FEBRUARY 21, 2026
Joe Manchin, Andrew Yang, & Justin Amash
THE TWO-PARTY PROBLEM
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Joe Manchin, Andrew Yang, & Justin Amash
THE TWO-PARTY PROBLEM
FEBRUARY 21, 2026
OPENING MUSIC
OPENING REMARKS
WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION
Willie Williams
Heather Mullins Crislip
Executive Director
The Richmond Forum
Jonathan Brabrand
Secretary
Richmond Forum Board of Directors
MODERATED CONVERSATION
INTERMISSION
AUDIENCE QUESTIONS
Joe Manchin, Andrew Yang, and Justin Amash with Mara Liasson
Willie Williams
Submit your questions via Slido
Joe Manchin, Andrew Yang, and Justin Amash with Mara Liasson
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TONIGHT’S PROGAM
THE TWO-PARTY SYSTEM IS SHOWING ITS CRACKS. As polarization deepens and trust in government erodes, many Americans are asking if the red-versus-blue framework can still fulfill the needs of a diverse and complicated society. In this provocative panel, former Senator Joe Manchin, Forward Party co-founder Andrew Yang, and former Congressman Justin Amash will examine how political tribalism stifles innovation and consensus. From alternative voting systems to the rise of independents, these three leaders will explore whether a post-partisan future is possible — challenging us to rethink the foundations of American democracy in a time when the old rules are not working.
FORMER SENATOR JOE MANCHIN
represented West Virginia in the U.S. Senate from 2010 to 2025, where he was known for his independent streak and commitment to bipartisan cooperation. He served as chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and was also a member of the Appropriations, Armed Services, and Veterans’ Affairs committees.
Born and raised in the small coal mining town of Farmington, West Virginia, Manchin was shaped by his community’s values of family, fairness, common sense, and hard work. His grandfather, known as “Papa Joe,” was an Italian immigrant and the town grocer who modeled entrepreneurship and the importance of serving the public. His grandmother, “Mama Kay,” inspired his lifelong commitment to public service through her deep compassion and care for those in need. These early influences laid the foundation for his “retail government”
philosophy—prioritizing personal connection with constituents and responsive leadership.
Before joining the Senate, Manchin served in the West Virginia House of Delegates and Senate, as Secretary of State, and as Governor from 2005 to 2010. A centrist Democrat who later registered as an independent, he prioritized job creation, fiscal responsibility, and a balanced energy strategy that included both traditional and renewable resources.
Throughout his Senate tenure, Manchin played a pivotal role in key legislative negotiations, often acting as a swing vote. He championed efforts to protect Social Security and Medicare, reduce the national debt, and secure benefits for veterans.
An avid outdoorsman and licensed pilot, Manchin is married to Gayle Conelly Manchin, former federal co-chair of the Appalachian Regional Commission. They have three children and ten grandchildren.
ANDREW YANG IS AN ENTREPRENEUR, author, and political reform advocate whose career has spanned the private, nonprofit, and political sectors. He is best known for his 2020 presidential campaign and for co-founding the Forward Party, a centrist political movement launched in 2022.
Born in Schenectady, New York, Yang was raised in Westchester County. His parents immigrated from Taiwan as graduate students at the University of California, Berkeley. He graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy, earned a degree in political science and economics from Brown University, and received a law degree from Columbia University.
Yang began his career in startups before becoming CEO of Manhattan Prep, a test preparation company. In 2011, he founded the nonprofit organization Venture for America, which aimed to foster entrepreneurship in struggling cities. In 2015, the Obama administration named him a “Presidential Ambassador for Global Entrepreneurship.”
In 2020, Yang ran for president as a Democrat with the slogan “Make America Think Harder” (MATH). His signature policy proposal was universal basic income—a monthly payment to every American adult in response to economic disruptions caused by automation and artificial intelligence. Although he ended his campaign in early 2020, he built a dedicated digital following known as the “Yang Gang.”
In 2021, Yang left the Democratic Party and registered as an independent. The following year, he joined former Democrats, Republicans, and independents to form the Forward Party, focused on electoral reform, ranked-choice voting, and promoting a more collaborative political culture.
Yang is the author of three books: “Smart People Should Build Things,” and “The War on Normal People,” and “Hey Yang, Where’s My Thousand Bucks?.”
JUSTIN AMASH IS A CONSTITUTIONAL CONSERVATIVE and libertarian who served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2011 to 2021. Representing Michigan’s 3rd Congressional District, he was known for his principled stance on individual liberty, economic freedom, and the rule of law. Over the course of his five terms, Amash developed a reputation for independence, transparency, and a consistent constitutional approach to legislation.
