George W. Bush Center Hosts Annual 'Forum on Leadership'

The event focuses on the 'heart of America' and the importance of civic disagreement.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 6:07pm

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A serene, cinematic painting of an empty podium in a sunlit hall, with warm light and deep shadows, conveying a sense of contemplation and the weight of leadership.The George W. Bush Center's annual leadership forum provides a platform for thoughtful discussion on the state of American democracy and civic engagement.Dallas Today

The George W. Bush Presidential Center is hosting its annual 'Forum on Leadership' this week, with the theme 'The Heart of America.' The forum brings together notable voices for discussions on pressing issues, and the Bush Center's CEO Shilo Brooks challenged the notion that disagreement implies dysfunction, arguing it is vital for the nation's survival. The event will also highlight the country's history and progress, with exhibits, speakers, and free admission around the 250th anniversary of the United States.

Why it matters

The George W. Bush Presidential Center's annual forum provides a platform to discuss the state of American leadership and civic engagement, at a time when the country is grappling with polarization and the challenges of maintaining a healthy democracy.

The details

The forum will feature speeches, panels, and exhibits exploring topics like the role of disagreement in a republic, the country's history of overcoming challenges, and the importance of civic participation. Speakers include Bush Center CEO Shilo Brooks, who argued that disagreement is vital for the nation's survival, as well as other notable figures like journalist Walter Isaacson and Supreme Court Justices Amy Coney Barrett and Neil Gorsuch.

  • The George W. Bush Presidential Center is hosting the annual 'Forum on Leadership' this week.
  • Next week, journalist Walter Isaacson will speak about 'the greatest sentence ever written,' referring to the first sentence of the Declaration of Independence.
  • Next month, Supreme Court Justices Amy Coney Barrett and Neil Gorsuch will speak at the library.

The players

Shilo Brooks

Chief Executive of the George W. Bush Presidential Center.

David Kramer

Executive director of the George W. Bush Institute.

Walter Isaacson

Journalist who will speak about the first sentence of the Declaration of Independence.

Amy Coney Barrett

Supreme Court Justice who will speak at the library.

Neil Gorsuch

Supreme Court Justice who will speak at the library.

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What they’re saying

“I want to challenge the premise the disagreements we have necessarily imply the disfunction of heart. To the contrary, when disagreement is done well, it's vital for our nation's survival.”

— Shilo Brooks, Chief Executive of the George W. Bush Presidential Center

“The point of that phrase is in order for our country, our society, our system to work effectively, people have to be engaged, they have to be informed, they need to be part of this process whether it's voting, serving on a local committee, volunteering, serving in the military.”

— David Kramer, Executive director of the George W. Bush Institute

What’s next

The George W. Bush Presidential Center will continue its programming around the country's 250th anniversary, including free admission from July 3 through July 6.

The takeaway

The George W. Bush Center's annual Forum on Leadership provides a platform to explore the state of American democracy, the role of civic engagement, and the value of constructive disagreement in addressing the nation's challenges.