Kerri Kennedy, associate general secretary for international programs at the American Friends Service Committee, spoke at Brookdale about how democracies can weaken over time and what people can do to protect them. On Tuesday, Feb. 17, as part of Civility Week, Kennedy, who has worked in global peacebuilding and humanitarian efforts for years, shared stories from countries she has worked in and connected those experiences to conversations happening in the United States today.
She opened with an example from Myanmar, explaining that long before the 2021 military coup, there were warning signs. People were becoming afraid to speak openly, journalists were disappearing and trust between communities was breaking down. According to Kennedy, democracy usually doesn’t collapse all at once. Instead, it starts with smaller changes that slowly become normalized if people don’t push back.
Throughout the talk, she pointed to early signs like concentrated power, attacks on the media and the use of dehumanizing language toward certain groups. She also discussed how leaders can overwhelm the public with rapid executive actions and headlines, creating confusion and discouraging participation. Kennedy argued that sustained, nonviolent civic engagement has historically been one of the most effective responses to authoritarian shifts.
The Q&A portion of the event showed how engaged the audience was. Students, faculty and community members asked questions about social media backlash, the role of churches in political issues and how immigrants can stay hopeful when the political climate feels uncertain.
One student asked how young leaders can encourage involvement without facing online attacks. Kennedy responded that change often begins with smaller, personal conversations and building trust within communities rather than trying to immediately reach a massive audience.
More than anything, Kennedy’s visit felt impactful because of the perspective she shared and the way she connected it back to the audience. Hearing someone who has worked in different parts of the world speak in a local setting made the topic feel closer to home. The room stayed engaged during the Q&A, and the conversation felt real rather than rehearsed. It wasn’t just a lecture people listened to and forgot — it felt like something that encouraged people to think more seriously about their role in their communities.