Born and raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Amash is the son of Palestinian and Syrian immigrants. He graduated from Grand Rapids Christian High School and earned a bachelor’s degree with high honors in economics from the University of Michigan. He went on to receive a juris doctor from the University of Michigan Law School before returning to West Michigan to practice law and work in his family’s business.
Before being elected to Congress in 2010, Amash served one term in the Michigan House of Representatives. In Congress, he became a leading voice on civil liberties, opposing warrantless surveillance, indefinite detention, and civil asset forfeiture. He was also a critic of corporate welfare, government overreach, and excessive spending.
In 2019, Amash left the Republican Party and became the first and only Libertarian member of Congress. He briefly explored a presidential run in 2020 and has continued to advocate for political reform, transparency, and constitutional governance.
Amash lives in Cascade Charter Township, Michigan, with his wife, Kara, and their three children: Alexander, Anwen, and Evelyn. He remains active in public discourse, promoting a vision of government rooted in accountability, individual rights, and nonpartisan integrity.
MARA LIASSON
TONIGHT’S MODERATOR
MARA LIASSON IS THE NATIONAL POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT FOR NPR. Her reports can be heard regularly on NPR’s award-winning news programs “All Things Considered” and “Morning Edition.” Liasson provides extensive coverage of politics and policy from Washington, D.C., focusing on the White House and Congress, and also reports on political trends beyond the Beltway.
Each election year, Liasson provides key coverage of the candidates and issues in both presidential and congressional races. During the Clinton administration, she was NPR’s White House correspondent and won the White House Correspondents Association’s Merriman Smith Award three times for her daily news coverage. Since 1998, she has served as a major contributor and panelist on FOX News and regularly appears on programs such as “Special Report with Bret Baier,” “FOX News Sunday,” and “Media Buzz.”
Liasson joined NPR in 1985 as a general assignment reporter and newscaster and later became the network’s congressional correspondent. From September 1988 to June 1989 she took a leave of absence from NPR to attend Columbia University in New York as a recipient of a KnightBagehot Fellowship in Economics and Business Journalism.
Liasson earned a bachelor’s degree in American History from Brown University.
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WILLIE WILLIAMS
TONIGHT’S MUSICIAN
RICHMOND-BASED TROUBADOUR Willie Williams stands at the crossroads of Americana, country, and hippie jam rock, delivering a sound that feels both rooted and fresh.
His vocals are steeped in Carolina twang, while echoes of Memphis soul, J.J. Cale, and The Allman Brothers weave through his arrangements.
With commanding live performances and sharp songwriting, Williams brings a rare combination of authenticity and polish that resonates onstage and on record.
“A masterful performer. A revelation.”
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DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENTS
THE LARGEST POLITCAL PARTY ISN’T A PARTY AT ALL
AMERICA'S POLITICAL LANDSCAPE IS UNDERGOING A SEISMIC SHIFT. According to a 2025 Gallup poll, a record 45% of Americans now identify as political independents, the highest percentage recorded in the past 40 years. Meanwhile, equal shares of U.S. adults identify as Democrats and Republicans — 27% each. This historic milestone reflects deepening frustration with partisan politics and signals a potential transformation of American democracy.
In 1988, 33% of U.S. adults identified as independent voters. This growth accelerated dramatically after 2011, with independents consistently comprising 40% or more of the electorate. The rise is partly driven by younger generations—Millennials and Gen X—continuing to identify as independents as they age, defying historical patterns where voters typically gravitated toward parties over time.
The generational divide is stark. Among voters under 25, a remarkable 56% identify as independents, which is more than double the rate among voters 80 and older (20%). Gen Z adults show the highest rate of independent identification ever recorded for their age cohort, surpassing both Millennials (47% in 2012) and Gen X (40% in 1992).
Today, only two independent politicians serve at the federal level: Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Sen. Angus King (I-ME). This scarcity isn’t ideological, it’s structural. Ballot-access laws, fundraising realities, committee power, and voter psychology all heavily favor the two major parties once a politician reaches national office. Even successful independents almost always caucus with one party to function legislatively.
Independent voters describe themselves overwhelmingly as moderates (60%), rejecting ideological extremes. They trust Democrats on issues like abortion (70%), healthcare (67%), and climate change (64%), while favoring Republicans on crime (66%), the economy (62%), and immigration (60%). This nuanced positioning reflects their belief that both parties have become too extreme—70% of independents agree with this assessment.
