East Coast Votes Summit

Arrival and Networking (Breakfast)

Harvard Kennedy School, John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum Reception Area

Enjoy a continental breakfast with coffee, tea, and assorted pastries while networking with other event attendees and guests.

Opening Remarks

Harvard Kennedy School, John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum

Amir Smith, Co-Chair of Harvard Votes Challenge; Thomas Dunne, Harvard College Dean of Students

Hear from event organizers and the Harvard College Dean of Students, Thomas Dunne about the conference and the importance of civic engagement.

Breakout 1 & Breakout 2

HKS Fall ‘26 Fellow Conversation

Harvard Kennedy School, Littauer L-140 Goodman

Nathalie Rayes, 10th U.S. Ambassador to Croatia

For nearly 60 years, the Institute of Politics Resident Fellows Program has provided Harvard students with the opportunity to learn from prominent public servants, engage in civil discourse, and acquire a more holistic and pragmatic view of our political world. Hear from Fall 2026 fellow and former U.S. Ambassador to Croatia, Nathalie Rayes.

Innovating GOTV: An Idea Sharing Workshop

Harvard Kennedy School, Littauer L-130 Bolton

Nova Brent, Brandeis University VoteDeis President; Luke Farberman, Brandeis University VoteDeis Senior Representative

Join Nova Brent '28 and Luke Farberman '27 from Brandeis University's non-partisan civic engagement club, VoteDeis, as they share their experiences getting out the vote on campus. From baby goats to clothing swaps, Nova and Luke will recount some of VoteDeis'  more unorthodox GOTV methods and lead a space for students to share and formulate their own innovative ideas.

Keynote Speaker Session

Harvard Kennedy School, John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum

Andrea Hailey, Chief Executive Officer of Vote.org

Join us in conversation with Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Vote.org, Andrea Hailey, as we discuss the state of our democracy, the youth vote, and election integrity.

Harvard Yard Tour

Start from Johnston Gate

A guided tour of Harvard Yard.

Lunch

Harvard College, Annenberg Dining Hall

Attendees are invited to have lunch on their own in Harvard Square or have a complimentary lunch at Harvard College's iconic first-year dining hall space, Annenberg.

Breakout 3 & Breakout 4

From Caring to Casting: Getting our Generation to the Polls

Harvard Kennedy School, Littauer L-140 Goodman

Chris-Tina Middlebrooks, Princeton University; Stanley Stoutamire, Princeton University

Explore how the power of storytelling can inspire civic engagement and motivate a new generation of voters. This session will examine how personal narratives, shared experiences, and community-centered messaging can make voting feel more relevant, accessible, and meaningful. Participants will learn how storytelling can help connect people to the issues they care about, strengthen their sense of civic responsibility, and ultimately increase voter turnout at the polls.

Sifting Through the Numbers: A Harvard Youth Poll Panel

Harvard Kennedy School, Littauer L-130 Bolton

Jeffrey Liszt, Partner at Impact Research; Jordan Schwartz, 2024 Harvard Votes & 2025 Youth Poll Chair; Sophia Robertson, 2026 Harvard Youth Poll Chair

The IOP Youth Poll is the biggest polling of 18-29 year olds in the nation. Delve through the data and numbers of last year’s poll with poll organizers and data experts.

Breakout 5, Breakout 6 & Breakout 7

Social Media, Communications, & GOTV with Ashlynn Profit

Harvard Kennedy School, Littauer L-140 Goodman

Ashlynn Profit, Executive Vice President at When We All Vote and Civic Nation

Ashlynn Profit, Executive Vice President at When We All Vote and Civic Nation walks through social media and communications strategy for voter mobilization.

Civic Engagement & Public Service in the Broader Community

Harvard Kennedy School, Littauer L-166 IOP Conference Room

Emily Schwartz, Vice President of PBHA; Susie Coakley, Citizenship Tutoring Program Chair, Harvard Kennedy School Institute of Politics; Siri Panetta, CIVICS Co-Chair, Harvard Kennedy School Institute of Politics

Join Phillips Brooks House Association for a conversation on civic engagement and public service ahead of the 2026 midterms.

Invisible Barriers: What Civic Engagement Can Learn from Culture and Fandom

Harvard Kennedy School, Littauer L-130 Bolton

Maya Peterson, Co-Founder & Executive Director of The Artist Hub

Young people encounter many of the ideas that shape how they understand themselves and the world through culture—music, entertainment, creators, fandoms, social media, and the communities that form around them. What might that tell us about how they engage with civic life?

Closing Remarks

Harvard Kennedy School, John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum