February 19, 2019 / George W. Bush Presidential Center
Photo by Grant Miller

The Bush Center honored the life and legacy of President George H. W. Bush at Engage at the Bush Center, presented by Highland Capital Management. The special two-part event featured remarks from President George W. Bush, and conversations with Former Secretary of State James Baker and former 41 aides. Watch the program

March 18, 2019 / George W. Bush Presidential Center
Photo by Grant Miller

In March, President and Mrs. Bush honored America’s immigrant heritage with an official immigration naturalization ceremony, welcoming 49 of America’s newest citizens. Watch the event

March 21, 2019 / George W. Bush Presidential Center
Photo by Grant Miller

The inaugural class of women leaders in WE Lead, the new iteration of the Bush Institute’s Women’s Initiative Fellowship, completed the program in March at the Bush Center in Dallas. The program convened 19 women from Afghanistan, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, and Tunisia and seeks to empower and equip them to become more effective leaders and to advance economic opportunity in their communities and countries. Scholars also visited Washington, D.C. in their final module, heard from a variety of inspirational leaders, and presented their Personal Leadership Projects. Learn more about the WE Lead program

March 31, 2019 / George W. Bush Presidential Center
Photo by Scott Booth

The Strategerist podcast, which highlights leadership and compassion, debuted in January. Bush Center experts and guests — such as Oscar-nominated actor and veteran advocate Gary Sinise — were featured during 43 episodes that spanned two seasons of provocative interviews and conversations. Listen and subscribe

April 11, 2019 / George W. Bush Presidential Center
Photo by Grant Miller

Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger joined Bush Center President and CEO Ken Hersh to discuss everything from the Cold War to trade wars with China and the role of American leadership during the second annual Forum on Leadership. Watch the conversation

April 11, 2019 / George W. Bush Presidential Center
Photo by Grant Miller

President and Mrs. Bush present Bill and Melinda Gates with the George W. Bush Medal for Distinguished Leadership at the Forum on Leadership. The award recognizes leaders who are tackling today’s most pressing challenges with compassion. Watch highlights from the conversation

April 17, 2019 / George W. Bush Presidential Center
Photos by Andrew Kaufmann

This year’s special exhibit, Presidential Retreats: Away from the White House, opened in March and revealed in-depth how U.S. presidents have used retreats for work, rejuvenation, and rest. We even had up-and-coming presidential expert Knox Boles take a tour — but don’t worry, we got him back to school quickly. View more photos from the exhibit

May 6, 2019 / Trinity Forest Golf Club in Dallas, Texas
Photo by Grant Miller

The 2019 Bush Institute Warrior Open, presented by AT&T, took place in May at Trinity Forest Golf Club in Dallas during the AT&T Byron Nelson. Twenty-four warriors were joined by current and former PGA TOUR golfers and professional athletes including Tony Romo, KJ Choi, Lee Trevin, and Ryan Palmer. The competitive golf tournament honors post-9/11 U.S. service members seriously wounded or injured since September 11, 2001. Learn more about the Warrior Open

May 14, 2019 / Atlantic Council Headquarters in Washington, D.C.

In May, our Central America Prosperity Project members joined the Atlantic Council to discuss policy ideas that could create a path to sustained economic growth in the Northern Triangle. Watch the event

June 27, 2019 / Big Thought in Dallas, Texas
Photo by Grant Miller

Prior to the 2019 Presidential Leadership Scholars program graduation ceremony in June, President George W. Bush and President Bill Clinton visited Byron Sanders, CEO of Big Thought and PLS Class of 2017. The visit took place at one of Big Thought’s youth programs that uses visual, performing, and digital arts to help young people improve job skills, gain a positive self-image, and increase social and emotional development. Watch the 2019 PLS graduation

August 15, 2019 / Starbucks Headquarters in Seattle, Washington
Photo by Grant Miller

Forty-three individuals took part in the Bush Institute’s 2019 Stand-To Veteran Leadership Program, which develops the skills of those who serve our nation’s veterans and helps increase their impact. Throughout the five-month program, scholars traveled to Dallas, Seattle, and Washington, D.C. to meet with a variety of distinguished professionals, educators, and experts in post-9/11 veteran transition issues and leadership development. Learn more about the Stand-To Veteran Leadership Program

September 18, 2019 / George W. Bush Presidential Center
Photo by Grant Miller

Bush Center audiences were treated to a unique opportunity: the chance to hear from a sitting U.S. Supreme Court Justice. Justice Neil Gorsuch joined us at Engage at the Bush Center, presented by Highland Capital Management, where he discussed his new book, A Republic, If You Can Keep It. Watch the program

September 25, 2019 / The Plaza Hotel in New York

On the margins of the 2019 United Nations General Assembly in New York, President Bush met with leaders and joined Ambassador Deborah L. Birx to announce that the Go Further partnership to end AIDS and cervical cancer has reached over half a million HIV-positive women with cervical cancer screening and treated thousands of women for pre-invasive cancerous lesions in its first year. The partnership aims to reduce new cervical cancer cases by 95 percent among the estimated 3.8 million HIV-positive women who live in eight high-burden African countries. Learn more about Go Further

September 28, 2019 / Native Texas Park at the George W. Bush Presidential Center
Photo by Andrew Kaufmann

First Pup Freddy Bush helped us kick off the fall season at Tails on the Trail, where furry friends frolicked in our 15-acre Native Texas Park, participated in guided nature walks, enjoyed treats from local dog stores, and donated items to Dallas Animal Services and Adoption Center. Take a look at more photos from the event

October 21, 2019 / Bonton Farms in Dallas, Texas
Photo by Grant Miller

In October, Mrs. Bush joined 23 Burmese scholars in the Bush Institute’s Liberty and Leadership program for a tour of Bonton Farms, a thriving farm in South Dallas that is “restoring lives, creating jobs, and igniting hope in a once forgotten and neglected neighborhood with some of the most marginalized people.” Bonton Farms was significant not only because of Mrs. Bush’s commitment to conservation, but also because the program exemplifies the difference a small number of people can make in building civil society. Read about the visit to Bonton Farms

October 2019 / George W. Bush Presidential Center
Photo by Katie Kardell

In October, Editor and Publisher selected The Catalyst as Best Digital Magazine with Under 1 Million Page Views Per Month. The award was for four editions on what compassionate conservatism means today. Read The Catalyst

November 8, 2019 / Prairie Chapel Ranch in Crawford, Texas

President and Mrs. Bush hosted the 2019 Warrior 100K at Prairie Chapel Ranch over Veterans Day weekend in November. Sixteen warriors joined President Bush for the mountain bike ride this year, and more than 20 alumni riders returned for the second day of the ride, which honors servicemen and women wounded since September 11, 2001. Learn more about the W100K

November 2019 / George W. Bush Presidential Center
Photo by Grant Miller

In November, the School Leadership Initiative District Cohort convened for the third time in Dallas to continue to learn about the Bush Institute’s Principal Talent Management Framework. Learn more about the School Leadership Initiative

November 17, 2019 / George W. Bush Presidential Center
Photo by Grant Miller

Former first daughters Jenna Bush Hager and Barbara Pierce Bush celebrated their first children’s book, Sisters First, at Engage at the Bush Center, presented by Highland Capital Management. Jenna and Barbara discussed how important it is to put your loved ones first, including personal stories of what it was like growing up together. Watch the program