Despite comprising the largest voter bloc, more than 23.5 million independents remain excluded from primary elections in 15 states with closed congressional primaries. This exclusion is particularly consequential: 87% of U.S. House elections are effectively decided in primaries held in uncompetitive districts, meaning independent voters have no meaningful say in choosing their representatives. Young independents are especially impacted—approximately 5 million voters under the age of 34 cannot participate in congressional primaries. Nearly 80% of independents view this exclusion as a violation of their voting rights, yet the system persists, further alienating a growing segment of the electorate from democratic participation.
Continue the Conversation
Why do you think independent identification has surged to a record 45%? Is this a temporary reaction to current politics or a fundamental shift in how Americans view parties?
Younger voters are twice as likely to be independents as older voters. What do you think explains this generational divide?
The convergence of record independent identification, generational transformation, educational realignment, and collapsing institutional trust suggests the twoparty system faces its greatest legitimacy crisis in modern history.
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A THIRD-PARTY SOLUTION?
LOOKING BEYOND THE TWO-PARTY SYSTEM
THE AMERICAN TWO-PARTY SYSTEM WASN’T PART OF THE ORIGINAL DESIGN. When the Constitution was drafted in 1787, it made no mention of political parties. George Washington himself warned in his farewell address that partisan factions would “distract the Public Councils, and enfeeble the Public Administration.” Yet by the 1790s, fundamental disagreements between Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson over federal power and economic policy had already crystallized into the nation’s first party system: Federalists versus Democratic-Republicans .
This early division set a pattern that would persist for more than two centuries. The Federalists faded after the War of 1812, giving way to an “Era of Good Feelings” that proved temporary. By the 1820s, new parties emerged from the Democratic-Republican split: Andrew Jackson’s Democrats and Henry Clay’s Whigs . When the Whig Party collapsed over slavery in the 1850s, the anti-slavery Republican Party rose to replace it. Since then, Democrats and Republicans have dominated American politics, adapting their positions while maintaining their duopoly.
Why has this two-party system proven so durable? The answer lies partly in America’s electoral mechanics. The “first-past-the-post” system, where whoever gets the most votes wins, creates what political scientists call strategic voting. Voters worry that supporting their favorite candidate might “spoil” the election, allowing their least-favorite to win. Single-member congressional districts, the Electoral College, and restrictive ballot access laws further entrench the major parties’ advantages. Third parties, lacking the massive organizational infrastructure and financial resources of Democrats and Republicans, struggle to compete.
Third Parties in the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election
Green Party of the United States
Jill Stein: 0.56% (862,049 votes)
Libertarian Party
Chase Oliver: 0.42% (650,126 votes)
Party for Socialism and Liberation
Claudia De La Cruz: 0.11% (166,175 votes)
American Solidarity Party
Peter Sonski: 0.03% (44,000 votes)
Constitution Party
Randall Terry: 0.03% (41,294 votes)
The structural barriers are formidable. In many states, third-party candidates must collect tens of thousands of signatures just to appear on the ballot—requirements that major parties bypass through their established status. Presidential debate rules require candidates to poll at 15% nationally, a threshold nearly impossible to reach without the media coverage that comes from being in debates. The single-member district system means that a party winning 15% of votes nationwide might win zero seats in Congress, unlike proportional representation systems in countries like Germany or the Netherlands, where multiple parties routinely share power.
Yet, Americans consistently express frustration with this binary choice. Recent polling reveals that 62% of U.S. adults believe a third major party is needed , with 74% of independents, 58% of Democrats, and 43% of Republicans holding this view. In 2024, more than 40% of voters said they would consider voting for a third-party presidential candidate.
However, this apparent appetite doesn’t translate into votes. When asked what they would do if their preferred third-party candidate was unlikely to win, 54% of Americans said they would switch to a major-party candidate. Only 11% of adults appear genuinely committed to voting
third-party regardless of electoral prospects, nowhere near enough to make such candidates competitive in presidential elections.
The 2000 election illustrated these dynamics: the Green Party and Ralph Nader’s 2.7% showing may have drawn enough votes from Al Gore to tip Florida, and the presidency, to George W. Bush, reinforcing fears about the spoiler effect for a generation of progressive voters.
