Democracy isn’t just something we vote for—it’s something we practice every day.

Tuesday, October 27th, 6pm-8pm | $45

What does democracy have to do with the way we work, the way we lead, the way we treat one another, and the communities we build?

Quite a lot, according to Zingerman’s co-founding partner Ari Weinzweig.

Join us for a conversation about Ari’s newest pamphlet, Why Democracy Matters: A Deep Understanding of What Democracy Means in Our Everyday Lives, published by Zingerman’s Press. Drawing on decades of experience building democratic practices at Zingerman’s, Ari makes the case that democracy is not something that happens only at the ballot box or in the halls of government. It begins much closer to home—with how we listen, participate, share responsibility, build trust, and honor the dignity of others.

Written during what Ari describes as a defining moment for democracy, Why Democracy Matters is both a reflection and a call to action. Rather than looking from the top down, Ari asks us to look at democracy from the ground up: in our workplaces, our organizations, our communities, and our everyday relationships.

The pamphlet brings together ten essays exploring Ari’s developing understanding of democratic practice, the ways Zingerman’s has put those principles to work, and his realization that practicing dignity across an organization is, in itself, an expression of democracy.

As Ari writes, “What I’m imagining here is a democracy that starts not with political candidates but with people like you and me.”

Come enjoy delicious Roadhouse snacks and hear Ari talk about the ideas behind Why Democracy Matters, the lessons Zingerman’s has learned over decades of democratic practice, and the practical ways each of us can help bring those principles to life—because democracy isn’t just a system we inherit. It is something we make—and remake—together, every day.

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