Leadership, Lunch & Lessons with Patrick Mellody

Hill staffers gathered for an engaging lunch and informal networking session featuring special guest Patrick Mellody. With a career spanning NASA, the Clinton Presidential Campaign, state government, and now his current role at Keep Our Republic, Patrick shared a compelling mix of personal stories and professional insights.

In his remarks, Patrick reflected on his time on Capitol Hill and the importance of character in leadership. He also highlighted the mission of Keep Our Republic and its impactful partnership with the Ford Foundation, including insights from his recent visit to the Ford Library.

The event wrapped up with an open discussion, where staffers had the opportunity to ask Patrick questions about his career.

A big thank you to Patrick Mellody and everyone who joined us for our lunch discussion!

Ethical Thinking and the Problem of Dirty Hands

Join us for a thought-provoking discussion on ethics and decision-making in the political realm.

We are excited to kick off 2025 with our first official event, bringing together Hill staffers for an insightful conversation about the ethical challenges faced by those working in politics. This event will center around the concept of "Dirty Hands," a philosophical dilemma that explores the tension between moral integrity and the necessity of compromising one's values in the face of real-world political or professional pressures.

Leading the discussion is Jeff Polet, the director of the Ford Leadership Forum, who will guide us through this complex issue, offering unique perspectives on how ethical thinking shapes the decisions that public servants must make. With his expertise in political philosophy, Jeff will challenge attendees to consider when—and if—compromise is morally justifiable and the costs of such compromises in the pursuit of public good.

This event provides a valuable opportunity for political staffers to reflect on the ethical dimensions of their work and engage in a dynamic discussion with peers about navigating these often uncomfortable moral choices.

Students attended the event, eager to engage in a thoughtful discussion about the shifting landscape of college sports. With the transfer portal, conference realignment, and “name, image, and likeness,” many students were curious about how these changes would shape the future of collegiate athletics. They listened intently as the panel of experts discussed whether the influence of money would corrupt college sports or if athletic programs could continue to uphold important virtues, develop character, and promote a culture of belonging and purpose.

The panel featured Linda Livingstone, President of Baylor University and Chair of the NCAA Board of Governors, who shared her insights into the evolving dynamics of college sports. Jared Butler, the point guard for the Washington Wizards and a former NCAA National Champion with Baylor, spoke about his personal experiences navigating the changes in college athletics. Head Football Coach Dave Aranda offered his perspective on how these shifts impact coaching and team culture.

Moderated by John White, the students were able to reflect on the potential balance between financial opportunities and the traditional values that have long defined college sports. The event sparked deep conversations among students, who left with a greater understanding of the complexities and future challenges of collegiate athletics.

Hill staffers gathered at Union Pub in Washington, D.C., for an opening mixer, offering an opportunity for networking and casual conversations. The event provided a setting for staffers to build connections, share insights, and connect with new offices. Our opening event was a great way to kick off our year by fostering relationships and exchanging ideas, all while enjoying drinks and insightful discussions.

On Saturday, February 10, students and young professionals from across the state gathered over breakfast to discuss the state of our democracy. Democracy is a fundamental pillar of modern society, promoting equality, freedom, and accountability. However, in recent years, there has been a growing concern about the stability and future of our democracy. Ford fellows engaged in thought-provoking discussions, explored pressing questions, and shed light on the challenges and potential risks that democracy may face.

Presidents often try to unify the nation through rhetoric but rarely succeed. Instead, presidential rhetoric often divides society and alienates people from their leaders. Is unifying presidential rhetoric possible in a pluralistic society? Can words spoken by a president hold the power to bring people together and create a sense of unity?

We were proud to partner with Baylor University, the Institute for Religion, Politics, and Culture at Washington College, and the Fund for American Studies on this event.

Our Speakers:

Yuval Levin is the director of Social, Cultural, and Constitutional Studies at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), where he also holds the Beth and Ravenel Curry Chair in Public Policy. The founder and editor of National Affairs, he is also a senior editor at The New Atlantis, a contributing editor at National Review, and a contributing opinion writer at The New York Times. In addition to being interviewed frequently on radio and television, Dr. Levin has published essays and articles in numerous publications, including The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, and Commentary. He is the author of several books on political theory and public policy, most recently A Time to Build: From Family and Community to Congress and the Campus, How Recommitting to Our Institutions Can Revive the American Dream (Basic Books, 2020).

Allen C. Guelzo is the Senior Research Scholar in the Council of the Humanities and Director of the Initiative on Politics and Statesmanship in the James Madison Program at Princeton University. He is the author of Abraham Lincoln: Redeemer President, Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation: The End of Slavery in America, and Lincoln and Douglas: The Debates That Defined America. His book on the battle of Gettysburg, Gettysburg: The Last Invasion, was a New York Times bestseller in 2013. His articles and essays have appeared in scholarly journals, and also in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Atlantic, and Los Angeles Times. From 2006 to 2012, he was a member of the National Council on the Humanities. His newest work on the Civil War era, Robert E. Lee: A Life, was published in September 2021.

Dana D. Nelson is a professor of English at Vanderbilt University and a prominent progressive advocate for citizenship and democracy. She is notable for her criticism—in her books such as Bad for Democracy—of excessive presidential power and for exposing a tendency by Americans towards presidentialism, which she defines as the people’s neglect of basic citizenship duties while hoping the president will solve most problems. Her scholarship focuses on early American literature relating to citizenship and democratic government. 

David Corey is a professor of Political Science focusing on political philosophy in the Honors Program at Baylor University. He is also an affiliated member of the departments of Philosophy and Political Science. He was an undergraduate at Oberlin, where he earned a BA in Classics from the College and a BMus in music from the Conservatory. He studied law and jurisprudence at Old College, Edinburgh before taking up graduate work in political philosophy at Louisiana State University. He is the author of two books, The Just War Tradition (with J. Daryl Charles) (2012) and The Sophists in Plato’s Dialogues (2015). He has written more than two dozen articles and book chapters in such venues as the Review of Politics, History of Political Thought, Modern Age, Interpretation: A Journal of Political Philosophy, and the Cambridge Dictionary of Political Thought. His current projects, Rethinking American Politics, and Liberalism & The Modern Quest for Freedom, examine the loss of healthy political association in the United States and offer strategies for reform.  

On Wednesday, December 13, 2023, we hosted a partnered event with Keep Our Republic. Tracey Brame and Christ Thomas spoke on the importance of election integrity.

As we approach the 2024 election cycle, the State of Michigan will likely once again be front and center, playing a critical role in the future of our nation’s democracy. Since the 2020 election, several changes have been made in Michigan to help avoid a repeat of the controversies surrounding the 2020 election. Voters amended the state constitution to expressly foreclose legislative and other political interference in elections. Michigan’s legislature also gave officials more flexibility to open, verify, and scan mail and absentee ballots before election day. We must all come together in this endeavor.

Becoming Civil: Manners, Etiquette, and Decorum from Aristotle to Kirk with Jeff Polet and Gleaves Whitney

Americans are increasingly concerned about a decline in civility and that company can no longer be counted on to be polite. Manners and etiquette are the glue that holds social life together; without them, things fall apart quickly. Students from across Michigan joined us for a weekend retreat at the Russell Kirk Center in Mecosta, Michigan. Students learned about where manners, etiquette, and decorum came from, why they matter, and how to make them part of their own character.

The weekend featured experts who taught students the fine points of business and dinner etiquette. The weekend was concluded with an etiquette dinner on Saturday evening.

We are grateful to John and Michelle Engler for their financial support of this program and for making this trip possible. Thank you to the Russell Kirk Center for their hospitality.

Debate: Abolish the Administrative State?

Paul J. Ray and Phillip Blond took the stage to discuss the question “Who should rule?”

While conservatives and liberals have long debated these developments, it is the former who have promised to reform the administrative state and end the delegation of Congressional power to a class of “administrative experts” in agencies like ATF, CDC, and EPA. However, not everyone on the right sees broad executive power as a challenge to a free society; on the contrary, some argue that the development of administrative government frees Americans to live their lives without worrying about the complexities of modern life, and not fear that they will be left behind by society.

Whatever one’s perspective, the administrative state invites debate over its impact on family and community, law and order, strong borders, strong families, the dignity of work, and a thriving economy. This debate helped to broaden perspectives and raise important questions.

On Thursday, October 19, 2023, Drs. Patrick Deneen and Vincent Phillip Muñoz from the University of Notre Dame joined us on our stage to share their contrasting perspectives on the American Founding. This conversation was moderated my Jeff Polet, director of the Ford Leadership Forum. It was a fascinating discussion that shed light on different interpretations of this pivotal moment in our nation’s history. We were honored to have such esteemed scholars with us, and their insights added valuable depth to our understanding of the American Founding.

