Founding Forward

In our recent thought leadership piece, Joseph Loconte, PhD, a Senior Fellow of Founding Forward, a Presidential Scholar at New College of Florida, and the C.S. Lewis Scholar for Public Life at Grove City College, reflects on Abraham Lincoln’s Thanksgiving Day proclamation and encourages us to see Thanksgiving as both a time of thanks and remembering. It is a time, he says, to remember that “America’s defense of a set of moral and political ideals—the concepts of natural rights, human freedom, equality, the rule of law, government by consent of the governed—has made possible the most just, generous, creative, and dynamic political society in the history of the world.” Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/gtiMbi3H

Our 2025 Spirit of America Youth Leadership Programs for high school students are now accepting applications!! These four-day programs will run from February through July with multiple sessions each month. Students in grades 9-12 are encouraged to apply so they can participate in a fun, immersive civic education experience at our historic Valley Forge campus. Students experience mock congressional debates, participate in a free enterprise challenge, and visit historic sites while developing critical thinking and leadership skills. Participants leave with a better understanding of how they can contribute to society in the future, as well as new, lasting friendships with peers across the country. Apply today: https://lnkd.in/gwKDs_dq #CivicEducation #HighSchool #LeadershipSkills

Thank you to all the educators who stopped by our booth at the National Council for the Social Studies in Boston! We were thrilled to meet new teachers, see many of our friends from across the country, and share our exciting lineup of professional development opportunities for teachers, student programs, and the community. A friendly reminder that applications for our 2025 teacher programs will open on December 13 for Joshua Chamberlain League members. The applications will then open to the public on January 1. To receive a reminder on when applications open, visit https://lnkd.in/eyVJskC7. To learn more about our opportunities for teachers, including our week-long seminars, travel workshops, and weekend summits, visit https://lnkd.in/e7ws2K4T. Georgette Hackman Jason Raia Deepak Bhagat #teachers #civiceducation #professionaldevelopment #socialstudies #history

Join us tonight at The Union League of Philadelphia to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the birth of Winston Churchill. Our Speaker Program guest is historian and Churchill scholar Sir David Cannadine. Meet Sir David during our reception at 6 pm, followed by the program at 6:30. Registration is required, so reserve your spot now: https://lnkd.in/eBuRz9An #WinstonChurchill #20thCenturyHistory

On this date in 1917, The Union League of Philadelphia dedicated the Lincoln Memorial Room in the 15th Street addition as a space to honor the League’s guiding spirit, President Abraham Lincoln. It remains one of the most iconic spaces in the League House – and a highlight on all Founding Forward history tours. The Union League was founded to support Abraham Lincoln’s policies during the Civil War, making the Lincoln Memorial Room one of the most iconic and meaningful spaces in the League House – and a highlight on all Founding Forward history tours. As part of our educational mission, we steward the League House, as well as its archives and collections, including commissioned portraits of America’s leaders. It’s also where we curate our collections. #CivicEducation #History #AbrahamLincoln #UnionLeague

Make plans to join us in person at the Union League of Philadelphia for our Speaker Program: Churchill’s 150th with Sir David Cannadine. This month marks the 150th anniversary of Churchill’s birth, and award-winning historian Sir David Cannadine will discuss one of the greatest 20th-century statesmen. Registration is required to attend this event: https://lnkd.in/eBuRz9An #WinstonChurchill #20thCenturyHistory

There’s no way we were going to miss being among thousands of educators at the 104th annual National Council for the Social Studies conference. We’re looking forward to soaking up the energy and inspiration. We’ll also be in the exhibitor's hall. Come visit us at booth #821 – we’d love to meet and let you know what we have planned for our 2025 in-person professional development programs! #SocialStudies #CivicEducaton

We’re thrilled to announce both a new dimension to our graduate teacher professional development programs as well as a timely collaboration with The Jack Miller Center’s Founding Civics Initiative. Along with our week-long residency programs and traveling workshops, we’re launching weekend summits – a great opportunity for educators who may not be able to commit to a longer program. For 2025, we’ll delve into the Declaration of Independence just in time for its 250th anniversary in 2026. And you don’t have to wait until summer for this immersive experience – our first session is January 17-19, 2025, and registration is open! https://lnkd.in/eYshMuih #DeclarationOfIndependence #ProfessonalDevelopment

It’s time to honor holiday traditions, and we invite you to be part of our own very special Wreaths Across the Grove event. On December 14, the FRIENDS OF THE MEDAL OF HONOR GROVE and Founding Forward will honor our fallen heroes and pay tribute to the 3,500+ Medal of Honor Recipients recognized on our 45-acre Medal of Honor Grove. We’ll host a short program followed by a wreath-laying ceremony and reception. Wreath sponsorships are available for $25. Please visit our calendar of events to register: https://lnkd.in/eQ2JKiTA #WreathsAcrossAmerica #MedalOfHonorGrove

Join The FRIENDS OF THE MEDAL OF HONOR GROVE and Founding Forward on Saturday, December 14, for National Wreaths Across America Day. We’ll host Wreaths Across the Grove on our Valley Forge campus to honor the fallen, including the 3,500+ Medal of Honor recipients recognized on our 45-acre Medal of Honor Grove. We’ll host a short program followed by a wreath-laying ceremony and reception. Wreath sponsorships are available for $25. Please visit our calendar of events to register: https://lnkd.in/eQ2JKiTA #WreathsAcrossAmerica #WreathsAcrosstheGrove #MedalofHonor #ValleyForge