FreedomFest will gather leaders in Memphis for a dialogue on liberty | Opinion
FreedomFest is about all the ways we experience liberty in our lives — political, financial, social, creative, professional, physical, intellectual and more — and this international conference is coming to Memphis this year from July 12-15.
Since its inception, FreedomFest has stood as a beacon for open dialogue, intellectual exploration and a celebration of personal and economic freedom.
It's a diverse gathering of forward-thinkers who value the principles of liberty – from free-market enthusiasts and academics to business leaders and cultural luminaries. These principles, we understand, extend far beyond the realm of politics, permeating the spheres of economics, finance, healthcare, education, business and the arts. In these times of increasing polarization, it's crucial for us to come together and thoughtfully engage in conversations that matter. When we sought a location for this year’s FreedomFest, our aim was to find an exciting city that authentically embodies these principles. And, Memphis emerged as our ideal choice.
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Why Memphis makes sense for this festival
Memphis is more than a city. It's a vibrant heartland of history and culture that narrates stories of innovation, resiliency and unity. It is the birthplace of blues and rock 'n' roll – a combination that is an inherent representation of collaboration between different cultures and backgrounds.
It is a city marked by the Civil Rights movement, where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. made his final stand. It is the home of FedEx, a trailblazer in the business world that smartly navigated around government-run postal services. Memphis is also the home of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, a leading global charitable health organization that provides innovative and life-changing treatments for children where no family ever receives a bill.
Tennessee, in its broader context, stands as a beacon of liberty. Ranked as the fourth most free state by the Cato Institute’s State Freedom Index, Tennessee models the positive impacts of its low tax policies, “right-to-work” status and liberty-friendly policies to the rest of the nation. There’s a reason why Tennessee remains one of the most attractive states for people to live, work and play and why so many people are flocking to Tennessee from other less-free states.
However, like many urban centers across the United States, Memphis has not been immune to the challenges posed by statist policies. It grapples with challenges related to housing, crime, policing and economic disparity. But it's precisely in these circumstances that FreedomFest comes to life, not merely as a celebration of liberty, but as a platform for meaningful dialogue and impacting change for the good of everyone.
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We will experience liberty
FreedomFest is more than a festival. It’s a dynamic community dedicated to confronting real issues in tangible ways, and there's no better place than Memphis to dive deep into these conversations. The city is not just our festival's backdrop; it's a living representation of the principles we cherish.
So, join us in Memphis for FreedomFest. Our speakers include keynote speaker Mike Rowe from the TV series "Dirty Jobs," former Congresswoman and presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard, New York Times best-selling author Matt Taibbi, former ACLU president Nadine Strossen, former Libertarian Party Vice Presidential candidate Spike Cohen, former MTV VJ and Fox Business host Lisa Kennedy, Forbes CEO Steve Forbes, Enes “Freedom” Kanter, musician Winston Marshall, football player Michael Oher and many other internationally well-known figures within the liberty movement.
FreedomFest is different from any conference you have ever attended. You can practice yoga in the morning, listen to world-renowned speakers on finance or geo-politics after breakfast, choose from a dozen breakout sessions with the world’s brightest thought leaders in the afternoon, watch movies – and meet the directors – all day, judge contestants in a startup competition and end the night with karaoke.
Here, we will not just discuss liberty; we will experience, breathe and live it in a city that truly understands its essence. To learn more about FreedomFest and to register to attend visit freedomfest.com.
Valerie Durham serves as executive director of FreedomFest, an annual festival where free minds meet to celebrate freedom in an open-minded environment.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: FreedomFest will gather leaders in Memphis for a dialogue on liberty