On Thursday, October 12th, we had the great pleasure of hosting Mike Ford, the oldest son of President and Mrs. Ford at New Holland Brewing Company. Ford Fellows had the opportunity to get to know the Ford family on a more personal level. Students and young professionals enjoyed connecting with one another and engaging with people from all over Michigan.

On Saturday, September 23, 2023, several students and young professionals participated in our leadership workshop. They had the opportunity to participate in leadership-building exercises, engaging conversations, and networking opportunities.

What, exactly, is vice, and why does it captivate our attention and capture our character the way it does? What kinds of vices contribute to good order and what kinds detract? How do we figure out how to tolerate vice while respecting the demands of community, complexity, and freedom itself?

On Saturday, April 1, Ford Fellows had many engaging conversations and participated in a leadership activity that tested their morals and values.

The Black Intellectual Tradition

Dr. Angel Adams Parham demonstrates the importance of the Black intellectual tradition in America and how much of its strength comes from its immersion in the great texts of the Western tradition. By drawing on students’ own experiences and placing them in “The Great Conversation,” we deepen their experiences of truth, beauty, and goodness – the keys to a flourishing life. Join the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation and Ford Leadership Forum as Dr. Parham shows us how great African-American thinkers have engaged the tradition and how such engagement can become a template for contemporary education.

Angel Adams Parham is Associate Professor of Sociology and senior fellow at the Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture (IASC) at the University of Virginia.  She works in the area of historical sociology, engaging in research and writing that examine the past in order to better understand how to live well in the present and envision wisely for the future.  This research focus is rooted in her interest in re-connecting sociology to its classical roots so that sociology is understood to be a kind of public philosophy animated by questions such as: What is a good society? and What kinds of social arrangements are most conducive to human flourishing? She is the author of American Routes: Racial Palimpsests and the Transformation of Race (Oxford, 2017), which was co-winner of the Social Science History Association’s Allan Sharlin Memorial book award (2018)  and co-winner of the American Sociological Association’s Barrington Moore award in comparative-historical sociology (2018). In addition to this research, she is active in public-facing teaching and scholarship where she provides resources and training for K-12 educators who are looking to better integrate Black writers and Black history into their teaching.  A book related to this work came out in the summer of 2022 and is entitled The Black Intellectual Tradition: Reading Freedom in Classical Literature. Parham’s public-facing work has also led her to become the co-founder and executive director of Nyansa Classical Community, an educational organization which provides curricula and programming designed to connect with students from diverse backgrounds, inviting them to take part in the Great Conversation, cultivate the moral imagination, and pursue truth, goodness, and beauty. She has been a member of the School of Social Science at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, as well as the recipient of a Fulbright grant. She received her bachelor’s degree from Yale University and completed her doctoral work at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

The Politics of Forgiveness

Forgiveness is a Christian virtue. Is it also a political one? To what extent does forgiveness depend on repentance, and upon justice? Some say democracies cannot survive without practicing forgiveness; others that this is too much to expect. Should we resign ourselves to mere toleration, or can forgiveness be approximated in concrete political ways? These are questions at the forefront of American public life, and how we answer them has meaningful implications for our civic leaders.

A Black History Month Event, “Restoring Our Communities: Social Activism and Local Solutions”

The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation and the Ford Leadership Forum welcomed Robert Woodson of the Woodson Center, along with his associates, to Grand Rapids for a conversation on grassroots solutions to social problems, on how to reduce violence, and how we can go about creating resilient citizens and communities.

About our speakers:

Robert L. Woodson, Sr. is Founder and President of the Woodson Center, 1776 Unites and Voices of Black Mothers United.  He is an influential leader on issues of poverty alleviation and empowering disadvantaged communities to become agents of their own uplift. Woodson is a frequent advisor to local, state and federal government officials as well as business and philanthropic organizations.

His social activism dates back to the 1960s, when as a young civil rights activist he developed and coordinated national and local community revitalization programs. During the 1970’s he directed the National Urban League’s Administration of Justice division. Later he served as a Resident Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute.

