Ford Leadership Forum

One of the reasons I love working closely with the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation and the Ford Leadership Forum is the opportunity to publish as an undergraduate student in the Ford Forum Observer! Recently, I published a piece entitled, "Elections, Civility, and Strawberry Matcha Lattes: What I Learned Living Abroad, and Alone, at 19-Years-Old, and What We All Could Learn from Northern Ireland." In it, I shared my insights on the differences between the United States and Northern Ireland, both politically and in terms of civil behavior. This op-ed would not have been possible without the support of my Fellowship through the Donia Human Rights Center at the University of Michigan this past summer, and the international non-profit, the Social Change Initiative. Both have given me the opportunity to broaden my worldview and deepen my understanding of international relations during this pivotal election year, for which I am incredibly grateful. I would also like to extend my gratitude to Alex Nguyen, a second-year BFA student at the Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design, for designing the cover art for this piece. His artistic talent truly brought the piece together, and I am continually impressed by his ability to bring my ideas to life. Lastly, I wish to thank Jeff Polet, Reegan Zomer, and Gleaves Whitney for their unwavering support and for making this piece possible. That being said, I would like to share with my network that the Ford Leadership Forum at the University of Michigan has successfully expanded our undergraduate chapter to 80 students! If you are an undergraduate student interested in politics, public policy, civic engagement, and bettering your communities—or if you simply want to share your voice by publishing in the Ford Forum Observer—please consider connecting with us. In the meantime, feel free to take a read! https://lnkd.in/gvxakdFC

#dwightdeisenhower was renowned for the unbelievably tough decisions he made on #DDay. Today we remember the thousands who died on the beaches of Normandy in 1944, and hope we can learn from figures like Eisenhower on what great leadership requires.

"Social morality is not something that can be mandated, but it also cannot be altered at will by political force. It is something that is instilled in us through a long, slow process of enculturation and practice..." The latest Observer piece, by Louis Markos, professor at Houston Christian University.

What does "Midwest" mean? What was Gerald R. Ford's Midwest like? Are the two the same today? See what Lee Trepanier of Samford University thinks about this in the latest Ford Forum Observer piece. https://lnkd.in/ecBz27qC

"A smug look turneth away kindness." What happens when people become so full of their virtue that they become convinced that power and wealth are their rightful tributes? Director of the Ford Leadership Forum, Jeff Polet ponders the ramifications of modern virtue-signaling. https://lnkd.in/e8gJxaeU

Check out today's featured essay, "Reimagining Civic Education to Produce Justice," by Adam Smith. A review of Danielle Allen's Justice by Means of Democracy helps clarify the importance of civic education by helping us think about who needs to know what. Read the full essay here: https://lnkd.in/dXKRpBfP

Gerald Ford, our only president who was also an Eagle Scout, wrote that “the three great principles scouting encourages – self-discipline, teamwork, and moral and patriotic values – are the building blocks of character.” Check out this week's featured essay, by Richard Gunderman, he explores the importance of Ford’s scouting experience to his life of public service. https://buff.ly/3v9RzLg

This week the U.S. Postal Service unveiled a new stamp that commemorates former first lady Betty Ford. First Lady Jill Biden and Betty Ford’s daughter, Susan Ford Bales, joined the U.S. Postal Service during the stamp’s reveal. “Today, the Postal Service and the American people pay tribute to a women of extraordinary courage and candor,” her daughter shared. “To a transformative first lady and to a devoted wife. And in doing so they honor a woman that today and in every tomorrow, I am so proud to call my mom.” To read more please visit: https://buff.ly/3V5nK9f Images by David Hume Kennerly

You can't have a culture without agriculture. Americans pay very little attention to how food is made until the supply chains seize up. But perhaps that's far from our biggest problem. Our politics will only become more contentious if food scarcity is introduced into the mix. Thinking about sustainable agricultural practices is one of the great imperatives of our time. Read "Innovation and Infinite Desire" by Jason Peters: https://buff.ly/49Zrz3S

Today at 4:00 PM ET, First Lady Jill Biden will host an unveiling of a new U.S. Postal Service stamp honoring former First Lady Betty Ford at the White House. The First Lady will be joined by Postmaster General and Chief Executive Officer Louis DeJoy, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation Dr. Joseph Lee, and Mrs. Ford’s daughter, Susan Ford Bales. This event will be livestreamed at WhiteHouse.Gov/Live. (https://buff.ly/49Fi61R)