“In this great, imperfect, but necessary system of self-government, power and progress will always come from the demos — from ‘We, the people.’
— Barack Obama
The Demos Center at Deree – The American College of Greece offers a vibrant program that aims to engage students and staff at ACG and citizens of and visitors to Athens. It seeks to engage students, scholars, citizens, and visitors to Athens in understanding global challenges to democracy, with the goal of fostering innovation and critical thinking, in order to inspire them to create – through education, collaboration, and action – a more sustainable and equitable world.
Director: Dr. Mary Cardaras
Philosophy & Goals
The mission of The Demos Center is to strengthen democracy by fostering active citizenship, through research, education, and promoting civic engagement and participation by acting and making a real-world impact on college campuses, in municipalities, and in countries around the world. Our partners and our programming reflect these values.
We fulfill our mission by bringing people and organizations together to create:
- community through dialogue
- study abroad opportunities centered on democracy and civil responsibilities
- research opportunities
- faculty and student exchange opportunities
- research and funding partnerships
In addition, we host:
- seminars
- workshops
- symposia
- faculty and student fellowships
- lectures, art exhibitions, musical performances
This is the Demos Center:
“Human connection is at the heart of our lives and societies. Being part of an inclusive community – where we engage with diverse perspectives – shapes not just who we are as individuals, but also how we see the world. It influences our values, beliefs, and even political opinions. When nurtured in a democratic space, these connections help build a more inclusive world.
Democracy isn’t just about laws and politics – it thrives on participation, discussion, and mutual respect. Third places provide platforms for open dialogue – whether through storytelling, debate nights, or informal meetups. They create spaces where diverse voices can be heard – for example, a refugee sharing their experience, an activist discussing their work, or a retiree talking about life transitions. These conversations promote critical thinking and empathy, leading to greater common understanding.” (Josefine Sandwall)
Current Events
“Without facts, you can’t have truth; without truth, you cannot have trust. Without these three, we have no shared reality. You cannot have journalism. You cannot have democracy.”
— Maria Ressa, Journalist, Rappler, Nobel Peace Prize Winner 2024
Cello Recital
Commemorating the 150th Birthday of The American College of Greece
When:
Saturday, November 1, 2025 | 19:00
Where:
The Demos Center of The American College of Greece, ACG Plaka Building [17b Ipitou str., Athens, 10557]
Organized by:
The Demos Center of The American College of Greece
A performance by:
Asterios Pouftis, Leslie Jones-Michail and Nora Karakousoglou
For more information, please contact [email protected]
Pillars of Democracy Town Hall: The example of Zohran Mamadani
When: Thursday, December 11, 2025 | 19:00
Where: ACG Plaka building, Ipitou Str. 17B, Plaka, Athens
Co-organized by:
The Demos Center of The American College of Greece and Prwtovoulia Newn
Panelists:
Elena Papadimitriou
Head of Editorial, FYI News
Antonis Galanopoulos
Researcher, Political Science & Project Coordinator, Eteron
Petros Ioannidis
Founder & Political Analyst, About People
Nikos Vasilopoulos
Co-Founder of Prwtovoulia Newn & Political Organizer
Moderator:
Kostis Katsanevas
Managing Director of Career Gate
About the event
Join us for a discussion in Greek about the campaigning style of the next young mayor of New York City. To what extent can democracy be strengthened from a center of power that is at the grassroots level? By a younger generation. And convincing people of older generations to join.
Can Mamdani’s example of making connections with communities, listening to and understanding their needs, hand-to-hand contact with individuals who are eager to share their concerns, get them to the polls to vote, and further encourage them to participate?
These partners have contributed to our success in our first two years. They have supported us and they have inspired us. The Demos Center would not be what it is today without all these wonderful organizations that comprise the fabric of civil society, that help it grow and flourish.
We are very grateful and look forward to what the next few years will bring.
- The Francis Rich School of Fine and Performing Arts
- The Institute for Hellenic Culture and the Liberal Arts
- The Center for Excellence in Sustainability
- Youthmakers Hub
- Refugee Week Greece
- The Michael and Kitty Dukakis Center for Public and Humanitarian Service at ACT
- The Greek Current
- Ecogenia
- Network for Children’s Rights
- King’s College London
- The Global Covenant of Mayors
- Athens Democracy and Culture Foundation
- Global Liberal Arts Alliance
- Debate House
- Protovoulia Neon
The Third Space Project
The Third Space Project: an immersive, interdisciplinary initiative that uses art, education, and civic dialogue to spark youth engagement with democratic life. Anchored by ACG’s Demos Center and Frances Rich School of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, the project uses as a catalyst its new urban gallery space at the Demos Center —The Third Space Urban Art Gallery—as a launchpad for civic imagination and action.
