(RtD) — Right to Democracy announced Thursday that it will host a public forum, “Advancing Democracy, Equity, and Self-Determination in U.S. Territories: Cross Territorial Perspectives,” on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Northern Marianas College Library, the Olympio T. Borja Memorial Hall.
This event will bring together prominent leaders and advocates from across U.S. territories to discuss the shared challenges and opportunities in the pursuit of full democratic rights, equity, and self-determination for the millions of people living in these communities.
The forum will feature a distinguished panel of speakers, including
• Dr. Galvin Deleon Guerrero, president of Northern Marianas College.
• Zeno Deleon Guerrero Jr., CMMI, board member of Right to Democracy.
• Neil Weare, Esq. (Guam), Co-Director of Right to Democracy.
• Dr. Adi Martínez-Román (Puerto Rico), co-director of Right to Democracy.
The discussion will be moderated by Sheila Babauta, environment and democracy fellow and pacific solidarity director for Right to Democracy.
“As we approach the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and the 50th anniversary of the Covenant next year, this forum is important to exploring what ‘consent of the governed’ means across all five U.S. territories,” said Neil Weare, co-director of Right to Democracy.
“By sharing our cross-territorial perspectives, we can better articulate the need to empower our communities to shape their own futures,” said Adi Martínez-Román, co-director of Right to Democracy.
The event will delve into the political status of U.S. territories, exploring issues such as voting rights, federal representation, economic equity, and environmental justice. The conversation aims to foster solidarity and develop collaborative strategies to address the systemic inequalities faced by territorial residents.
“This forum offers a critical space for people across the territories to learn from one another,” said RtD Board Member Zeno Deleon Guerrero Jr. “Cultivating shared ground while understanding our differences is crucial to navigating rapidly evolving issues such as climate change, national security, and economic sustainability.”
The forum is free and open to the public. Members of the media, students, community leaders, and all interested citizens are strongly encouraged to attend.
About RtD
Right to Democracy is a nonpartisan advocacy organization dedicated to achieving full democracy, equality, and self-determination for the nearly 4 million people living in Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa.
