A Full Court Press for Freedom
The 10th annual COA Summer Institute welcomes Enes Kanter Freedom, NBA star and human rights activist, in conversation with Nicholas Thompson, CEO of The Atlantic.
During his NBA career, Enes Kanter Freedom became one of the most outspoken advocates for human rights in professional sports, speaking out against authoritarian regimes and abuses in countries from Turkey to China. His activism ultimately came at significant personal and professional cost, a story he recounts in his book, In the Name of Freedom: A Political Dissident’s Fight for Human Rights in the NBA and Around the World. In conversation with Thompson, journalist, author of The Running Ground, and accomplished endurance athlete, Freedom reflects on the responsibilities of public figures to speak out on matters of principle. Together, they explore how individuals, both prominent and ordinary, can act on their values even when the systems around them resist change. They also consider what it takes to sustain that commitment over time, and how acts of courage—on and off the court—can help strengthen the foundations of a more just and free society.
The 2026 Summer Institute: Toward a More Perfect Union will mark the country’s 250th anniversary with a forward-looking series of conversations about the future of the American experiment. By late July, we anticipate that audiences will have encountered plenty of historical retrospectives and the predictable swing between overly patriotic and overly critical narratives. Our goal is different: To convene voices from across American culture—journalism, the arts, science, philanthropy, civic life, and beyond—and explore how the nation’s founding values have been, and continue to be, tested, reshaped, and reimagined. The Institute asks how these ideals can be stewarded, strengthened, and carried into the future.