Woodson is frequently featured as a social commentator in print and on-air media, including C-SPAN, CNN, Tucker Carlson Tonight, The Mark Levin Show, Meet the Press, and other national and local broadcasts.  He is a contributing editor to The Hill, The Washington Examiner, and The Wall Street Journal, and has published in influential newspapers and journals such as Forbes, National Review, The Washington Post, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy, Vanderbilt Law Review, and other national and local media outlets.

He is the recipient of the prestigious John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur “Genius” Fellowship award, the Bradley Prizes presented by the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation, the Presidential Citizens Medal, the 2018 William Wilberforce Award, The Heritage Foundation’s 2020 Salvatori Prize for American Citizenship, Hillsdale College’s Freedom Leadership Award, and many other awards and honors.

Woodson is the author of several books, including On the Road to Economic Freedom, The Triumphs of Joseph: How Today’s Community Healers are Reviving Our Streets and Neighborhood, Lessons From the Least of These:  The Woodson Principles, and the newly released #1 best seller, Red, White and Black: Rescuing American History from Revisionists and Race Hustlers.

www.woodsoncenter.org

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André M. Robinson Director-Milwaukee Violence Free Zone for the Milwaukee Christian Center

Prior to his employment as the Director of the Milwaukee Violence Free Zone (MVFZ), with the Milwaukee Christian Center (MCC), the Latino Community Center (LCC), and the Running Rebels Community Organization (RRCO), André Robinson dedicated 14 years to the Social Development Commission (SDC).  During those 14 years, Mr. Robinson held several key positions. He began his tenure with SDC as a “Research Assistant”, followed by a position responsible for the monitoring and evaluation of 145 programs administered by the agency.  Eventually, Mr. Robinson was promoted to “Planner III”, responsible for program development and subsequent grant-writing.  Mr. Robinson also worked as a graphic design artist and communications specialist for SDC.  During that time, he was responsible for giving the largest community action agency in the State of Wisconsin their presence on the world wide web by developing and maintaining the agency’s very first webpage.  The technical experience derived from the communications position compelled Mr. Robinson to take on the challenge of becoming the Information Systems Manager for the agency.  In this position, he was responsible for the network maintenance of 14 remote sites in conjunction with helpdesk coordination for the administrative offices.

Since his departure from SDC, Mr. Robinson has been utilizing the wealth of knowledge he has amassed during his time at SDC to advance the efforts of the MCC (2013-Present), LCC (2005-2012), and the RRCO (2012-2013-Regional Director) as the Director of the Milwaukee Violence Free Zone (MVFZ).  At MCC, he is the overseer for program operations within five of Milwaukee’s largest, most challenged, high schools that have historically been plagued with gang violence, low attendance, low enrollment, and low, to non-existent, parent involvement.  Through the efforts of Mr. Robinson, his team, and collaborative partners, the Milwaukee Chapter of VFZ is recognized as the flagship/model for all of the individual chapters of VFZ throughout the country; and he and his team are often called upon to train new VFZ teams in other cities.  Mr. Robinson continues to make dents in the armor of poverty by showing the youth of his schools and community that their goals are indeed attainable.  Through his work with the MVFZ and the variety of community entities that he collaborates with, he will continue to assist the youth of Milwaukee and other cities across the country to realize and maximize their social and academic potential.

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Sylvia Bennett-Stone, Director of Voices of Black Mothers United

Sylvia Bennett-Stone serves as the Woodson Center’s Director of the Voices of Black Mothers United initiative. After losing her daughter to senseless violence in 2004, Sylvia began her life-long commitment to helping uplift the lives of others by founding the Innovative Approach Foundation and chronicling her own healing journey in her book Mindfields: A Healing Journey to Survive the Murder of a Child. It is from these committed efforts to serve the community that she started Voices of Black Mothers United. With Sylvia at the helm as Director, the VBMU initiative has grown to service thousands of mothers who have lost children and are implementing solutions to address community violence.

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Gary Wyatt is the Founder and President of He Brought Us Out Ministry Inc aka North Hill Community House. A non-profit, faith-based community organization established in January 2001. Gary was licensed and ordained into the ministry on March 10, 2001.   He is married to Patricia Wyatt of 31 years, and they have children.

Gary is the Author and Publisher of the true story “From Dealing to Healing” published in 2001, a story that tells how he was raised in the inner city surrounded by alcohol, drugs, and heartache and how he fell deep into addiction to the drugs he was selling. After coming to the end of his life, with suicide on his mind, he finds his way out through his spiritual journey toward salvation.

