DALLAS, Texas — Today, the George W. Bush Presidential Center announced the theme, The Heart of America, for the ninth annual Forum on Leadership event on April 15 and 16. The Forum on Leadership is the Bush Center’s landmark gathering which develops, recognizes, and celebrates leadership by bringing together notable voices for in-depth discussions on today’s pressing issues.
“This year’s theme, The Heart of America, celebrates America’s 250th anniversary by highlighting the soul and natural beauty of our country, the rights and responsibilities of its citizens, and the storytelling that captures our way of life,” said Shilo Brooks, President and CEO of the Bush Center.
Members of the media can apply for credentials at www.bushcenter.org/credentials to attend select portions of the program on April 16 that are open to the press. Event attendance is by invitation only but portions will be streamed live.
The gathering will start on the evening of April 15 with a presentation of the George W. Bush Medal for Distinguished Leadership to David M. Rubenstein, co-founder and co-chairman of the Carlyle Group. Mr. Rubenstein will join David J. Kramer, Executive Director of the George W. Bush Institute, for a conversation on leadership and moments in American history that have made us who we are.
The George W. Bush Institute Citation will be presented to Eboo Patel, founder and president of Interfaith America. The Citation recognizes Mr. Patel’s dedication to the idea that cooperation across our differences is key for all Americans to thrive.
Joni Carswell, CEO and president of Texan by Nature, will accept the George W. Bush Trailblazer Citation, which goes to an innovator who has effected change in the North Texas region.
On April 16, a panel discussion will highlight hard-fought democratic milestones achieved throughout our history. Participants in this conversation include Mark K. Updegrove, president and CEO of the LBJ Foundation; Michelle Ferrari, director, producer, and writer of 42nd Parallel Films; and Keisha Senter, senior vice president of culture and impact at Monkeypaw Productions and Presidential Leadership Scholar.
In addition, a conversation featuring David French, opinion columnist for The New York Times, and Anne Wicks, the Don Evans Family Managing Director of Opportunity and Democracy at the Bush Institute, will focus on freedom of expression and how robust protection for all viewpoints is essential for a free society.
Two leading voices for our national parks, Jeff Reinbold, president and CEO of the National Park Foundation, and Grace Lee, executive director of the National Park Trust, will discuss how this preserved land honors our history and inspires the next generation. This conversation will be moderated by Kristin King, Chief Operating Officer of the Bush Institute.
For more information, please visit www.bushcenter.org/forumonleadership.
Additional information regarding media credentials confirmation, parking, facility access, interviews, and other details will be sent to media representatives who complete the credentialing process on the Bush Center website. All members of the media – reporters, photographers, videographers, and crew – are required to have and display credentials to cover the Forum on Leadership.
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George W. Bush Presidential Center
Located on the SMU campus in Dallas, Texas, the George W. Bush Presidential Center is a nonpartisan institution advancing the timeless values of freedom, opportunity, accountability, and compassion. The Bush Center comprises the George W. Bush Presidential Museum and the George W. Bush Institute, a solution-oriented policy organization focused on ensuring opportunity for all, strengthening democracy, and advancing free societies through policy solutions and public engagement. The Bush Center also houses the George W. Bush Presidential Library, operated by the National Archives and Records Administration, which provides access to official documents and artifacts from the George W. Bush Administration. Learn more about the Bush Center at bushcenter.org.
