This conference will feature educators and schools that are keeping active, inquiry-oriented learning and democratic classrooms alive in the midst of our challenging times. It will celebrate the work of Lillian Weber – creator of the City College Workshop Center for Open Education (in 1972) – who brought this kind of teaching to the public schools; Deborah Meier, founder of New York City’s public Central Park East Elementary School (now celebrating its 50th anniversary); and all the innovative New York City public schools that they inspired.