He has been featured in “Ministry Empowers North Hill Community” (Akron Beacon Journal March 2005) “War on Poverty” (Wall Street Journal April 2005) and featured in numerous other articles.

Gary Wyatt has established several community outreach events such as the annual Toys for Tots Program that has been established since December 1991 to present.  He formed and organized local block watches for 3 area neighborhoods in May of 1998, which helped to shut down neighboring drug houses and has since brought back peace to the neighborhood.   He was also involved with the Welfare Reform through the Faith base initiative for the Grassroots Leaders brought about by the Center for Neighborhood Enterprise {www.cneonline.org} and Governor Bob Taft in April of 1999.  His most recent yearly outreach establishment Is the Night Out Against Crime in partnership with the City of Akron and the Back to School Community outreach.

He established; He Brought Us Out after school Tutoring Program, Building Blocks Enrichment Summer Camp Program, HBUO Advocacy Youth Mentoring program, Certified Financial Literacy Instructor thru HSBC North America, and President and founder of the  North Hill Community House.

His most recent accomplishments are; Winner of the Good Neighbor Award given through Character Counts Akron and also selected as YMCA Adult Volunteer of the Year {East Akron} and The Black Pages: Honoring Excellence February 2006.

Gary Wyatt served as an Advisory Committee board member for the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation for 3 years. The Black Achievers committee Board member East Akron YMCA. Member of the 100 Black Men of Greater Akron. Served on the 2009 56th Presidential Armed Forces Inaugural Committee Washington DC. Military escort for the NASA Astronaut Crew STS-126 crew. Winner of the 2009 Charles Salem Humanitarian Award, Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition The Honorable Betty Sutton, Armed Forces 56th Inaugural Committee Certificate of Appreciation. United State Navy Reservist Retired 34 years. 2009 Federal Executive Board Employee Recognition Award. City of Akron 2009 Stimulus Advisory Board Committee member.  Leadership Akron Class XXVII.  Leadership Akron on Main guest speaker. City of Akron beautification award. YMCA Rosa Parks Eric Gardenhight memorial Community Service Award 2018. Appointed Akron Ambassadors committee 2020. Appointed to the City of Akron Planning board commission by Mayor Dan Horrigan. Retired US Postal Maintenance Manager 34 years. Appointed to the Police Chiefs Advisory Board for Hiring minorities.

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Patricia Wyatt is the Co-Founder and Vice President of He Brought Us Out Ministry Inc. aka North Hill Community House, a non-profit, faith-based community organization established in January 2001.

She co-authors with her husband the book “From Dealing to Healing”, a heartfelt story of how his drug selling and drug additions caused death and destruction and heartache, but through her support and the support of God changed their lives and made their story to be a testimony to others.

Patricia Wyatt along with her husband has established several community outreach events such as the Toys for Tots Program which has been established since December 1991 to present, she has formed and organized local block watches for 3 area neighborhoods in May of 1998, which helped to shut down neighboring drug houses and has since brought back peace to the neighborhood.  She was also involved with Welfare Reform through the Faith base initiative for the Grassroots Leaders brought about by the Center for Neighborhood Enterprise (www.woodsoncenter.org) and Governor Bob Taft in April of 1999, “The Night Out Against Crime” in partnership with the City of Akron and the Back to School Community outreach.

She established along with her husband; He Brought Us Out after school Tutoring Program, Building Blocks Enrichment Summer Camp Program, North Hill Community House Food Pantry, HBUO Advocacy Youth Mentoring program, Certified Financial Literacy Instructor thru HSBC North America, and Vice President and co-founder of the North Hill Community House.

Some of her accomplishments are; board chair for YMCA, Recipient of the Good Neighbor Award given through the Character Counts of Akron, Charles Salem Humanitarian Award for the year 2010 awarded by the Mayor’s office, Women’s History Project of the Akron Area Inc, awarded the 2011 Women of the Year of Faith Award.  A graduated Neighborhood Leadership Class of 2014 and a Graduate of Mayor’s Citizen Institute 2020 Class IV.  Featured in the Akron Life Magazine, February 2016 Article “We Are North Hill.”  She has also worked with International Institute of Akron on the Listening Project on Multi-Ethnic Conflict and is a part of the Community Welcoming Summit with International Institute of Akron and The City of Akron.

