Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Learn more about the program and the speakers here:
villagesquare.us/event/tocqueville
“The greatness of America lies not in being more enlightened than any other nation, but rather in her ability to repair her faults.” —Alexis de Tocqueville
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Meet our special guests:
John Wood is the National Ambassador and Director of Public Engagement at Braver Angels, an effort we at The Village Square have been fans and supporters of since it was still a glimmer in its founder’s eye. John is also a columnist at USA Today. Manu Meel is the founding CEO of BridgeUSA, an organization on campuses across America. He’s also been named one of Forbes 30 under 30 in education. And (here’s the bonus): they are dear friends.
When Alexis de Tocqueville traveled to a freshly-minted America, he found a people gathering and talking and deciding on things—they were building, and they were repairing. These citizens of a new democracy knew something that perhaps we need to be reminded of today—if a people are to stay free, they can’t wait around and hope someone else will take care of things. That’s a 250-year-old spirit we’re going to need to rediscover, so we’re bringing together two young leaders of this very old idea—John Wood and Manu Meel. Of the people, by the people and for the people is how these two have been getting it done.
Learn more about the program and the speakers here:
villagesquare.us/event/tocqueville
“The greatness of America lies not in being more enlightened than any other nation, but rather in her ability to repair her faults.” —Alexis de Tocqueville
_______
Meet our special guests:
John Wood is the National Ambassador and Director of Public Engagement at Braver Angels, an effort we at The Village Square have been fans and supporters of since it was still a glimmer in its founder’s eye. John is also a columnist at USA Today. Manu Meel is the founding CEO of BridgeUSA, an organization on campuses across America. He’s also been named one of Forbes 30 under 30 in education. And (here’s the bonus): they are dear friends.
When Alexis de Tocqueville traveled to a freshly-minted America, he found a people gathering and talking and deciding on things—they were building, and they were repairing. These citizens of a new democracy knew something that perhaps we need to be reminded of today—if a people are to stay free, they can’t wait around and hope someone else will take care of things. That’s a 250-year-old spirit we’re going to need to rediscover, so we’re bringing together two young leaders of this very old idea—John Wood and Manu Meel. Of the people, by the people and for the people is how these two have been getting it done.
