Gerald R. Ford Leadership Forum
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 – …
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A Black History Month Event, “Restoring Our Communities: Social Activism and Local Solutions” The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation and the Ford Leadership Forum welcome 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 …
Is Civic Friendship Possible? Ever since Aristotle described politics as a mode of civic friendship, political thinkers and actors have adopted it as the model for organizing political life. But is friendship the best analogy for understanding political life? What are the limitations of the model, and are there more useful models for us to …
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 …
by Jeff Polet Artificial Intelligence is in the news with a vengeance as ChatGTP released a new version of “chatbot.” I’ll confess to a great deal of ignorance about how AI works and what its prospects are; I’ll also confess to my skepticism about the enterprise, since the word “artificial” is as suggestive as the …
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day commemorates not only the life and legacy of the great civil rights leader, but also draws our attention to the ongoing struggle for justice and liberty for all people. President Ford was an early defender of racial equality, from his defense of his friend and teammate Willis Ward, through his …
On January 11, 2023, students and young professionals heard from Alexander Velting, a Financial Advisor at Northwestern Mutual. He demonstrated the importance of planning for both short-term and long-term goals, such as paying down debt, wealth accumulation, and tax efficiency. This event helped to educate taking your financial practices to the next level with planning …