Exhibitions: Material Witnesses, summer 2025
Mama Klorin, winter 2024-2025
Celebrating Democracy Through the Arts
Programs for winter 2025 included:
- Two polyphonic singing groups
- ACG Community Choir performance & lecture
- Concert with two cellos – “Music as a Democratic Process”
“The function of the artist in a disturbed society is to give awareness of the universe, to ask the right questions, and to elevate the mind.”
— Marina Abramovic
“The ancient theater was a tool for democracy. It was a civic endeavor, which also became an artistic endeavor.”
— Marianna Calbari
Voices of Democracy
The world faces an unprecedented convergence of crises—political extremism, economic inequality, misinformation, climate change, and forced displacement.
Voices of Democracy is a groundbreaking interview-based video series that bridges the gap between policymakers, civil society, and affected individuals.
More than a media project, it challenges the cycle of exclusion that allows misinformation and fear to dictate policy. By amplifying underrepresented perspectives, it ensures that real people—not just political rhetoric—shape discussions on democracy, governance, and human rights.
Led by UN award-winning Multimedia producer, Fridoon Joinda, the series draws on his firsthand experience of displacement from Kabul to Greece and his years of media advocacy.
The first year will feature 15–20 in-depth episodes, released biweekly for sustained engagement and real-time relevance.
Education Unites / Focus: Human Rights
“Human rights – the language of democracy.”
— Anne Applebaum
Kali Polis Internship Program for Students
The Kali Polis Project is an urban studio semester internship program for Greek undergraduate and graduate students hosted at The Demos Center of The American College of Greece.
Supported by the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy (GCoM), the project provides innovative local solutions to global climate challenges through a city–campus collaboration to co-design and execute urban projects.
Each semester, a small group of students will be hosted at The Demos Center and receive internship academic credits to participate in this innovative urban studio program.
The first two participating municipalities are Kifisia and Elliniko-Argyroupoli—both GCoM signatory cities in the greater Athens region facing increasing climate challenges such as extreme heat, wildfires, and flooding.
Our student interns will work directly with local municipalities on projects which provide young thinkers the opportunity to help complete projects which will make a direct impact on the lives of citizens. We hope to attract more municipalities and more students who have both interest and ideas in several areas, including urban planning, sustainability, public relations, and marketing.
| 10-18 October | Retrospective Event: 10 Years of ACG Graphic Design Exhibition, lectures, workshops |
| 17 October | The Dialogue, by Protovoulia Neon Workshop: from the agora to today’s neighborhoods, youth reimagine public space, in an open “agora of ideas” on democracy, art, Gen Z |
| 7 October | Reimagining Greece |
| 16 September | The Greek Summer: Mythology, History, Future Bodassaki Lecture |
| 10-11 July | Erasmus Foundation Workshop: empowering young people to enact change to protect, sustain, and grow vulnerable democracies around the world |
| 18 June | Screening of Short Films Refugee Week Greece |
| 6 June – 12 July | Third Space Urban Art Gallery Opening: Material Witness Artists: Afsoon, Nuveen Barwari, Tancredi di Carcaci, Paolo Colombo, Lydia Delikoura, Hale Ekinci, Majd Abdel Hamid, Iliodora Margellos, Francesco Simeti, Elif Uras |
| 28 May | Youthmakers Hub: The World in 2025: Voices of Democracy Roundtable Moderator: Katerina Bakoyianni, head of podcasts at Alter Ego Media Speakers: Brady Keisling (former US diplomat), Nikos Konstandaras (Kathimerini journalist), Effie Fokas (professor of International Relations ACG), Gelly Aroni (head of Integration Unit, Ministry of Migration & Asylum) |
| 12 April | Network for Children’s Rights Discussion: Sex Education for Children: for parents, teachers, youth workers |
| 11 April | Debate House Discussion: Should there be a limit on artistic expression? |
| 7 April | Youthmakers Hub Green Perspectives: Uniting Voice for a Sustainable Future Sustainability in Data and Digital Presence: green tech innovations, digital responsibility, role of AI in fostering sustainable solutions; the power of civic engagement in creating lasting societal change innovations |
| 5 April | Annual Meeting: presidents and provosts from American colleges around the world Dr. David Horner, president of ACG; Dr. Edward Wingenbach, president-elect of ACG |
| 15 February | Debate House Woke Culture – Is it Progress? |
| 13 February | Creative Music Workshop: Πηγή Concert Integration through Creative Arts (sponsored by Refugee Week, We Are Community) Musician: Asterios Poufris |
