View this email in your browser ([link removed])
------------------------------------------------------------
NEWS ([link removed]) • EVENTS ([link removed]) • MEMBERSHIP ([link removed]) • WEBSITE ([link removed])
------------------------------------------------------------
Kennedy Institute Newsletter | SPRING 2021
FROM THE INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Hello,

As we mark the one-year anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic, it gives me great pleasure to be able to say that the end appears to be in sight. As disappointing as it was to close our doors to the public a year ago, the Kennedy Institute swiftly transitioned to online and virtual programs, emphasizing the importance of civics education and the critical role of the United States Senate in our democracy. We are thankful to all who have engaged with and participated in our programming and offerings.

The Kennedy Institute continues presenting relevant and timely virtual offerings. As is further explained below, these include welcoming some of the newest members of Congress to an Across the Aisle event, hosting former CIA director John Brennan for a Getting to the Point program, and expanding our spring and summer educational offerings for teachers and educators looking to bring interactive and captivating civics education lessons virtually into their classrooms.

I want to express my gratitude to those who responded to our #HopesFor2021 campaign ([link removed]) , from which we collected hundreds of expressions of hope for the new Administration and Congress and then shared them with our New England delegation; to those who have spread the word about our civics education offerings ([link removed]) ; and to our Kennedy Staff Alumni who shared their personal reflections on the unforgettable story of the Senate staffers whose quick action saved the ceremonial electoral college ballots ([link removed]) from the insurrectionist mob on January 6.

Next week we mark the 6^th anniversary of the opening of the Kennedy Institute. As we celebrate this milestone, especially after this past challenging year, I am thankful to everyone who has continued to support the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate financially. It means so much to us.

Thank you,

Sue Heilman
Interim Executive Director
UPCOMING PROGRAMS | join us
[link removed]
The Kennedy Institute will host a bipartisan panel of new Members of Congress to discuss the current state of affairs in Washington as well as opportunities for finding common ground and forging collaboration in the 117^th Congress.

In this time of political polarization, members from both sides of the aisle will join in conversation about the challenges and opportunities they face as newly elected officials, their early aspirations for their time in office, and what roles they can play to ensure Congress works together to move America forward. Confirmed attendees so far include Congressman Jake Auchincloss (D-MA) and Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), and we look forward to announcing additional panel participants in coming days.

You can register for the event
here ([link removed]) .
[link removed]
John O. Brennan, former director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), will join the Kennedy Institute for a virtual conversation. He will discuss his career in public service and perspectives on national security, white nationalism and domestic terrorism, especially as they relate to the insurrection at the United States Capitol.

As director of the CIA from March 2013 until January 2017, Mr. Brennan was responsible for intelligence collection, analysis, covert action, counterintelligence and liaison relationships with foreign intelligence services. He was also responsible for running the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. Prior to this, he served as assistant to President Barack Obama for homeland security and counterterrorism.

Mr. Brennan currently serves as a senior intelligence and national security analyst for NBC and MSNBC, and is the author of the New York Times bestseller, “Undaunted: My Fight Against America’s Enemies at Home and Abroad,” and is a Distinguished Fellow at the Center on National Security at Fordham Law School and a Distinguished Scholar at the University of Texas at Austin.

You can register for the event
here ([link removed]) .
RECENT EVENTS | catch up on highlights
[link removed]
Irish government leader joins St. Patrick’s Day celebration

Taoiseach Micheál Martin, the leader of the government of the Republic of Ireland, joined Rep. Richard Neal (D-MA), Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, former Congressman Joe Kennedy III, and other distinguished guests for a Kennedy Institute St. Patrick’s Day celebration on March 15. The program also honored the 40th anniversary of the founding of the Friends of Ireland in Congress by Senator Edward M. Kennedy and others and celebrated the launch of “From Whence I Came: The Kennedy Legacy, Ireland and America,” a collection of essays edited by Brian Murphy and Donnacha Ó Beacháin.

Other distinguished guests joining the event were Dr. Alison Meagher, Deputy Consul General of Ireland in Shanghai and author of the chapter “Ted Kennedy: Distant Peacemaker” in “From Whence I Came”; Ambassador Samantha Power, former United States Ambassador to the United Nations and Professor of Practice, Harvard Kennedy School and Harvard Law School; and Dr. Robert Mauro, Executive Director of the Irish Institute at Boston College. Victoria Reggie Kennedy, President of the Board of the Kennedy Institute, gave the opening remarks to personally welcome each distinguished guest and kick off the celebration.
The Kennedy Institute notes with gratitude that this celebration was made possible with the generous support of the Irish Government Emigrant Support Programme.
[link removed]
Stone Social Impact Forum featuring Catherine Coleman Flowers

Acclaimed environmental activist, author, and MacArthur “genius grant” recipient Catherine Coleman Flowers joined the Kennedy Institute for the Stone Social Impact Forum ([link removed]) on February 18. Founding director of the Center for Rural Enterprise and Environmental Justice, Ms. Flowers spoke with Jeff Goodell, a Rolling Stone contributing editor, bestselling author and 2020 Guggenheim Fellow, about connections between today’s environmental justice movement and the Civil Rights movement, steps young activists can take to get involved in their local communities, and securing livable wages for all workers.

