“The Gardens of Democracy [by Eric Liu & Nick Hanauer] shakes up our stale debate over government’s role in a dynamic society, and in a thoughtful, creative and inventive way. Everyone will find something to disagree with here, and that’s the point: getting us out of our comfort zones is an immensely useful democratic undertaking.” 

- E.J. Dionne Jr., author of Why Americans Hate Politics

Code for America invites you to a conversation with authors Eric Liu and Nick Hanauer to discuss their recent book, Gardens of Democracy, and what impact their metaphor has for government, technology, and society.

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Eric Liu

Eric Liu is an author, educator, and civic entrepreneur. Eric is founder of the Guiding Lights Network, which promotes and teaches the art of creative citizenship. His books include the national bestsellers The Gardens of Democracy and The True Patriot, both co-authored with Nick Hanauer; The Accidental Asian, a New York Times Notable Book; Guiding Lights, the Official Book of National Mentoring Month; and Imagination First, co-authored with Scott Noppe-Brandon of the Lincoln Center Institute. Eric served as a White House speechwriter for President Bill Clinton and later as the President's deputy domestic policy adviser.  A regular columnist for TIME.com, Eric can be found on Twitter @ericpliu.

Nick Hanauer

Nicolas "Nick" Hanauer is a Seattle-based entrepreneur, venture capitalist, author and activist with a knack for identifying and building transformative business models. In 1995, Hanauer became the first non-family investor in Amazon.com where he served as a Board Advisor until January 2000. In 1996, he founded and served as CEO of internet media company aQuantive, Inc. (originally Avenue A) and became Chairman of the Board when the company went public in February 2000. aQuantive was acquired by Microsoft in August 2007 for $6.4 billion, the largest acquisition in Microsoft history. In 1998, he founded Gear.com and served as Chairman until it merged with Overstock.com in 2001.

About CfA Salons

This event is the kickoff of the CfA Salon Speaker Series. Every month, Code for America will invite thought leaders from government and technology from around the world to share their thoughts and vision for where we are and where we're heading as a society. Topics will range, as will the formats. Yet, each event promises to be a thought-provoking, intimate, and fun discussion.

Doors open to public at 6:30, and the program begins at 7:00, followed by a casual reception.

Tickets

We charge $10 per ticket to cover our costs for the event and offer light snacks, beer, and wine. Tickets are considered tax-deductible donations to Code for America, a 501(c)(3).