Atlas hosted about 40 guests for a happy hour and panel, “New Think Tank Trends in the U.S.” Matt Warner, Atlas’s Vice President for Programs and Communications, moderated a discussion with Christie Herrera, Jonathan Bydlak, and Kathleen O’Hearn. Visit our flickr page to see pictures from the event.
Christie Herrera, Vice President of Policy at the Foundation for Government Accountability, spoke about her think tank’s new model of offering turnkey policy solutions for legislative champions and partnering with local state-based think tanks to achieve real results, like standing strong against Medicaid expansion. Jonathan Bydlak, President of the Institute to Reduce Spending, discussed the strategies he implemented in the early stages of starting a think tank and what sort of challenges young organizations may encounter. Kathleen O’Hearn, Director of Coalitions at the State Policy Network, expressed optimism for the positive impact that state-level think tanks can have on individuals’ lives and shared that there is a need for better descriptions of how policy can affect real people.
The International Education Forum, co-hosted by Atlas and the Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice, highlighted the latest market-based reform victories from Indiana to India with keynote Dr. James Tooley of Newcastle University whose seminal work documenting low-cost private schools throughout the developing world has reframed the education reform debate. During his remarks, Tooley explained that after decades of studying education around the globe — from Africa to Asia and beyond, he can find no justification for government’s role in it, and asked education reformers in the audience to stretch the horizon of possibilities in their work.
Indiana Governor Mike Pence, on the heels of a state Supreme Court ruling in favor of school choice, called the decision “the end of the constitutional debate [over school choice] in Indiana.” He honored Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice for its unequaled role in fighting for educational options in the state. The Governor signaled his continuing commitment to reform, promising Indiana would stay in the forefront of educational choice.
Peter Cowley of Fraser Institute in Canada demonstrated the impact transparency and accountability can have on school systems, and Baishali Bomjan from the Centre for Civil Society in India gave an update on the landmark legislation her organization’s research helped to create. Bomjan explained the ongoing vigilance required to monitor what could become the largest school voucher program in the world.
The event also covered issues in higher education with local commissioner Teresa Lubbers and author George Leef who cited government interference as the biggest culprit causing rising costs and declining productivity on college campuses. Gonzalo Melian explained the success of the online university he runs in Spain, OMMA, teaching market economics to graduate students at low costs.
Dr. Tom G. Palmer recently spoke at Kennesaw State University about his newest book, After the Welfare State. He is continually touring campuses, reaching thousands of students with messages of free enterprise, individual freedom and responsibility, and limited government. To date, around 175,000 copies of After the Welfare State have made their way into the hands of students across the country and the book has been translated into many different languages.
On March 12, Atlas and the America’s Future Foundation co-hosted an intimate lunch for about 15 young professionals at Atlas Headquarters. Atlas President Alex Chafuen spoke about the importance of networking and how relationships are the key to advancing your career and your organization.
The Atlas Network hosted 60 guests at Atlas Headquarters for a happy hour and panel discussion on the future of economic freedom in Latin America on February 27. The panel consisted of three think tank leaders from the region as well as James Roberts, the Research Fellow for Economic Freedom and Growth at the Heritage Foundation who provided his expertise on the economic state of Latin America. Angel Soto (Chile), Sergio Daga (Bolivia), and Armando Regil (Mexico) spoke on their institutes’ progress and challenges in creating social or policy change in their countries with respect to current politics and each speaker also had the opportunity to pitch current projects and initiatives that their institutes are undertaking to advance liberty.
To view pictures from the event, visit our Flickr page.
Atlas is cosponsored a forum and dinner with e21 and the Anglosphere Society on Tuesday, December 11, to discuss the question, “Can the American Economy Rebound?” The event brought together policy leaders, think tank experts, investors, and key figures in Congress. Ambassador Boyden Gray moderated a panel on the economic repercussions of the 2012 elections, and Atlas CEO Brad Lips will served as emcee at the dinner. Featured speakers included Stanford Professor John Taylor, FreedomWorks CEO Matt Kibbe, Atlas Senior Fellow Judy Shelton, President of Encima Global LLC David Malpass, and Congressmen John Campbell, Peter King, and Ed Royce. To see the keynote address, please click here.
Thanks to the Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice, Atlas hosted a youth speech competition to honor the late Milton Friedman on the 100th anniversary of his birth. The event featured emerging leaders in the freedom movement from around Washington, D.C., as well as video contributions from Atlas’s partners worldwide. Pictures from this event can be found here.
The Atlas Network hosted Robin Sitoula, Executive Director of the Samriddhi Foundation in Nepal, as the speaker at our June Liberty Cafe. He spoke on the current political crisis in Nepal and its significant threat to democracy and freedom. Robin has been working to spread market-based policy solutions and the ideas of freedom since 2003, and shared his vast experience working throughout South Asia. Samriddhi, the Prosperity Foundation, envisions a free and prosperous Nepal where individuals can live a dignified life in a vibrant and democratic society with equal access to opportunities and respect for the rule of law.
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