Honoring bold civic change agents who tackle inequality and inspire all people to be civically active, The Stone Social Impact Forum is a joint initiative of the Kennedy Institute and the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation, generously supported by the James M. and Cathleen D. Stone Foundation.
[link removed]
Hearing and sharing your “Hopes for 2021”

As the United States Senate reconvened in the wake of the violent insurrection of January 6, the Kennedy Institute invited our friends and supporters to reflect on their hopes for the new chapter in America’s civic life, and in particular how the Senate might heal and lead our nation.

We were delighted and grateful to hear from more than 200 of you, and as promised, have shared your thoughts and reflections with members of the New England congressional delegation. As described in articles posted on the Kennedy Institute’s blog, respondents have wide-ranging ideas about what should be at the top of the U.S. political agenda—but share a
deep hope ([link removed]) that the Senate will bring a respectful, cooperative, and productive tone to its work going forward. Given our strong commitment to classroom education described above, we were pleased to see how many respondents agree that improved and expanded civics education ([link removed]) for our country’s K-12 students must be a top national priority. Thank you again to all who responded so thoughtfully with your #HopesFor2021 contributions.
CIVIL DISCOURSE | learn more
Educating for American Democracy promotes Kennedy Institute civics education resources

In the wake of a turbulent election year and widespread misinformation and lies about election security and the Electoral College certification process, a new initiative called Educating for American Democracy (EAD) has convened a diverse and cross-ideological group of scholars and educators to create a Roadmap to Educating for American Democracy. Responding to decades of underinvestment in the teaching of civics and history, EAD seeks to provide states, local school districts, and educators with a flexible yet comprehensive approach to transforming how we teach history and civics to meet the needs of a diverse 21st century K–12 student body.

The Kennedy Institute is pleased to note that EAD has included the Kennedy Institute’s “Today’s Vote in the Classroom” resource in its
Educator Resource Collection ([link removed])
. We are honored to support EAD’s mission of ensuring our nation has a citizenry and electorate “prepared to understand, appreciate, and use our form of government and civic life.’’

Welcoming 10,000 students—virtually—to Kennedy Institute civics education

The Kennedy Institute announced ([link removed]) in January that we have 10,000 slots available for students and their teachers to participate this winter and spring in virtual, interactive classes focusing on major current political issues. With our Columbia Point facility closed to visitors because of the COVID-19 pandemic, one of our highest priorities has been connecting students and teachers with lively, relevant civics programs right in their classrooms, as well as virtual curriculum and other civics education resources.
Presenting both Democratic and Republican viewpoints, instructors from the Kennedy Institute lead classes focusing on issues such as voting rights, the Green New Deal, the Electoral College, mandatory minimum sentencing, and the confirmation of new Cabinet members.

Do you know a teacher who’d like to bring the Kennedy Institute into their social studies, history, or civics class? If so, please let them know
about all we have to offer. ([link removed]) As Caroline Angel Burke, the Institute’s Vice President of Education, Visitor Experience & Collections, says: “We want to partner with even more teachers across America to encourage participatory democracy and civil discussion of important current issues and to inspire their students–our next generation of voting citizens and leaders–to engage in the civic life of their communities and country.’’


** Civic Conversations Virtual Summer Institute 2021
------------------------------------------------------------
How do educators invest in productive, deep, and transformative dialogue in their classrooms? That is the question the Civic Conversations project team is committed to answering.

Civic Conversations is an approach to combining the Kennedy Institute’s civic education programming with the community-building dialogic structure practiced by Essential Partners. This summer, middle- and high-school focused educators are invited to explore how community dialogue can be applied to civic issues in the classroom in our Civic Conversations Virtual Summer Institute. This program offers six half-day sessions with one-on-one coaching and support to help teachers develop a dialogue-based lesson plan for use in their classrooms. Teachers will learn how to create conditions for productive and community-building dialogue, practice facilitation skills, and learn strategies and ideas for dialogue as a pathway to civic engagement.

The application process is open through April 23, 2021 to current educators who anticipate teaching grades 6-12 during the 2021-2022 school year. Learn more
here ([link removed]) .
[link removed] Facebook ([link removed])
[link removed] Twitter ([link removed])
[link removed] Instagram ([link removed])
[link removed] Website ([link removed])
[link removed]
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Civics Education Drive: Edward M. Kennedy Institute offers online classes to 10,000 students this semester ([link removed])

BU DAILY FREE PRESS
Stone Social Impact Forum emphasizes importance of environmental justice ([link removed])

IRISH TIMES
Taoiseach pushes back against calls in US for referendum on Irish unity ([link removed])
The Kennedy Institute was designated as a verified community contributor on the Across America section of the Patch digital website to share regular updates on civic engagement, elections, governmental procedures, and related topics on the publication nationwide. Some of our recent articles include:
* January 12: Celebrating the staffers who saved the Electoral College ballots ([link removed])

* January 13: Denying the vote to people convicted of felonies: Just or unjust? ([link removed])

* February 5: Senators and the peaceful transition of power ([link removed])

* March 3: Sharing your "Hopes for 2021" for the U.S. Senate and our nation ([link removed])

============================================================
YOUR SUPPORT | make a difference
** ([link removed])
Since opening to the public six years ago, the Kennedy Institute has consistently offered high-quality interactive programming that combines expert facilitation with the latest technological advances. Our mission to empower the next generation of leaders is more crucial than ever before. Please consider a contribution to support these important efforts.
** DONATE NOW ([link removed])
Copyright © 2021 Edward M. Kennedy Institute. All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email for newsletters and updates regarding the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate.

Our mailing address is:
Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate
Columbia Point
Boston, MA 02125

** unsubscribe from this list ([link removed])
** update subscription preferences ([link removed])