get to work through a variety of workshops and interactive activities designed to share knowledge and explore innovative approaches to building community power and growing community wealth. We are currently accepting proposals for workshops. Click here to propose a workshop!
This Summit is convened by the Democratizing NOVA Council and supported by Next System Studies and the Center for Social Science Research at George Mason University, as well as a growing network of community partners.
What is Democratizing NOVA?
Democratizing NOVA (DNOVA) is a community-university partnership that seeks to catalyze a democratic, just, and sustainable transition in Northern Virginia. We convene community members, leaders, and businesses together with academic scholars to explore the challenges and opportunities for remaking our region into a place that is truly equitable, inclusive, sustainable, and democratic. The first Democratizing NOVA Summit was held in April 2022. You can see video highlights and resources from the first Summit here.