Its my happy duty to introduce and moderate the second panel. Let me just begin by introducing myself briefly. Im bill galston. Delighted to be a small cog in in the Service Alliance machine that produced this meeting. I want to thank two people in particular. Belle sawhill for conceiving of this day and working tirelessly over a period of at least six months to bring it about. And also our president john allen for lending his vast experience and immense moral authority to our enterprise this morning. And i think its a sign that brookings is spiritually aligned with the National Service movement. Let me introduce the question this way. If National Service is the answer, whats the question . And we have heard and i think will hear three very different kinds of answers to that question. Its useful to keep them separate. The first has to do with service as an avenue of personal growth, the expansion and the deepening of character. The second has to do with actual good done for others, ser
Hearing from a distinguished group of leaders and volunteers on the matter of National Service. Let me make a few brief comments to begin with. In such divided and turbulent times, we must look for ways to bridge society, to bridge the divides and to restore a sense of community. In recent years, much has been done, sadly, to burn rather than to build the bridges in our civic nation leading to a growing culture of fear and distrust, incivility, and a reflex to retreat into the safety of tribalism. Our trusted institutions and our trust in each other has taken a beating and has in fact declined and that decline makes it harder for us to solve some of the key problems we face as a country and as a people. From my personal experience i know that when individuals from different walks of life have an opportunity to serve together and to serve their country and to do something bigger than themselves, they almost always live up to the challenge. In fact, they almost always perform magnificent
Good morning, ladies and j gentlemen. Im john allenen, president of brookings. On behalf of the institution and our partners, i want to welcome you all to this important event today. I want to welcome those coming in over the webcast, and, of course, we always welcome the media. This morning, youll be hearing from a distinguished group of leaders and volunteers on the matter of National Service. Let me make a few brief comments to begin with. In such divided and turbulent times, we must look for ways to bridge society. To bridge the divides and to restore a sense of community. In recent years, much has been done, sadly, to burn rather than to build the bridges in our civic nation. Leading to a growing culture of fear and distrust, incivility and a reflex to retreat into the safety of tribalism. Our trust in institutions and our trust in each other has taken a beating and has, in fact, declined, and that decline makes it harder for us to solve some of the key problems we face as a count
Thanks to all of you. Will be reconvening soon. applause invigorated people. 30 seconds. 30 seconds was particularly effective. Ill have to remember that. Well, its my happy duty to introduce and moderate the second panel. Let me just begin by introducing myself briefly. Im bill galston, a senior fellow in the Governance Studies Program here at brookings. Delighted to be a small cog in the brookings Service Year Alliance machine that has produced this meeting. I want to thank two people in particular. Bell sawhill for conceiving of this day and working tirelessly over a period of at least six months to bring it about. And also our president john allen for lending his vast experience and immense moral authority to our enterprise this morning. And i think its a sign that brookings is spiritually aligned with the National Service movement. Let me introduce the question this way. If National Service is the answer, whats the question . And we have heard and i think will hear three very diff
Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. Im john allen, the president of brookings and on behalf of the institution and our partners at Service Year Alliance, i want to welcome you all to this important event today. I want to welcome those coming in over the webcast and of course we always welcome the media. This morning youll be hearing from a distinguished group of leaders and volunteers on the matter of National Service. Let me make a few brief comments to begin with. In such divided and turbulent times, we must look for ways to bridge society, to bridge the divides and to restore a sense of community. In recent years, much has been done, sadly, to burn rather than to build the bridges in our civic nation leading to a growing culture of fear and distrust, incivility, and a reflex to retreat into the safety of tribalism. Our trusted institutions and our trust in each other has taken a beating and has in fact declined and that decline makes it harder for us to solve some of the key problem