Front Porch Republic

Our 2024 conference will be held in Grand Rapids, Michigan on October 4 and 5. Register to join us! Below is our planned schedule.

Friday, October 4

Friday’s event will be at the Gerald Ford Museum (303 Pearl Street NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504). Seating is limited, so if you plan to attend this Friday evening conversation, register (for free) with the Ford Museum.

6:30-7:45, Ross Douthat in conversation with Jeff Polet

Saturday, October 5

On Saturday we’ll be at the Prince Conference Center on the campus of Calvin University (1800 E Beltline Ave SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546)

8:30-9:00, Coffee and book tables

9:00-9:15, Introductions

9:15-10:15, Cultivating Civility

• Micah Watson, “No Porches in Prison: God, Civility, and Redemption”
• Elizabeth Corey, “An Inward Harmony of Soul”

10:45-11:45, Civil Communities

• Tim Carney in conversation with Jeff Polet

12:00, Catered lunch

1:00-2:00, Ross Douthat keynote address

2:30-3:30, Against Dullness

• Nathan Beacom, “Tocqueville, Mengzi, and Institutions of Goodness”
• Jason Peters, “The Middle Ground of Wit and Insult, Considered Together With Their Limits”

4:00-5:00, For Roots

• Kate Dalton, “The Mannerlessness of Power and the Power of Manners”
• Bill Kauffman, “What’s So Funny ‘Bout Peace, Love, and Understanding?”

Reception following at Beer City Bread Company, 2650-D E Beltline Ave SE

Registration is now open! Thanks to Plough, the first 20 students may register for free.

On Friday evening, we’ll gather at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum in downtown Grand Rapids for a conversation between Ross Douthat and Jeff Polet.

On Saturday, we’ll gather at the Prince Conference Center at Calvin University.

On Sunday afternoon, conference goers are invited to visit the Kirk Center and hear about Russell Kirk’s home and the center’s ongoing work. Those interested in more details should email Bernie Franceschi.

Several publishers will have books and other materials at the conference, but the University of Notre Dame press has made their book display (and a generous 40% discount) available virtually.

The Holiday Inn on 310 Pearl Street NW has set aside a block of rooms for FPR attendees at a reduced rate ($149 per night). You can reserve one of these rooms by using this link or by calling 616-235-7611 and asking for the Front Porch Republic rate. They will release this block on Sept. 10, so book before then if you want the discount!