Despite these obstacles, third parties have occasionally made significant impacts. The most successful third-party showing in recent history came in 1992, when Texas billionaire Ross Perot captured 18.9% of the popular vote running as an independent—the highest percentage for a non-major-party candidate since Theodore Roosevelt’s 1912 Bull Moose campaign. Perot’s focus on the federal deficit and fiscal responsibility permanently influenced how these issues are discussed in American politics. He ran again in 1996 as the Reform Party nominee, securing 8% of the vote.
Third parties have found more success at state and local levels. Jesse Ventura won Minnesota’s governorship as a Reform Party candidate in 1998. Independents like Bernie Sanders and Angus King have served in the U.S. Senate. These examples suggest that while the presidency remains largely out of reach, alternative candidates can win when local conditions and candidate appeal align favorably.
Today’s prominent third parties represent diverse ideological perspectives. The Libertarian Party, founded in 1971 and now the third-largest party by voter registration, champions individual liberty, minimal government intervention, and free-market economics. The Green Party, the fourth-largest party, promotes environmentalism, social justice, and progressive economic policies. The Constitution Party and Party for Socialism and Liberation occupy the further ends of the political spectrum.
Some reformers argue the solution lies not in building third parties within the current system, but in changing the system itself with solutions like open primaries, ranked-choice voting, proportional representation, and relaxed ballot access laws. Whether such reforms can gain traction nationally remains uncertain, as the two major parties have little incentive to support changes that would weaken their grip on power.
Third parties serve functions beyond winning elections. They raise issues ignored by major parties, provide outlets for dissatisfied voters, and sometimes force major parties to adopt their positions to recapture lost support. The ongoing debate reveals a fundamental tension in American democracy: between the desire for more choices and the structural realities that make viable alternatives extremely difficult to build. The question isn’t whether Americans want alternatives—polling shows many do. The deeper questions concern whether our electoral system can evolve to accommodate them, and whether frustration will ever translate into the sustained commitment necessary to overcome the formidable barriers standing in the way.
Continue the Conversation
Looking back at figures like Ross Perot, what conditions allowed thirdparty candidates to break through nationally? Do those conditions exist today—or have they changed? Would a viable third party make American politics less polarized, or simply rearrange existing divisions? What tradeoffs might come with more choice?
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CHOOSING HOW WE CHOOSE
RANKED-CHOICE VOTING EXPLAINED
RANKED-CHOICE VOTING (RCV) is an electoral system that allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference, rather than selecting only one. Voters may rank as many, or as few, candidates as they choose, allowing them to express a fuller range of preferences on a single ballot.
The method is currently used in a growing number of U.S. states, including Maine and Alaska, as well as in major cities like San Francisco and New York City. Internationally, many nations have adopted ranked or preferential voting systems for some or all elections, including Australia, Ireland, and India.
Supporters argue that RCV encourages candidates to appeal to a broader share of the electorate, since success may depend not only on first-choice support but also on being a viable second or third choice. Advocates also contend that the system reduces the likelihood of “spoiler” candidates, gives independent or third-party candidates greater viability, and promotes more issue-focused and civil campaigns.
How RCV Works
1. First-choice votes are counted.
2. If a candidate receives more than 50% of first-choice votes, they win.
3. If no candidate reaches a majority, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated.
4. Ballots cast for the eliminated candidate are reassigned to the voter’s next-ranked choice.
5. The process continues until one candidate earns majority support, functioning like a series of runoff elections without requiring multiple election days.
Critics, however, raise concerns about complexity and accessibility. Because RCV is unfamiliar to many voters, its implementation requires clear ballot design, robust voter education, and careful election administration. Others argue that longer vote-counting periods in close races may affect public confidence if results are not immediately clear.
RCV is just one of several proposed reforms responding to voter dissatisfaction, low turnout, and polarization in modern democracies.
WEBINAR: Ranked Choice Voting & Democracy Reform in Virginia
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22 @ 4:00 P.M. (VIRTUAL)
Join UpVote Virginia tomorrow afternoon for a virtual webinar to learn how you can help build on some of the solutions discussed at tonight’s program, like ranked-choice voting, right here in the Commonwealth.
UpVote Virginia is a nonpartisan democracy reform collective aiming to elevate the voices of Virginia voters by making elections stronger and more equitable. SCAN TO JOIN
www.pfgc.com
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BEHIND THE PODIUM
INSIDE THE WORLD OF SPEECH & DEBATE COMPETITORS
During the competitive season, hundreds of high school and middle school students across the region step up to the front of the classroom, open their research binders, and deliver speeches that have taken weeks, or sometimes months, to perfect. For students in the Richmond Forum Speech & Debate Initiative (RFSDI), these weekend tournaments represent far more than trophies. They’re laboratories for critical thinking, empathy, and self-discovery.
