Building a Culture of Dialogue: A Conversation with Harvard’s Intellectual Vitality Initiative

In the early 2020s, a group of Harvard College students came together to reflect on campus climate and the importance of fostering a culture of respectful dialogue and mutual understanding — values essential not only for students, but for the broader Harvard community. In this session, HAFFS will engage with key leaders of the Intellectual Vitality Initiative to discuss its origins, guiding principles, and evolving impact. Co-sponsored with FAIR and the Council on Academic Freedom, the conversation will explore ongoing efforts to strengthen intellectual diversity and open inquiry on campus. The conversation will feature: Danielle Allen, James Bryant Conant University Professor; Director, Allen Lab for Democracy Renovation; Director, Democratic Knowledge Project Edward J. Hall, Norman E. Vuilleumier Professor of Philosophy; Director of Undergraduate Studies Ari Kohn ’26, Co-founder and Co-Chair (2023–2025), Intellectual Vitality Student Advisory Board Monica Harris, Executive Director, Fair For All (FAIR) John Evangelakos, President, Harvard Alumni for Free Speech