She served as an Advisory Committee Board Member for Pregnancy Care for 3 years, North Hill Community Development Corporation for 4 years, and is currently serving on East Akron YMCA Board and Akron Tree Commission, Serves as An Ambassador for the City of Akron.   She also volunteers at Haven of Arrest devotions for the ladies at the Harvest Home and is a volunteer Coach for Girls On The Run Northeast Ohio.

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Jon D. Ponder is the founder and CEO of HOPE for Prisoners, Inc.  Mr. Ponder was appointed by Governor Brian Sandoval to the Nevada Sentencing Commission in 2017 and was appointed to the Governor’s Reentry Taskforce and the US Commission on Civil Rights Nevada State Advisory Committee in 2016. He serves as a Commissioner with the Nevada Commission on Postsecondary Education.

He serves as an ordained chaplain with Chaplaincy Nevada.  He oversees all aspects of the programs and services provided by HOPE for Prisoners, including a comprehensive array of program components designed to assist individuals to successfully reintegrate into society. He is responsible for developing and implementing strategic planning for the organization and is extremely passionate about the value of mentoring for persons coming out of correctional settings.  Mr. Ponder’s personal experience with the judicial system gives him the expertise to provide training for offender populations in correctional settings as he has for 15 years.  In 2020, Jon was granted a pardon from the State of Nevada as well as a full Presidential pardon from President Trump.

His personal life experiences uniquely equip him to provide guidance, direction, and motivation for individuals attempting to navigate the challenges they face during the reintegration process. His genuine heart and engaging manner have helped countless people become the best versions of themselves.  Jon works tirelessly to reach as many former offenders, community leaders, and partners as he can.  He is often invited to be a motivational or keynote speaker and consults with law enforcement agencies and community partners across the country who are working to export the HOPE for Prisoners model to their area.

War and Virtue Seminar

“It is well that war is so terrible,” Robert E. Lee once observed, “or else we should grow too fond of it.” Those words may strike our ears as odd: given war’s horrors, why would we ever grow to love it? What does war teach us about the human condition, about who we are, about the place of conflict in life, and about particular virtues we might possess? Ancient writers often believed that war was essential for developing particular virtues such as courage and magnanimity, and also an important aspect of public service. President Ford heard the same call, and served his country in World War II. But what virtues are undone by war, and are there other, less costly, ways of learning the lessons that war teaches us? Students were led in a group discussion by Gleaves Whitney.

War and Virtue Seminar

“It is well that war is so terrible,” Robert E. Lee once observed, “or else we should grow too fond of it.” Those words may strike our ears as odd: given war’s horrors, why would we ever grow to love it? What does war teach us about the human condition, about who we are, about the place of conflict in life, and about particular virtues we might possess? Ancient writers often believed that war was essential for developing particular virtues such as courage and magnanimity, and also an important aspect of public service. President Ford heard the same call, and served his country in World War II. But what virtues are undone by war, and are there other, less costly, ways of learning the lessons that war teaches us? Students were led in a group discussion by Gleaves Whitney.

Facing Fragility: America’s Youth and Their Future

“Kids these days: we’ve heard the expression, and we’ve perhaps used it ourselves. Today’s youth, however, face a unique set of challenges: the advent of smartphones, the unsettling rise of social media, declining trust in our social and political institutions, uncertain economic prospects, and so forth. They didn’t make this world—that would be their parents and grandparents who did—but they are trying to navigate it.

Are they doing so successfully? What obstacles are they facing? Is all this uncertainty making them more fragile and less resilient? Why does resiliency matter?

These were the questions explored in detail by the Ford Leadership Forum, part of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation, in cooperation with Baylor and Pepperdine Universities and the Murdock Charitable Trust. The Ford Leadership Forum co-hosted two events on the theme “Facing Fragility: America’s Youth and Their Future,” held in Washington DC on October 11th. The first event was a conversation hosted by Leadership Forum Director Jeff Polet and featured professor Jean Twenge, author of iGen: Why Today’s Super-Connected Kids are Growing Up Less Rebellious, More Tolerant, Less Happy—and Completely Unprepared for Adulthood, among other works.

That evening, the Ford Leadership Forum co-sponsored an event at the National Press Club, moderated by Baylor Professor David Corey, and featuring Dr. Twenge, Dr. Anthony Bradley, and Dr. Curt Thompson.