For over two decades, Venezuela’s regime has dismantled democracy through systematic human rights violations, the erosion of local government autonomy, and the persecution of dozens of mayors. Nicolás Maduro’s crackdown targeted David Smolansky, former mayor of El Hatillo, for his efforts to strengthen local institutions, combat crime, and tackle corruption in one of the world’s most violent and corrupt nations. This discussion will examine how local governments can resist authoritarianism and what Venezuela’s experience reveals about the broader struggle for democracy. With SNF Agora Visiting Fellow and Dissident in Residence David Smolansky and moderated by SNF Agora Assistant Director of Public Programs Mary Bruce.
This is an in-person event only. Livestreaming will not be available.
David Smolansky
 served as the Mayor of El Hatillo City in Caracas, Venezuela. His tenure as Mayor gained national and international recognition for its transparency and notable reduction in kidnappings, despite operating in one of the world’s most violent capitals. His commitment to addressing human rights violations and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Venezuela led him to play a pivotal role in non-violent protests against Maduro’s dictatorship. As a result of defending democratic values while serving in local government, he faced arbitrary arrest warrants, removal from his Mayoral role, illegal disqualification for public service, banned from voting, and ultimately, forced into exile. 
After fleeing Venezuela, the Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS) appointed Smolansky as the special envoy to address the Venezuelan migration and refugee crisis, the largest in the world. He authored 15 reports and conducted over 20 official visits to 11 countries in the Americas, advocating for policies to protect and integrate Venezuelan migrants and refugees who have fled Maduro’s regime. 
 
Mary Bruce
 is the Assistant Director of Public Programs at the SNF Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins University, a multi-disciplinary academic and public forum dedicated to strengthening global democracy by improving and expanding civic engagement and inclusive dialogue, and by supporting inquiry that leads to real-world change.  As assistant director of the SNF Agora Institute, Mary co-creates opportunities for meaningful dialogue and debate that inspire more active participation in democratic life. Throughout her career, she has worked to expand civic participation, including efforts of George HW Bush, Barack Obama, and Joe Biden. A former adjunct professor at UVA's Batten School of Leadership, Mary holds a BA in Poverty Studies from UVA and an MPA from Princeton University. She served in both the Peace Corps (Morocco) and AmeriCorps (Washington, DC). Mary’s work reflects her belief that democracy works better for everyone by combining thoughtful scholarship with practical action. 
Information Source: SNF Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins University | eventbrite

華盛頓

美國

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華盛頓四季飯店

奢華飯店

華盛頓特區喬治敦麗思卡爾頓飯店

美國國會大廈

歷史建築

夜景

生长在海边的果果

國會大廈進去參觀需要提前預約買票，按照要求準時到達，人很多，一定要有提前量別影響行程。可以提前預約中文講解團，雖然是中文團但也是老外導遊說英語後用翻譯器翻成中文播放給我們聽，很有意思。國會大廈內部單從建築本身來看也很好看。進去參觀一定要跟講解

國家廣場

國家廣場是華盛頓旅遊的必打卡地，一頭是林肯紀念堂，一頭是華盛頓紀念碑，中間隔著一潭池水，兩邊是綠地。周邊有二戰勝利紀念碑，越戰等紀念碑，有傑斐遜紀念堂等。每年一度的華盛頓櫻花節美麗的櫻花也是在這周邊盛開。我們是4月底到的華盛頓，很可惜櫻花已經敗了，沒留下一點痕跡，只能想象下盛開的景象一定很美。

華爾道夫飯店-華盛頓特區

華盛頓, 鄰近美國白宮|購物中心

華盛頓瑰麗飯店

華盛頓柏悅飯店

美國白宮

泰迪小熊

2017年9月22日來的。聽說白宮自從911之後就不對外開放了，我們去的時候只能在柵欄外遠觀了，所以白宮也就變成了一個無聊的地標，拍一張&ldquo;到此一游&rdquo;的遊客打卡照結束。白宮的南側有一顆很大的松樹，沒想到也是一個&ldquo;地標&rdquo;，是&ldquo;國家聖誕樹&rdquo;&hellip;&hellip;好吧，看來應該挑聖誕節期間來参觀。

林肯紀念堂

mrbigbear

林肯紀念堂是美國歷史的標誌性象徵，也是一個具有深遠意義的地方。其雄偉的建築以亞伯拉罕&middot;林肯高聳的雕像為特色，值得尊敬和欽佩。莊嚴的倒影池在華盛頓紀念碑和國會大廈的映襯下，營造出令人驚嘆的景色。遊客沉浸在自由、平等、團結的精神之中，使其成為必遊之地。這座紀念碑在紀念美國最偉大的領導人之一及其關於人人享有自由和正義的持久信息方面所發揮的作用確實令人鼓舞。

華盛頓紀念碑

Mushfiqur Rahman Chowdhury

這是體驗華盛頓特區文化和豐富歷史的好地方。

時間：	Apr 24, 2025 (UTC-4) 結束
地點：	JHU Bloomberg Center