Snapshots: "Democracy, If We Can Keep It" with Danielle Allen

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Featured speaker Harvard Professor Danielle Allen, right, speaks with guest Eileen Frieberg-Dale, left at The Newton Beacon's "Democracy, If We Can Keep It" event on Oct. 8, 2026. Photo by Stevo Rood/ARoodPhoto

On Thursday evening, The Newton Beacon hosted an event at The Allen Center in West Newton, “Democracy, If We Can Keep It: A Conversation With Danielle Allen.”

Harvard Professor and democracy advocate Danielle Allen spoke about her journey into political science, the ideals that shaped her career and the things she thinks could strengthen our democracy at a time when many fear our democracy is slipping away.

Allen took questions from Newton North and Newton South students and left the room with a feeling of both optimism and urgency as the 2026 midterms approach.

Check out these photos from the event, as well as the full video below.

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Sharon Sholkin, left, and Susan Schlesinger, right, talk at The Newton Beacon’s Oct. 8 event, “Democracy, if We Can Keep It,” while their husbands, Howard Sholkin and Alan Schlesinger, talk in the background. Photo by Stevo Rood/ARoodPhoto

Left to right: Bob Larner, Rob Weissman, Chris Daly, Vineeta Vijayaraghavan and Burt Glass mingle before The Newton Beacon’s “Democracy, if We Can Keep It” event with Danielle Allen on Oct. 8, 2026. Photo by Stevo Rood/ARoodPhoto
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Left to right: Liz Hizer, Margaret Winslow, Anne Larner and Madhri Yehiya mingle before The Newton Beacon’s “Democracy, if We Can Keep It” event with Danielle Allen on Oct. 8, 2026. Photo by Stevo Rood/ARoodPhoto

Harvard Professor and democracy advocate Danielle Allen talks with Newton Beacon Board members Howard Sholkin and Burt Glass on Oct. 8, 2026. Photo by Stevo Rood/ARoodPhoto

Newton Beacon Board members Howard Sholkin and Vineeta Vijayaraghavan talk with Danielle Allen before The Newton Beacon’s “Democracy, if We Can Keep It” event at the Allen Center in West Newton on Oct. 8, 2026. Photo by Stevo Rood/ARoodPhoto

Guests gather at The Allen Center in West Newton before The Newton Beacon’s event, “Democracy, If We Can Keep It,” on Oct. 8, 2026. Photo by Stevo Rood/ARoodPhoto

The Newton Beacon’s event, “Democracy, If We Can Keep It: A Conversation with Danielle Allen” drew a large audience at The Allen Center in West Newton on Oct. 8, 2026. Photo by Stevo Rood/ARoodPhoto

Newton Beacon Board President Burt Glass speaks at the start of “Democracy, If We Can Keep It: A Conversation with Danielle Allen” at the Allen Center in West Newton on Oct. 8, 2026. Photo by Stevo Rood/ARoodPhoto

Newton Beacon Board member Chris Daly speaks at the start of “Democracy, If We Can Keep It: A Conversation with Danielle Allen” at The Allen Center in West Newton on Oct. 8, 2026. Photo by Stevo Rood/ARoodPhoto

Danielle Allen speaks at the Newton Beacon’s event, “Democracy, If We Can Keep It: A Conversation with Danielle Allen” on Oct. 8, 2026, at The Allen Center in West Newton. Photo by Stevo Rood/ARoodPhoto

Upper Falls Area Council Vice President Garry Miller asks a question during The Newton Beacon’s event, “Democracy, If We Can Keep It: A Conversation with Danielle Allen” on Oct. 8, 2026, at The Allen Center in West Newton. Photo by Stevo Rood/ARoodPhoto

Newton Centre resident Enrique Rosero asks a question during The Newton Beacon’s event, “Democracy, If We Can Keep It: A Conversation with Danielle Allen” on Oct. 8, 2026, at The Allen Center in West Newton. Photo by Stevo Rood/ARoodPhoto

Newton Beacon reporter Madhri Yehiya asks a question during The Newton Beacon’s event, “Democracy, If We Can Keep It: A Conversation with Danielle Allen” on Oct. 8, 2026, at The Allen Center in West Newton. Photo by Stevo Rood/ARoodPhoto

Newton Beacon editor Bryan McGonigle asks a question during The Newton Beacon’s event, “Democracy, If We Can Keep It: A Conversation with Danielle Allen” on Oct. 8, 2026, at the Allen Center in West Newton. Photo by Stevo Rood/ARoodPhoto

Newton South student Abby Miller asks a question during The Newton Beacon’s event, “Democracy, If We Can Keep It: A Conversation with Danielle Allen” on Oct. 8, 2026, at The Allen Center in West Newton. Photo by Stevo Rood/ARoodPhoto