PAST EVENTS
The Common Good Forum & American Spirit Awards
The Common Good Forum is an annual program presenting headline issues and the most important, forward-looking ideas affecting public policy and our lives. We are building a remarkable roster for our annual event, with participants from government, media, business, foreign affairs and tech, as well as public policy activists.
ABOUT THE EVENT
The Common Good Forum is an annual program presenting headline issues and the most important, forward-looking ideas affecting public policy and our lives. We are building a remarkable roster for our annual event, with participants from government, media, business, foreign affairs and tech, as well as public policy activists.
For the first time the TCG Forum and American Spirit Awards will take place online over Zoom. Icons, leaders, legends and role models from all areas will speak on issues impacting our nation. Our Forum will focus on three of the defining issues of the 21st century - inequality, climate change, and democracy at home and abroad.
The American Spirit Awards continue to be an iconic award that is given to those who have experienced and posses the best of the American spirit. During this turbulent time we have seen the very best of the American spirit and are thrilled to honor those who have exhibited such qualities.
Listen to podcast below:
Watch the video below:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Ray Dalio
Famed investor and philanthropist, Ray Dalio is the Co-Chief Investment Officer and Co-Chairman of Bridgewater Associates. the world's largest hedge fund,
Mr. Dalio will receive the American Spirit Award for Business Leadership.
AMBASSADOR (ret.) BILL TAYLOR
Diplomat, veteran and former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine, Bill Taylor is vice president, Strategic Stability and Security at the U.S. Institute of Peace. He recently served as chargé d’affaires at the U.S. embassy in Kyiv. During the Arab Spring, he oversaw U.S. assistance and support to Egypt, Tunisia, Libya and Syria. Ambassador Taylor also famously and bravely served a key witness in the Ukraine impeachment inquiry.
Ambassador Taylor will receive the American Spirit Award for Distinguished Public Service.
Chelsey Earnest and The Staff of Kirkland’s Life Care Center
Earnest was one of the many nurses, doctors, and other health care workers who risked their lives to save others. Chelsey volunteered at the Life Care Center and, with their dedicated staff, fought to save the facility’s residents, even as patients and staff too became ill with terrifying speed.
We are proud to award Chelsey Earnest and the brave staff of Kirkland’s Life Care Center with our American Spirit Award for Courageous Service in the Pandemic.
Margaret Hoover and John Allon
Our hosts for the evening, Margaret Hoover, is a journalist, best-selling author, and host of PBS's Firing Line, Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Daily News, The Daily Beast, CNN.com, and FoxNews.com. She is also currently a CNN political contributor. John Avlon is a journalist and political commentator. He is a Senior Political Analyst and anchor at CNN.
Jon Meacham
Jon Meacham is an american writer, reviewer, historian, presidential biographer, and pulitzer prize-winning author. Meacham has led a life discussing and analyzing leadership on past American presidents and historical events, while providing thoughtful and engaging conversations. He also continues to contribute as a writer for The New York Times Book Review, contributing editor of Time, and has written pieces for The New York Times, The Washington Post, Vanity Fair, and Garden & Gun.
Mr. Meacham will be receiving the American Spirit Award for Thought Leadership.
Dr. Neil DeGrasse Tyson
Astrophysicist, planetary scientist, author, and science communicator. Dr. Tyson has been an influential voice surrounding the subjects of astrophysics and aerospace. Additionally, his interests and research has contributed to the fields of cosmology, stellar evolution, galactic astronomy, bulges, and stellar formation.
Dr. Tyson’s work also spreads in the world of filmography as being host for multiple science based shows most notably NOVA, Cosmos, and StarTalk. As well as an abundant of appearances in other documentaries and TV shows.
Dr. Neil DeGrasse Tyson will be presented with the American Spirit Award for Public Integrity. which recognizes Dr. Tyson’s exceptional commitment to honesty, truth, and science.
Lt. Col (ret.) Alexander Vindman
United States Army Lieutenant Colonel (ret.) Alexander Vindman is a highly decorated service member and former deputy assistant to the president and senior director for European and Russian Affairs for the United States National Security Council (NSC).
Vindman was brought to national attention after his actions when he testified before the United States Congress regarding the Trump–Ukraine scandal. His testimony provided evidence that resulted in a charge of abuse of power in the impeachment of 45th President Donald Trump.
Mr. Vindman will be receiving the American Spirit Award for Distinguished Public Service.