The Art of Interpretation
Interpretation events challenge students to take published works—plays, novels, poetry, even television scripts—and bring them to life through voice alone. These aren’t acting performances; in fact, many leagues penalize students who rely too heavily on theatrical techniques. Instead, interpretation centers on deep textual understanding and the ability to convey that meaning clearly and intentionally to an audience.
Students can choose from five main interpretation categories. In Prose and Poetry, competitors read from selections contained in a small binder, their voices rising and falling with the rhythm of the text. Humorous Interpretation and Dramatic Interpretation are memorized solo performances with no props or costumes. In a ten-minute window, the student uses just their voice to move an audience to laughter or tears. In Duo Interpretation , two students perform together without ever looking at or touching each other, creating an intricate dance of timing and trust.
But selecting and preparing an interpretation piece is far more complex than simply choosing compelling material. Students must first ask themselves: What do I want to say? They must consider their own perspective and identity to select stories that work for them as performers and resonate authentically across diverse audiences. Then comes the painstaking process of “cutting.” A multi-hour play or entire novel must be distilled into 10 minutes, preserving essential plot beats and emotional arcs while trimming everything that stalls momentum or feels inauthentic. This refinement can take months. Many competitors use the feedback provided by tournament judges to hone the piece over time in pursuit of greater clarity and impact.
SKILLS DEVELOPED: Empathy, Perspectivetaking, Literary Analysis, Critical Thinking, Self-expression, Emotional Intelligence, Vulnerability, Collaboration (for Duo)
ANUSHRI RAMESH is a senior at Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School, where she has served as captain of varsity debate team and competed in both Dramatic Interpretation and LincolnDouglas Debate. Beyond the competition circuit, she is the founder of We Play Too, a nonprofit that provides elementary students access to after-school sports. Anushri also serves as a social media intern for RFSDI.
Thinking on Your Feet
While interpretation events reward careful preparation, Limited Preparation events test a different skill set entirely: the ability to think clearly under pressure.
In Impromptu Speaking , students receive three general topics—perhaps quotations, proverbs, or objects—and have just seven minutes total to both prepare and deliver a speech. Beginners might use four minutes to prepare and three to speak, while advanced competitors often prep for less than a minute and speak for six. Despite the time crunch, these aren’t rambling thoughts. Students must quickly craft organized arguments and deliver polished, coherent speeches without notes.
Extemporaneous Speaking (or “Extemp”) offers slightly more breathing room but demands deeper research. Students spend roughly a month studying broad topic areas.
Recent competitions included topics like South America and the Caribbean, Healthcare, and International Economics. At the tournament, they draw three political or policy questions, select one, and have 30 minutes to prepare a seven-minute analytical speech using their research.
These events build skills students will use long after they leave the podium. They learn to synthesize information rapidly, construct arguments under time constraints, and engage with complex issues using balanced, researched approaches. In a world that demands quick thinking and clear communication, these are the skills that matter.
SKILLS DEVELOPED: Working Under Pressure, Research, Information Literacy, Adaptability, Decision-making, Balanced Thinking, Clarity, Conciseness
GRACE MOORE is a senior at Monacan High School who joined her school’s speech and debate team during its inaugural year. Last year, she helped lead her team to win first place overall at both the regional and super-regional championships. As a solo competitor, Grace also earned first place at the Virginia High School League competition in Extemporaneous Speaking.
HENRY PRICE is a 2025 graduate of LC Byrd High School and current freshman biology major at Howard University. As a speech and debate competitor, he dominated the Poetry circuit, earning first place in the super-region and second in the state. Henry qualified for the 2025 National Speech and Debate Tournament before heading to college to start pursuing a PhD in genetics.
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On February 24, 1990, prominent figures from across the political spectrum gathered for a spirited debate on what Washington had begun calling the post–Cold War “peace dividend.” Representing the left were former Democratic senators George McGovern of South Dakota and William Proxmire of Wisconsin, while the right-leaning team featured former Secretary of Defense Frank C. Carlucci III and conservative commentator William A. Rusher
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Explore our past speaker archive and share your Forum memories at richmondforum.org/speaker.
PRIME MINISTER SANNA MARIN
AT THE RICHMOND FORUM JANUARY 17, 2026
“We won’t give up our values for a 10% tariff.”