| 4 February | Youth Initiative Greece: Advocacy & Engagement among Young Greeks Youth engagement event with former Canadian Senator Ratna Omidvar – for public and private college/university students Moderator: Kostis Katsanevas |
| 10 January | Youthmaker’s Hub first meeting of the year and workshop |
| 4 December | Demos & Columbia University’s Athens Global Center Panel discussion about new EU migration relations |
| 25, 26, 27 November | Demos sponsors discussion with private and public university students Topic: housing crisis in Athens |
| 29 October | Youth Initiative Greece with Thanos Davelis (of the Greek Current) Discussion: the US election |
| 18 October | Mobilization of Young People for Climate Action US Embassy, Ecogenia |
| 17 October | Debate: US Election Debate House |
| 16 October | Workshop: Youth Engagement Ecogenia, with Demos & US Embassy |
| 26 September | Eastern Mediterranean Business & Culture Alliance Panel discussion: Hellenic-Japanese Relations: from Lafcadio Hearn to the Tokei Maru EMBCA Humanitarian Award for the courage of the Japanese frigate, its captain and crew for rescuing Greeks and Armenians from the burning of Smyrna in 1922 |
| 5 February | Muhabbet: East Mediterranean Conversations Writing the City: Politiki Literature of Istanbul Petros Markaris & Iraklis Millas |
| 5 March | Greek Revolution in Ottoman History |
| 6 May | On Culinary Cultures & Diasporic Identities Alexander Kitroeff & Ilay Romain Ors |
Celebrating Democracy through the Arts
| 16 November 2024 – 31 January 2025 | Mama Klorin: A Project by Doreida Xhogu Exhibition |
| 31 January | Lecture: Topics: Working Conditions, Uninsured Labor, Political Disenfranchisement, Sacrifices to Create Better Opportunities for their Children Speakers: Doreida Xhogo & other women cleaners in Athens Moderators: Pati Vardhami & Ioanna Papapavlou |
| 18 & 25 January | Guided tours of the Mama Klorin exhibition Led by Doreida Xhogu & Pati Vardhami Tour in Albanian: 18 January Tour in English: 25 January |
| 11 January | Workshop: The kitchen towel Transforming a personal diary into a shared creative process, inviting participants to share stories of everyday life, work, migration, and resilience |
Concerts
| 18 January | Two Polyphonic Singing Groups (Albanian & Greek) |
| 20 January | ACG Community Choir performance & lecture: The Civic Symphony: The Power of Music in Shaping Society Moderator & Choir Director: Professor Effi Minakoulis |
| 24 January | ACG Concert: Democracy & Creating Borders through Art Lecture: Hierarchies in Music Speakers & Performers: Dr. Nora Karakousoglou & Leslie Jones (ACG) |
Lectures & Presentations
| 16 January | Openness in Art: On the Democratic Distribution of Authorship Speaker: Dr. Christos Asomatos, ACG, art historian & researcher |
| 24 January | Music and Hierarchy: Music as a Democratic Process Cellists: Nora Karakousoglou & Professor Leslie Jones (ACG) |
| Performing Borders & Democracy Do democratic societies hinder and/or facilitate the continuous creation of borders? In what ways? To what extent? Katerina Nikolopoulou, ACG theater director and faculty | |
| 30 January | Don’t Look – Hybrid Project Questions discussed: how did our world start after covid? How does our existence through art reflect the global? Traumatic experience of isolation?Moderator: Ioanna Papapavlou (art curator, ACG) Panel participants: Katia Savrimi & Despina Georgekopoulou (University of Patras, Thomas Economakos, Effie Halivopoulou, Tim Ward, Nikos Falagas |
| 31 January | ACG lecture & final event: Democracy and Creating Borders Through Art Final event & closing reception for program: Democracy Through the Arts |
| 5 December | Eleftherios Venizelos Chair Lecture for 2024-2025 Cultural Dualism and its Value Systems: the democratic tradition in Greece, in historical perspective Speaker: P. Nikiforos Diamandouros, Emeritus Professor of Political Science at the University of Athens, member of the Academy of Athens |
| 22 February | Focus: Human Rights Creating a Climate for Vibrant Democracy History of Human Rights; Discussion of Universal Declaration of Human Rights Matilda Zhataipanagiotou & Leda Panatiota-Alept |
| 21 March | Celebration of the Life of the Greek International Statesman Ioannis Kapodistrias |
| 28 March | Focus: Human Rights LGBTQ rights are Human Rights Fridoon Joinda – screening of films Gregory Valiantos – discussion |
| 29 March | Citizenship & Civic Engagement Day |
| 30 March | Ecogenia & Demos strategic meeting with Ecogenia alumni |
| 6 April | Focus: Human Rights Children’s Human Rights Festival Anna Mertzani |
| 15-18 May | 3rd Energy Academy CoESTL & GEF Academy Workshop: Energy Transition for Future Leaders |
| 27 May | Adoption in Greece: A Cold War Wound Film Screening & Presentation |
| 28 May | King’s College Meets the Demos Center |
Location & Contact
The Demos Center operates from both its Plaka building at 17 Ipitou Str. in Plaka, the heart of Athens, and from the campus of The American College of Greece, 6 Gravias Str. in Aghia Paraskevi.
Contact: Dr. Mary Cardaras @ [email protected]
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