Our First Annual Henry A. Wallace Symposium offered lessons from real-life heartland organizers on how to fight for a multiracial democracy — and the better future we all deserve.
By Olivia Alperstein, Institute for Policy Studies
On July 22, supporters packed into a crowded event space at Busboys and Poets in Washington, D.C., and hundreds more tuned in online, to watch a symposium on “Countering American Fascism: Lessons from Organizing in the U.S. Heartland.”

This First Annual Henry A. Wallace Symposium was presented by the Institute for Policy Studies, the Wallace Global Fund, and The Nation and co-sponsored by Busboys and Poets. It served as the capstone event for the Henry A. Wallace Fellowship Program at IPS, which is supported by the Wallace Global Fund and provides mentorship, training, and research opportunities for the next generation of progressive public scholars.
An inspiring array of speakers shared lessons from organizing, movement building, deep canvassing work, and Henry A. Wallace’s own life. Together, they highlighted how social movements are countering the dangerous force of American fascism by building an alternative vision: a multi-racial democracy and an economy that works for us all.
You can watch the full event here. A summary follows.
Recent Posts
Jews And Israel Are Not The Same. Equating Them Is A Propaganda Technique
September 16, 2025
Take Action Now The claim is central to rationales for arming Israel even as leading human rights groups decry genocide in GazaBy Norman Solomon,…
House Bill Would Let Marco Rubio Strip Passports Over Political Speech
September 15, 2025
Take Action Now Provision would let the Secretary of State deny or revoke passports over alleged “material support” as critics warn of thought…
Targeting Venezuela, Trump Escalates U.S. Campaign Of Aggression In Latin America
September 15, 2025
Take Action Now The US and Latin American right have long mobilized to remove challenges to their traditional privileges and control.By Jonathan…
GOP-Led Congressional Committee Votes To Block Trump From Rescheduling Marijuana
September 14, 2025
Take Action Now Can the Trump administration, or any administration, declare people guilty and treat them as criminals, absent the transparent legal…