Civic Spotlight: Toyosi Ogunseye on Courage and Democracy
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Irving Theater | WED April 22
Discover how courageous leaders are harnessing civic commitment in service of democracy with Tom Tom’s 2026 Civic Futures Summit keynote by Toyosi Ogunseye.
An internationally recognized journalist, Ogunseye knows a thing or two about how democratic systems work, where they break down, and why citizen participation matters. As the first female editor of Nigeria’s largest newspaper, she led coverage that confronted coverups, corruption, and murder—often at personal risk. She later expanded that lens as a BBC correspondent and senior editor.
Today, she’s President and CEO of the Presidential Precinct, a Charlottesville-based nonprofit working to transform communities around the world, one leader at a time. Through their programs, more than 1,500 emerging leaders from 170 countries have gained tools to address the most pressing challenges in their communities.
Ogunseye’s address launches the Summit—a full day for participants to engage in conversations exploring why civics matters more than ever.
The Civic Futures Summit is presented in partnership with United Way of Greater Charlottesville. Register for the Civic Futures Summit for a day that will ignite discussion, inspire solutions, and build momentum for a vibrant tomorrow.
WEDNESDAY AT THE TOM TOM FEST
WED April 22 | All Day
The Civic Futures Summit gathers leaders from business, government, and the arts for a day of connecting, diving deep, and shaping a vision of what’s next for our region. Co-presented with United Way, this summit builds on last year’s groundbreaking gathering of 300+ changemakers to explore:
Housing & Economic Vitality: Tackling the crisis and building a workforce for the future
Civic Life & Democracy: Celebrating the Downtown Mall at 50 and exploring our democratic roots
Education & Youth Leadership: Empowering the next generation of local voices
Community Cohesion: The vital role of nonprofits, faith communities, and local journalism
UVA & the Region: Connecting the university and the community
Paramount Theater | WED April 22
Join author John Grisham and UVA Innocence Project founder Deirdre Enright for a powerful discussion of the high stakes of wrongful conviction.
Irving Theater | WED April 22
Shape the future of Charlottesville! Join a live audience for an electrifying night as local entrepreneurs pitch their business ideas and social ventures at the Crowdfunded Pitch Night.
