Dear Supporter,

There is no doubt that American democracy is being challenged. We continue to see an erosion of our democratic norms and institutions and Americans of all political stripes are frustrated by what they see in our government. The Institute’s role in strengthening American democracy and promoting Senator Kennedy’s legacy of bipartisan policy making is taking on new urgency.

With your support, we had a significant impact this year and we will expand our work heading into the critical 2024 election cycle. We hope you will join us and give a gift today.

In 2023, we…

Convened former Senators to address current Senate dysfunction

• Our first “Hyannis Port Summit” brought together ten former US Senators (five Republicans and five Democrats) who identified ways to modernize Senate procedures to restore the bipartisan problem-solving work of the US Senate. We’re working together to move these recommendations forward.

Modeled bipartisan Senate deliberation before a national audience

• Our 3rd and 4th installments of The Senate Project, nationally televised debates between two sitting US Senators on opposite sides of the aisle, showcased constructive, civil debate on pressing issues. Senators Chris Coons (D-DE) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) spoke powerfully about the need to protect our democratic institutions and norms as we enter the 2024 election year and issued this op-ed together as a result.

Expanded our award-winning civic education locally and nationally

• We reached over 20,000 students nationally from Kindergarten to College through expanded virtual offerings and the relaunch of our popular Senate Immersion Module (SIM) program. For student groups that can’t get to our Institute, our virtual options are an excellent way to take Senator Kennedy’s vision and ensure more equitable access to all. 

Sparked dialogue through timely, topical public programs

• We partnered with civic-minded organizations like Pew Research Center and the American Academy of Arts & Sciences to provide a front-row seat to the national conversation around issues affecting our democracy like the increasingly negative views of politics by the general public and how to address partisanship on the Supreme Court. If you missed these programs, you can watch the full programs on our YouTube page here.

Thank you in advance for your support.

Sincerely,

Adam Hinds, Chief Executive Officer