Dr. Fiona Hill
Former U.S. National Security Council official, Fiona Hill is a British-American foreign affairs specialist and academic. Hill’s position on the council specialized in Russian and European affairs. Dr. Hill received national attention when she in November 2019 was a witness in the House hearings regarding the impeachment inquiry during the first impeachment of Donald Trump.
Additionally, Hill also was awarded her Ph.D. in history from Harvard University and currently, is a Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington.
Dr. Fiona Hill will be receiving the American Spirit Award for Distinguished Public Service.
Ambassador (ret.) Marie Yovanovitch
American diplomat and senior member of the United States Foreign Service. Ambassador Yovanovitch has a remarkable career working as a representative of the United States into countries such as Kyrgyzstan, Armenia, and the Ukraine. Yovanovitch was also a key figure in Trump’s first impeachment trial.
Ambassador Yovanovitch will be receiving the American Spirit Award for Distinguished Public Service.
Clarissa Ward
Ward accomplished American television journalist and chief international correspondent for CNN. Ward over the years has reported on some of the biggest international events over the past decade. Holding a degree from Yale University, Ward also holds an honorary doctor of letters degree from Middlebury College.
Before taking on her role for CNN, Ward had formerly worked with CBS News, based in London. As well as previously also being the Moscow-based news correspondent for ABC News.
Clarissa Ward will be receiving the American Spirit Award for Courage for Journalism.
Ken Burns
Ken Burns and his collaborators have produced and directed some of the most acclaimed historical documentaries ever made. A renowned and prolific American filmmaker, Burns is known for using archival footage and photographs in his films, which often showcase major events in U.S. history.
Mr. Burns will be receiving the American Spirit Award for Public Integrity, which highlights his exceptional commitment to honesty, truth, and storytelling.
Photo Credit:Evan Barlow
(Ret.) Senator Bob Corker
An American businessman and politician the Honorable Bob Corker served as a United States Senator from Tennessee from 2007 to 2019. A member of the Republican Party, he served as Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee from 2015 to 2019.
Senator Corker will be receiving the American Spirit Award for Public Service.
How to Lead
The Carlyle Group co-founder and co-chairman David M. Rubenstein and psychologist Adam Grant joined The Common Good to discuss what they have learned about leadership and the characteristics it takes to be a great leader.
ABOUT THE EVENT
Join us for a conversation with The Carlyle Group co-chairman and philanthropist David M. Rubenstein as we explore the hallmarks of good leadership from our best political leaders, CEOs, founders and other giants, including the understanding of good - and bad - leadership in the U.S. Presidency and the political arena. We are incredibly fortunate to have Adam Grant, best-selling author, speaker, professor at Wharton, as our moderator for this conversation.
For the past five years, David M. Rubenstein—author of The American Story, visionary cofounder of The Carlyle Group, and host of The David Rubenstein Show—has spoken with the world’s highest performing leaders about who they are and how they became successful. How to Lead distills these revealing conversations into an indispensable leadership guidebook. The essential leadership playbook. Learn the principles and guiding philosophies of Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Warren Buffett, Oprah Winfrey, and many others through illuminating conversations about their remarkable lives and careers.
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David M. Rubenstein is a Co-Founder and Co-Chairman of The Carlyle Group, one of the world’s largest private investment firms. He is a 1970 graduate of Duke University and a 1973 graduate of the University of Chicago Law School. He served as Chief Counsel to the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Constitutional Amendments before becoming the Deputy Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy during the Carter Administration. He also practiced law in both New York City and Washington, D.C.
Mr. Rubenstein is Chairman of the Boards of Trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the Council on Foreign Relations; a Fellow of the Harvard Corporation; a Regent of the Smithsonian Institution; a Trustee of the National Gallery of Art, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, the Institute for Advanced Study, the Brookings Institution, and the World Economic Forum; a Director of the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences; and President of the Economic Club of Washington, among other board seats.
Mr. Rubenstein is an original signer of The Giving Pledge; the host of The David Rubenstein Show; and the author of The American Story and How to Lead.
Adam Grant is an organizational psychologist at Wharton, where he has been the top-rated professor for seven straight years. He is one of TED's most popular speakers, his books have sold millions of copies, his talks have been viewed more than 25 million times, and his podcast WorkLife with Adam Grant has topped the charts. His best-selling books include Originals, Give and Take, and Think Again.
