Duke partners with local teachers to strengthen Civics Education in K-12 classrooms
Duke Community Affairs
Wed, September 9 at 6:30pm
About We the People
We the People is a Duke and Durham collaboration that marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence through a series of public events examining the nation’s evolving identity. Drawing its title from the opening words of the Constitution, the project invites us to consider who “the people” have been and who we aspire to be within the ongoing story of the United States.
News & Stories
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The Declaration of Independence Anchors a Year of Arts Programming at Duke
When rare copies of the Declaration of Independence arrive in Durham this fall, first at the Durham County Main Library, then at the Nasher Museum of Art, visitors will have the opportunity to encounter one of the nation’s founding documents in a new context. The exhibition serves as an anchor for a year of performances, exhibitions, scholarship and public conversations across Duke that ask a broader set of questions: Who belongs? Whose voices have shaped the nation’s story? And how can the arts help people engage thoughtfully with the complexities of the past and present?
Upcoming Events
Thu, September 10 at 12:00pm
Screening: Her Fight, His Name: The Story of Gwen Carr and Eric Garner
Thu, September 10 at 5:30pm
9/11 Student Essay Contest Winners Panel
Thu, September 10 at 6:30pm
Community Screening: Her Fight, His Name: The Story of Gwen Carr and Eric Garner
Fri, September 11 at 3:00pm
How 9/11 Changed the United States: A Panel Discussion Followed by a Fireside Chat with Peter Bergen
Wed, September 16 at 5:30pm
AGS Marshall Military Lecture
Wed, September 16 at 6:30pm
Kaia Kater
More Stories
Trinity Contributes to We the People Initiative By Asking What It Means to Belong
Trinity College of Arts & Sciences
Weaving Art and History with Duke Arts Create
Duke Arts
The
Declaration
of Independence
Durham County Main Library (Downtown Durham)
September 8–20, 2026
Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University
September 24–January 3, 2027
This fall includes a free public exhibition of historic copies of the Declaration, including an official full-sized 1823 facsimile engraved by William J. Stone (known as a Stone Declaration) alongside two historic broadside copies by Benjamin Owen Tyler (1818) and John Binns (1819). These documents are on loan from the David M. Rubenstein Americana Collection.
Upcoming Events
Across the campus and community, there are unique and exciting ways to engage in conversations related to We the People.
Patty Griffin
Wed, September 9 at 6:30pm
Two-time GRAMMY® Award-winning songwriter Patty Griffin is one of the most beloved voices in American folk and Americana. For more than two decades, she has written songs that capture the small moments and big emotions that shape everyday life. The New York Times praised Griffin for writing “cameo-carved songs that create complete emotional portraits,” a […]
Screening: Her Fight, His Name: The Story of Gwen Carr and Eric Garner
Archive of Documentary Arts, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke Human Rights Center at the Franklin Humanities Institute (DHRC@FHI), Libraries
Thu, September 10 at 12:00pm
“Her Fight, His Name: The Story of Gwen Carr and Eric Garner” (Brad Bailey, 2024, 30m) Discussion to follow with Director Brad Bailey and Mrs. Gwen Carr. The short documentary centers on Gwen Carr’s enduring fight for justice following the 2014 death of her son, Eric Garner, after being pinned to the ground in a […]
9/11 Student Essay Contest Winners Panel
Thu, September 10 at 5:30pm
This summer, AGS invited all Duke students to submit essays responding to the prompt “How did 9/11 Change the United States?” The five winning essays have been selected and their authors have been invited to share their work on a panel of their peers moderated by Professor David Schanzer. This event is part of part […]
Community Screening: Her Fight, His Name: The Story of Gwen Carr and Eric Garner
Thu, September 10 at 6:30pm
Please note this screening will be held at the Durham County Main Library, 300 Roxboro Street, Durham. RSVP HERE. “Her Fight, His Name: The Story of Gwen Carr and Eric Garner” (Brad Bailey, 2024, 30m) A community discussion with director Brad Bailey and Mrs. Gwen Carr, and led by Natalie Bullock-Brown, will follow the screening. […]
How 9/11 Changed the United States: A Panel Discussion Followed by a Fireside Chat with Peter Bergen
Fri, September 11 at 3:00pm
AGS invites you to join us to honor the 25th anniversary of the September 11th attacks. We will begin with a panel discussion at 3:00 p.m. featuring Duke professors Rachel Myrick, David Schanzer, and Susan Colbourn along with Rear Admiral (ret.) Milton Sands III and moderated by AGS Program Director Peter Feaver. This will be […]
AGS Marshall Military Lecture
Wed, September 16 at 5:30pm
Panel discussion
Kaia Kater
Wed, September 16 at 6:30pm
Kaia Kater is part of a new wave of folk musicians expanding the story of the banjo, with a sound Rolling Stone describes as “plaintive and mesmerizing.” In 2023, she won a Canadian Screen Award for Best Original Song for the series The Porter, and her NPR Tiny Desk performance introduced her to a global […]
shirlette ammons: Language Barrier at 10
Thu, September 17 at 7:30pm
Ten years after the release of her acclaimed album Language Barrier, Durham-based poet, musician, and producer shirlette ammons brings the project home for a special full-album performance at Page Auditorium. In this one-night-only event, each track will be reimagined live with a rotating lineup of collaborators, reflecting the community spirit at the heart of the […]
Sacred Spaces
Fri, September 18 at 7:30pm
Few works in modern dance carry the legacy of Alvin Ailey’s Revelations, a masterpiece set to spirituals and gospel music that has moved audiences worldwide since 1960 and remains the most widely seen work in modern dance history. In Sacred Spaces, Associate Artistic Director Matthew Rushing and Co-creator and Musical Director Du’Bois A’Keen revisit that […]
Biddle Community Day
Sat, September 19 at 9:00am
The Duke Department of Music invites you to our first Biddle Community Day! Join us as we open our doors and welcome the broader Triangle and on-campus communities to experience the sounds, activities, and vibrant life of the Biddle Music Building. From live performances and open rehearsals to interactive activities-including bucket bands, sheet music origami, […]
CenterFest Arts Festival: Celebrating America 250
Sat, Sep 19 – Sun, Sep 20
As Durham’s signature fine arts festival, CenterFest showcases juried visual artists from the Triangle and across the country, alongside standout local performers on multiple stages. This year’s festival celebrates America 250!
Mo Amer
Tue, September 22 at 7:30pm
Trailblazing comedian Mo Amer brings his sharp, deeply-personal stand-up to Durham to help kick off the Duke Arts Presents season. Known for his acclaimed series MO and three stand-up specials on Netflix, Amer has built a global following with comedy that blends personal storytelling, cultural insight, and fearless humor. Drawing from his experiences as a […]
Interested in Participating?
The We the People steering committee invites all Duke units and community partners to share information about current or planned programming, coursework, or projects that align with the initiative’s themes.
We the People Submissions will close on September 15th for the Fall and on November 1 for the Spring.
Steering Committee Partners
Community Partners
