Democracy isn’t something that happens somewhere else—it’s something we build together, every day. "By the People: Civic Engagement for All" is FCPL’s multi-year initiative to help every neighbor in the Frederick County community find trustworthy information, strengthen civic knowledge, and turn curiosity into positive action and participation.
You’ll see it across FCPL locations and online—in programs, partnerships, and curated resources that invite respectful dialogue and deeper understanding.
As we celebrate America’s 250th birthday, let’s explore a bold question: What does democracy's future look like? Join civic minded member of our community on Saturday, June 13, 2026, at New Spire Arts for the first local TED Democracy event. Read more about TED Democracy...
CAROL ANDERSON
Professor of African American Studies — Emory University
THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 2026 | 7:30 PM
Carol Anderson is a professor of African American Studies at Emory University and the bestselling author of White Rage, One Person, No Vote, and The Second: Race and Guns in a Fatally Unequal America. A major voice in reframing American history, she contributed to the Pulitzer Prize-winning The 1619 Project and is known for her powerful research on race, democracy, and human rights.