His pioneering research has inspired people to rethink fundamental assumptions about motivation, generosity, and creativity. He has been recognized as one of the world's 10 most influential management thinkers and Fortune's 40 under 40, and has received distinguished scientific achievement awards from the American Psychological Association and the National Science Foundation.
Adam received his B.A. from Harvard and his Ph.D. from the University of Michigan, and he is a former Junior Olympic springboard diver. He lives in Philadelphia with his wife and their three children.
"No Room for Small Dreams: Courage, Imagination and the Making of Modern Israel"
The Common good was proud to present an intimate conversation and celebration with Chemi Peres on the new memoir written by his father, Shimon Peres, former President and Prime Minister of Israel. This event was hosted by Marcia Riklis.
The Common good is proud to present an intimate conversation and celebration with Chemi Peres on the new memoir written by his father, Shimon Peres, former President and Prime Minister of Israel. This event was hosted by Marcia Riklis.
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WATCH:
Shimon Peres, a leading statesman in his country and around the world, penned the book, “No Room for Small Dreams: Courage, Imagination and the Making of Modern Israel”, shortly before his death late last year, intertwining the historic moments of his own life and Israel’s - and the future he hopes for his nation. Shimon Peres was one of Israel’s founding fathers and for more than six decades was an architect of its ascent from a fragile state to a global power. In 1994, he was awarded the Nobel Peace for his extraordinary efforts to forge peace between Israel and the Palestinians. in 1996, he founded the groundbreaking Peres Center for Peace and Innovation to focus on developing and implementing imaginative peacebuilding programs around the world. Peres died in September 2016, shortly after finishing his work on this book. He was ninety-three year old.
“By his unyielding detemination and principle, Shimon Peres time and again helped guide his beloved country through the crucible of moral challenge. But it was by his innate humanity, his decency, that Shimon inspired the world over”
“Shimon Peres started as Israel’s brightest student, became one of its best teachers, and ended up its biggest dreamer...THis book captures my friend’s lifelong belief in our potential to rise above our wounds, our resentments, and our fears to make the most of today and claim the promise of tomorrow”
“Shimon Peres was a giant of Israel’s foudning generation, a tireless advocate for peace, and an eternal optimist who lived his life with a sense of hope and possibility...All of us have much to learn form his story, which now belongs to the ages.”
Chemi Peres, son of the late president of Israel, Shimon Peres, is one of Israel’s foremost venture capital and innovation pioneers. He is the Managing Partner and Co-Founder of Pitango Venture Capital. Prior he served 10 years in the Israeli Air Force Chemi is currently the Chairman of the Peres Center for Peace.
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Leadership Series: David Paterson on New York Past and Present
· We enjoyed candid discussions from elected officials in our “Leadership Series.”New York Governor, Honorable David Paterson on his tenure as Governor and what lies ahead for New York with moderator David Pollak.
· We enjoyed candid discussions from elected officials in our “Leadership Series.”New York Governor, Honorable David Paterson on his tenure as Governor and what lies ahead for New York with moderator David Pollak.
David Paterson served as New York’s 55th Governor from 2008 to 2010 following the resignation of former Governor Eliot Spitzer. During his tenure as Governor, Paterson is credited for drawing attention to New York’s fiscal woes, stretching the budget-drafting powers of his office, and enacting sweeping reforms on a wide range of issues facing New Yorkers.
The former Governor led the movement to create permanent reforms to health care in New York State, successfully negotiated an MTA bailout plan, and introduced landmark legislation to end legal discrimination against same-sex couples in New York.
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The Changing of the Political Landscape
The Common good hosted a discussion with Governor John Lynch on “The Changing Political Landscape” and the ramifications of the toxic political environment in his race and around the nation.
The Common good hosted a discussion with Governor John Lynch on “The Changing Political Landscape” and the ramifications of the toxic political environment in his race and around the nation.
During his time serving as the 80th Governor of New Hampshire in 2005, Governor John Lynch focused on working across party lines to make New Hampshire a place of opportunity for all of its citizens. Lynch has worked with Democrats and Republicans to make kindergarten available to every child, to cut New Hampshire’s high school dropout rate in half, pass the toughest laws in the nation to protect children from sexual predators, to reduce spending by making government more efficient and build the economy by making it easier for companies to retain and hire new workers, increasing job training and providing tax credits for research and development.
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The Common Good has been hosting events since 2006 that cover important issues of today, highlighting speakers who have worked to bolster our democracy and can provide great insight on the issues that matter.