Hours after President Donald Trump announced a 10% tariff on eight European nations to pressure Denmark into selling Greenland, former Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin delivered a defiant response from the stage of The Richmond Forum.
Her remarks captured the evening’s central theme: values-based leadership as a defense against rising global authoritarianism.
Trump’s plan, announced earlier that day, threatens to increase the tariff to 25% if a deal isn’t reached by June 1. Finland was among the targeted nations.
Marin, who served as Finland’s prime minister from 2019 to 2023 and led the country into NATO membership, warned that today’s geopolitical conflicts are challenging the international rulesbased order established after World War II. “If there are no rules that we can all rely on, then we are all in jeopardy,” she said.
Marin’s appearance coincided with the inauguration of Virginia’s first female governor, Abigail Spanberger. When asked to offer advice, Marin emphasized the importance of trusting one’s values and standing strong in one’s vision. “Do what you came to do,” she said. “You have the opportunity to use power, so use it.”
Democratic nations need leaders who understand core values like democracy, justice, rule of law, and human rights, Marin said. “None of us here want to see a future that we’ve seen in the past,” she remarked. “Only if you have the understanding of those core values, then you can form a vision for a better future that would be prosperous, a future where every child can become anything.”
Marin acknowledged that smaller nations like Finland have historically relied on collective defense arrangements like NATO, but the current situation demands greater European investment in defense.
“If we want to stay independent and free, if we want to have democratic values in the future, we need to be able to defend ourselves,” she said. “It has been unfair for U.S. citizens to carry the financial burden of European defense. It’s about time that we take care of our own backyard.”
Marin made an impassioned case for continued Western support of Ukraine, calling it NATO’s “strongest asset.”
“They are the only European country that has the experience of modern warfare,” she said, noting how Ukrainian forces have revolutionized military tactics through drone technology. When the war began, conventional wisdom held that destroying a tank required another tank — an expensive proposition. Ukrainian innovation proved otherwise.
“We have actually seen that the best way to demolish a tank, and to be able to survive warfare, is with drones,” Marin said. “Ukraine is building amazing drones, and they are innovating every day because they are on the battlefield.”
She emphasized the mutual dependence between Ukraine and NATO allies, as Russia also learns and adapts daily. “We need Ukraine as much as Ukraine needs us,” she said.
Despite the ongoing conflict, Ukraine is simultaneously rebuilding and pursuing European Union membership, she said. “Even though there is still an incredibly difficult situation in Ukraine, there is hope.”
Marin closed with a story from childhood. As a 9-year-old, she led classmates in protesting the removal of a forest next to their school. Sadly, they failed, and the trees were cut down.
Rather than accepting defeat, every student and teacher planted a sapling on school grounds. More than 30 years later, a new forest stands.
“There is always hope when there is action,” Marin said.
A
REMINDEROFHOWESSENTIAL HONESTANDFOCUSED
1) Sanna Marin on stage. 2) Marin answers questions from the audience. 3) Marin visits the Student Room to talk with local high school students. 4) Anthony Conte of Wells Fargo, the evening’s Lead Patron, introduces the speakers. 5) Guests of YouDecide, the Host Patron for the evening. 6) Deau Eyes provides musical entertainment.
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UP NEXT AT THE FORUM
MARCH 21, 2026
TRACEE ELLIS ROSS
ON IDENTITY, IMPACT, & JOY
From cementing a legacy of television and film stardom to building a multimillion-dollar brand that celebrates Black beauty, Tracee Ellis Ross has spent her life breaking molds and making space — for herself and for others. In this evening of conversation, she will open up about her career, her passions, and the power of showing up as your whole self. Expect reflections on creativity, courage, and joy — with the signature humor and honesty that have made her a beloved cultural force.
(Format: Conversation with Q&A)
-TraceeEllisRoss “
I AM LEARNING EVERY DAY TO ALLOW THE SPACE BETWEEN WHERE I AM AND WHERE I WANT TO BE TO INSPIRE ME AND NOT TERRIFY ME.
APRIL 18, 2026
JOHN GREEN
Perpetually Curious #RVAFORUM FOLLOW THEFORUM
Uncommon THinKeRS
Just like the trailblazing minds who take the stage at the Richmond Forum, VCU believes in the kind of thinking that serves something bigger than ourselves. We bring together world-class research, fearless innovation, bold creativity, and community-driven impact to tackle the challenges others can’t — or won’t — for the greater good. Guess great minds do, in fact, think alike.
VCU. We are the uncommon.