Skye Perryman, TIME 100 honoree and CEO of Democracy Forward, joins the American Library to discuss her New York Times bestselling book, Ordinary People, Extraordinary Times, an urgent and practical guide to taking action in defense of democracy. Drawing on her frontline experience challenging threats to voting rights, public education, and democratic institutions, Perryman combines personal stories with concrete strategies for finding courage, building community, and making a difference.

About the speaker:

Skye Perryman serves as President and CEO of Democracy Forward, a nonpartisan, national legal organization that promotes democracy and progress through litigation, regulatory engagement, policy education, and research. She is a TIME 100 honoree, was named one of the fifty people shaping American society in 2026 by The Washington Post. Under her leadership, Democracy Forward has been heralded as a “human rights hero” by the American Bar Association. Perryman is the author of the instant New York Times and USA Today national bestseller Ordinary People, Extraordinary Times: How to Reclaim Your Power, Fight for Freedom, and Reimagine Democracy.

Important information: The discussion will be available both online and in person. While the conversation will happen in person (the speakers will appear in the Reading Room), the Library will stream the conversation on Zoom for a live viewing experience. Both in-person and online attendees will be able to pose questions.

Attendance at this event constitutes permission for your photograph or video to be taken at the event and used by the American Library in Paris for marketing, promotional, pedagogical, or other purposes.