FUTURES OF DEMOCRACY: A Participatory Fishbowl Conversation led by IPA Fellow Amanda Ramos
Saturday July 25, 2026
Building 1
Nolan Park,
Governors Island
December 7th, 1988. The Admiral’s House on Governors Island became a site filled with promises of a peaceful and democratic future. President Gorbachev met with President Reagan and President Elect Bush for just 25 minutes to discuss his vision to end nuclear arms and the Cold War. They recognized that at that particular moment they had the capability to set the world in a direction towards peace. After 5 waves of press Q&A, Gorbachev and Reagan reflected on the foundation they created in collaboration. Bush remained silent.
July 25th, 2026. Current IPA Summer Fellow Amanda Ramos opened the Admiral’s House for a timely conversation about the futures of democracy, inviting design leaders and community members that are actively shaping movements from their respective ecosystems. The experience was choreographed as an extension to the historic Governors Island Summit. In 2026, as both a radical re-staging and remixing, the conversation was framed as a “fishbowl” — a liberating structure that uses a circle seating configuration as a way to hold space for an open discussion that is free of judgement.
Panelists:
Emma Osore, Executive Director of Gracie Mansion Conservancy
Mark Gardner, President of American Institute of Architects NY (AIANY)
Ellen McGirt, Editor-in-Chief of Design Observer
Amanda Ramos, Summer Fellow, Institute for Public Architecture
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Sketch drawn during fishbowl conversation by Magnus Westergren.
Participatory Fishbowl Structure:
RED. Inspired by the shared system of red chairs on Governors Island, the format consisted of 3 “hot seats” both in the house and on the lawn as a call for public participation. ROUND. The conversation was organized as a “fishbowl” — a liberating structure that uses a circle seating configuration as a way to hold space for an open discussion free of judgement. ROTATE. The conversation was kicked off with Emma, Mark, and Ellen and then invited audience members to ask and answer questions raised by the public.
The conversation concluded with a speculation: “WHAT IF democracy was …”, cultivating a collective experience of imagination leading to action.
Special thanks to Purslane for their generous hospitality and landmark tour.
Panelists/Speakers:
Emma Osore builds radical communities for a more creative and just world. She is the recently appointed Executive Director of the Gracie Mansion Conservancy at a moment when civic and cultural institutions are being called to grow and change. Emma brings a clear and ambitious vision for the residence: not just as a historic landmark, but as a living space for public engagement, dialogue and connection with NYC’s Mayor.
Mark Gardner is the 2026 President of American Institute of Architects (AIANY) leading with over a decade of dedication at Jaklitsch / Gardner Architects. His presidential theme inspired the exhibition “Repair — Democracy and Urban Spaces” currently on view at the Center for Architecture examining how repair can serve as a lens to reimagine democratic, equitable spaces.
Ellen McGirt is the Editor-in-Chief at the Design Observer, a media company that has maintained the same clear vision for more than two decades: to expand the definition of design in service of a better world. She is currently reporting a 10-episode audio documentary on gerrymandering and voting rights called Draw the Line, telling the inside story of Louisiana’s fight over power, maps, and who gets left off them.
Amanda Ramos (IPA Fellow, Summer 2026) is an advocate, advisor, academic, and architect dedicated to shaping strategic, regenerative, and equitable futures. She lives a portfolio life as CEO of the nonprofit WIN: Women in Innovation, Faculty at SVA’s Design for Social Innovation program, Community Advisor to 3x3, Board Member at AIANY and is currently pursuing her MA at SVA in Design Research, Writing and Criticism (D-Crit). She strongly believes in big ideas that are made as a result of radical collaboration, coopetition, and creativity.
July 25th, 2026. Current IPA Summer Fellow Amanda Ramos opened the Admiral’s House for a timely conversation about the futures of democracy, inviting design leaders and community members that are actively shaping movements from their respective ecosystems. The experience was choreographed as an extension to the historic Governors Island Summit. In 2026, as both a radical re-staging and remixing, the conversation was framed as a “fishbowl” — a liberating structure that uses a circle seating configuration as a way to hold space for an open discussion that is free of judgement.
Panelists:
Emma Osore, Executive Director of Gracie Mansion Conservancy
Mark Gardner, President of American Institute of Architects NY (AIANY)
Ellen McGirt, Editor-in-Chief of Design Observer
Amanda Ramos, Summer Fellow, Institute for Public Architecture
Sketch drawn during fishbowl conversation by Magnus Westergren.Participatory Fishbowl Structure:
RED. Inspired by the shared system of red chairs on Governors Island, the format consisted of 3 “hot seats” both in the house and on the lawn as a call for public participation. ROUND. The conversation was organized as a “fishbowl” — a liberating structure that uses a circle seating configuration as a way to hold space for an open discussion free of judgement. ROTATE. The conversation was kicked off with Emma, Mark, and Ellen and then invited audience members to ask and answer questions raised by the public.
The conversation concluded with a speculation: “WHAT IF democracy was …”, cultivating a collective experience of imagination leading to action.
Special thanks to Purslane for their generous hospitality and landmark tour.
Panelists/Speakers:
Emma Osore builds radical communities for a more creative and just world. She is the recently appointed Executive Director of the Gracie Mansion Conservancy at a moment when civic and cultural institutions are being called to grow and change. Emma brings a clear and ambitious vision for the residence: not just as a historic landmark, but as a living space for public engagement, dialogue and connection with NYC’s Mayor.
Mark Gardner is the 2026 President of American Institute of Architects (AIANY) leading with over a decade of dedication at Jaklitsch / Gardner Architects. His presidential theme inspired the exhibition “Repair — Democracy and Urban Spaces” currently on view at the Center for Architecture examining how repair can serve as a lens to reimagine democratic, equitable spaces.
Ellen McGirt is the Editor-in-Chief at the Design Observer, a media company that has maintained the same clear vision for more than two decades: to expand the definition of design in service of a better world. She is currently reporting a 10-episode audio documentary on gerrymandering and voting rights called Draw the Line, telling the inside story of Louisiana’s fight over power, maps, and who gets left off them.
Amanda Ramos (IPA Fellow, Summer 2026) is an advocate, advisor, academic, and architect dedicated to shaping strategic, regenerative, and equitable futures. She lives a portfolio life as CEO of the nonprofit WIN: Women in Innovation, Faculty at SVA’s Design for Social Innovation program, Community Advisor to 3x3, Board Member at AIANY and is currently pursuing her MA at SVA in Design Research, Writing and Criticism (D-Crit). She strongly believes in big ideas that are made as a result of radical collaboration, coopetition, and creativity.
Speakers
