Through our three Impact Centers — Domestic Excellence, Global Leadership, and our Engagement Agenda — we focus on developing leaders, advancing policy, and taking action to solve today's most pressing challenges.
As we enter the season of thanksgiving, it seems appropriate to begin by thanking the many partners, team members, stakeholders, and friends who share the important values of the George W. Bush Institute. Even when faced with adversity, we have much to be grateful for as we continue to work together to advance free societies and ensure opportunity at home and around the world.
As the Taliban took full control of Afghanistan in August, the team at the Bush Institute immediately sprang into action to help Afghans and their families.
Women’s Initiative Director Natalie Gonnella-Platts and immigration expert Laura Collins, Director of the Bush Institute–SMU Economic Growth Initiative, released updated policy recommendations that address the role we should still play to help our Afghan allies and others vulnerable to the Taliban. The Bush Institute also created an ongoing Afghanistan relief and resource page, which contains information on organizations around the globe that are working to support Afghans.
This quarter, we published the fifth round of our Democracy Talks series, which discusses the challenges that obstruct greater civic engagement, community renewal, and civil dialogue, especially among young Americans.
This fall, we were thrilled to host the conclusion of the 2021 Stand-To Veteran Leadership Program at the Bush Center for the third class of 50 Scholars. To date, 126 Scholars have completed the program, and we’ll begin recruiting for the class of 2022 in the coming months.
