Henry A. Wallace
Symposium
2nd Annual Henry A. Wallace Symposium
Bold Ideas for a New Progressive Majority
On July 17, 2025, IPS — together with The Nation, Public Citizen, and the Wallace Global Fund — hosted our second annual Wallace Symposium on the theme of “Bold Ideas For A New Progressive Majority.”
As Scott Wallace said in his opening remarks, “American fascism is here.” Our goal with this symposium is to animate a movement that not only resists fascism but presents a compelling alternative to both authoritarianism and the status quo. “We all know how to fight back,” said IPS executive director Tope Folarin. “But defense alone is exhausting, and defense alone cannot deliver the world we need. At some point, we must step beyond reaction and begin the hard, beautiful work of envisioning.”
Throughout the day, we gathered panelists from among elected leaders, movement allies, policy experts, writers, and more to do that envisioning. The result was a flourishing of ideas that are worth pursuing.
You can read a round up of the full event, complete with links to transcripts of each individual panel, or watch any of the sessions from our YouTube playlist below.
The Henry A. Wallace Symposium is a joint initiative between IPS and the Wallace Global Fund that brings together leading progressive voices to discuss the challenges confronting American democracy and envision paths toward a more equitable, sustainable, and peaceful future.
Named for a key architect of the New Deal who served as FDR’s Vice President, Secretary of Agriculture, and Secretary of Commerce, the Symposium honors Wallace’s commitment to advancing bold progressive ideals within the halls of power while working alongside grassroots movements to achieve them.
The capstone event of the Henry A. Wallace Fellowship Program, IPS’s leadership development program for young adults, the Symposium is held annually each summer in July.
Past Symposia
2024
1st Annual Henry A. Wallace Symposium | Countering American Fascism: Lessons from Organizing in the U.S. Heartland
July 25, 2024 | Washington, DC
This year’s Wallace Symposium featured a discussion on the challenges confronting American democracy in the face of rising fascism. How are social movements working to counter this dangerous force by building an alternative vision of a multi-racial democracy and an economy that works for us all? What lessons can we learn from organizing in rural communities and from union campaigns in southern states?
