The Bush Institute is focused on ensuring opportunity for all, strengthening democracy, and advancing free societies.
A note from David J. Kramer
Hello from the Bush Institute, where we are gearing up for a busy fall after a jam-packed spring and summer celebrating our nation’s semiquincentennial.
The Forum on Leadership in April focused on the Heart of America and recognized the leadership and heart of three great Americans: David M. Rubenstein, co-founder and cochairman of the Carlyle Group, was awarded the George W. Bush Medal for Distinguished Leadership; Eboo Patel, founder and president of Interfaith America received the George W. Bush Institute Citation; and Joni Carsell, CEO and president of Texans By Nature, was presented with the George W. Bush Institute Trailblazer Citation.
We were also privileged to host a conversation on freedom of expression with New York Times columnist David French, one on preserving our natural heritage with National Park Foundation President and CEO Jeff Reinbold and National Park Trust Executive Director Grace Lee, and a panel on historic milestones with Mark K. Updegrove, LBJ Foundation president and CEO; Michelle Ferrari, 42nd Parallel Films director, producer, and writer; and Richie Butler, senior pastor of St. Luke Community United Methodist Church.
In May, we welcomed author Allison Pataki at the annual Laura Bush Book Club, which celebrates storytelling that enlightens, empowers, and endures.
We published ”Education, Workforce, Opportunity: A Toolkit for State Leaders” in June, outlining policy priorities to provide opportunities for young Americans. We also rolled out our Malign Alignment series on how China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea – or CRINK – threaten the United States and our allies and what we can do about it.
Our More Than a Match digital platform with the ONE Campaign over the summer used the World Cup to explain the economic, civic, and diplomatic ties connecting African countries with the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the 16 host cities.
In our work to develop future leaders, the Presidential Leadership Scholars Program with the presidential centers of George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and Lyndon B. Johnson, welcomed 57 members into the alumni network, increasing the PLS alumni total to 651. We also convened the eighth cohort of the Stand-To Veteran Leadership Program.
We thank you all for your support, which makes possible our important work promoting our core principles of freedom, opportunity, accountability, and compassion.
