While Major Matt Zeller was deployed to Afghanistan, an Afghan interpreter named Janis saved his life in combat.  Years later, Matt is still committed  to the Afghan people, working to help as many people like Janis and his family as he can.

Resources

• How to Support Afghanistan Refugees in North Texas
• Afghanistan Relief and Resources
• No One Left Behind

As senior editor for the National Review, Jay Nordlinger writers on politics, foreign affairs, and a variety of other topics on his mind.  We discuss one of his biggest passions: hearing -- and sharing -- the stories of the people around the world fighting for freedom and human rights in their countries. We also dive into a number of other topics, including the state of conservatism, space travel, and more.

Related

• Human Freedom Initiative at the George W. Bush Institute
• Jay Nordlinger at the National Review

Nina Rees and her family immigrated to the United States from Iran in large part because of the American education system.  Now the president and CEO of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, Nina discusses charter schools and the power of choice for parents in determining their children's educational path.

Related

• National Alliance for Public Charter Schools
• George W. Bush Institute Education Reform Initiative

Amy Webb's life changed in unexpected ways when her daughter was born with disabilities. Like every mother, she wants her child to grow up experiencing all the things a child should: playing on a playground with friends, exploring a museum, going on a family vacation.  She learned, though, that not every experience is created with accessibility in mind, and that even interactions with friends can be a challenge -- so she wrote "When Charley Met Emma" and "Awesomely Emma" to help parents approach their kids.

20 years ago, then-Secretary of Commerce Donald Evans watched the terrorist attacks of 9/11 unfold alongside the rest of a shocked Nation. He shares his recollections from that day, and the ensuing the days, of a government mobilized against an active threat -- including his experience as the "designated survivor" in the presidential line of succession. He also reflects on the strength he drew from his faith during that time, while also sharing on what it was like watching his longtime friend, President George W. Bush, lead a grieving Nation.

In 2008, President George W. Bush traveled to Beijing, China to support the athletes representing the United States at the 2008 Olympic Games. Spence Geissinger headed up the operations and logistics planning for that trip. Spence takes us behind the scenes of the extensive planning, negotiating, and improvising that goes into essentially picking up the White House and placing it in a foreign country -- and shares memories from that remarkable trip.  

Related

• Human Freedom Initiative at the George W. Bush Institute

Evan Smith, founder and CEO of the non-profit Texas Tribune, believes strongly that providing information to voters is critical to a healthy democracy. We discuss the constantly evolving media landscape and how the Texas Tribune has adapted as a newsroom and a business.

Related

• The Texas Tribune
• Point of Order podcast with Evan Smith
• Engage at the Bush Center, presented by Highland Capital Management -- Understanding the Border: A Conversation on Life, Culture, and Commerce

Paul Ryan, the 54th Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, takes us behind the scenes of Capitol Hill and into the Speaker's Chair -- discussing leadership lessons, legislative accomplishments and disappointments, and finding common ground.

Related Resources

• American Idea Foundation
• The Catalyst -- State of the American Dream
• 2021 Forum on Leadership

Joseph Kim -- painted by President Bush in Out of Many, One: Portraits of America's Immigrants -- was born in North Korea, one of the least free places on earth. But unlike so many of his fellow North Koreans, he was able to escape the brutal dictatorship. Joseph shares with us the incredible hardships of life in North Korea, how he was able to escape to the U.S., and how he stays optimistic through it all.

Related

• Out of Many, One: Portraits of America's Immigrants by President George W. Bush
• Freedom in North Korea program at the George W. Bush Institute
• The Strategerist with Hannah Song, CEO of Liberty in North Korea

Dina Powell McCormick's immigrant journey began when her parents moved their family from Cairo, Egypt, to the United States when Dina was a child, hoping to ensure that their daughter would have opportunities that weren’t possible in their native country.  The sacrifices that came with moving to a new land paid off: Dina's journey took her to the White House, where she was a trusted advisor to President George W. Bush – who painted her for his latest project, Out of Many, One: Portraits of America’s Immigrants.

Related

• Out of Many, One
• Goldman Sachs sustainability and community engagement
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