Future Caucus

In November 2024, Future Caucus hosted our annual Futures Thinking Forum and Rising Star Awards, inviting young lawmakers from across the country for two days of in-depth policy training and an evening of celebration. Less than six months later, those eventful two days in November have led to a new bill being heard in the West Virginia Senate. Senator Laura Wakim-Chapman (R-WV), a 2025-2026 Prenatal-to-Three Innovation Fellow, is sponsoring Senate Bill 817 which would prevent abuse of minors in West Virginia's residential treatment programs. She first heard about the need for legislation like hers after meeting with Paris Hilton's 11:11 Media Impact team during Future's Thinking Forum. Paris Hilton, who we named as one of our 2024 Generational Changemakers during our Rising Star Awards, has given her support for the bill. In a letter to the Senate Committee on Health and Human Resources, Paris wrote, “West Virginia has the chance to lead by example and set a higher standard of care and safety for vulnerable youth." We’re incredibly proud to see the connections made at our Futures Thinking Forum lead to real legislative impact. It’s inspiring to witness leaders like Senator Wakim-Chapman and advocates like Paris Hilton come together to champion meaningful change for vulnerable youth. Moments like these show how powerful collaboration can be in shaping a better future! You can learn more about Senate Bill 817 and the work being in West Virginia at the article below! ?? https://lnkd.in/ekHxSvZn

Did you know that in 2024 487 bills related to AI were introduced in the U.S.? It's a hot topic issue that has impacts on legislation across Elections, Education, Labor and Workforce, and Cybersecurity — to name a few. This week, the Indiana Future Caucus hosted a learning session with the Governance and Responsible AI Lab (GRAIL) at Purdue University to gain expert insights into the state of AI from its advancements to its concerns. Daniel S. Schiff, an Assistant Professor at Purdue, led the discussion providing an overview of current and forthcoming policies in the space, and resources for Future Caucus members interested in developing policies as well. Co-Chairs of the Indiana Future Caucus, Representative Beau Baird, IMM, EMBA, MLA (R-IN) and Representative Maureen B. (D-IN), brought the idea of hosting an AI training session for their members to the Policy Innovation Lab and we were able to connect them with GRAIL at Purdue. We're glad we could fly out to Indianapolis to join our lawmakers for the training — it could not have happened without Rep. Baird and Rep. Bauer seeing the interest and need for better AI education for their members. We can't wait to see how this new knowledge impacts the work being done in Indiana!?

What if the key to fixing our broken politics isn’t just electing the right leaders — but helping them thrive once they’re in office? In her TEDxJacksonville Talk, released today,?Future Caucus President and CEO Layla Zaidane answers this question, exploring the barriers young leaders face and what is possible once those barriers are removed. Watch the full Talk to hear Layla’s human-centered approach to strengthening democracy and her vision for healthier politics — one being lived out by Gen Z and millennial lawmakers across the country.??? https://lnkd.in/g9sFNHei

What an honor to be named to the inaugural #curious100 list! Curiosity in governing isn't a luxury, it's a necessity. The leaders who approach new ideas with open minds are often the ones who make the biggest impact. It's a privilege to get to cultivate this attitude among a rising generation of policymakers with Future Caucus, at a time when we need good leaders more than ever. To be on this list with others I admire so much (like Baratunde Thurston, Eunice Lin Nichols, Eric Liu, Rachel Peri?, john powell, and so many more!) is such a delight. Read more about the other honorees below, and get inspired. Thanks to ??Scott Shigeoka and the Eames Institute team for this recognition!

What happens when you connect the most promising, effective leaders of a generation? Future Summit 2025 — applications are officially open! For Gen Z and millennial lawmakers looking to connect with peers, strategize navigating an era of division, strengthen bipartisan solutions, and gain insights from top experts — Future Summit is the opportunity for you. It's where the nation's youngest leaders come together to chart the course of America’s future and ensure our best days are still ahead. Future Summit is more than a gathering — it’s a movement. Apply today and join us in Washington, D.C., June 25th-28th!? https://lnkd.in/eMdUY6_H

We're excited to share that our President & CEO, Layla Zaidane, has been nominated for the inaugural #Curious100 list by the Eames Institute. Her leadership is driving a new era of collaboration and civic innovation, and we're honored to see her included amongst such a strong group of curious problem-solvers and reformers. You can learn more about the #Curious100 and see the full list at the link below!? https://lnkd.in/dtEp5nGk

We’re excited to announce that we’ve been selected as a New Profit Build grantee!? Over the next four years, we will receive funding and work towards driving systems change that expands access and opportunity in America. Learn more about the cohort: https://lnkd.in/gQSqYwYC #socialimpact #nonprofitfunding #philanthropy #socialchange

It was great working together with Future Caucus, Philips, Jennifer Luo Law to introduce state lawmakers to how healthcare technology has evolved to improve maternal health outcomes. Thanks to Aaron Pilkington, MHA to bringing these concepts home to Arkansas to lead and pass meaningful maternal health legislation that will make a difference. Thanks Manny Heer for your support here as well!

“There’s real power in walking a mile in someone else’s shoes." - Senator L?ki Gale Tobin, MA (D-AK) Senator L?ki Tobin never planned on running for office. However, when the incumbent for Anchorage’s downtown district invited her to join his team, she discovered a passion for education policy, bipartisan collaboration, and cross-party dialogue. When he chose not to seek reelection, he encouraged Tobin to run — and within ten minutes, she made it official. Two years later, she serves as the state senator for Senate District I. As a queer woman of color, she represents a community as diverse as her own life experiences, leading with empathy and a deep commitment to advocacy. For Sen. Tobin, bipartisanship isn’t just a political strategy — it’s a way of life in Alaska. “We strongly believe in Alaska that you have to work with one another and listen to people whose perspectives are different from your own,” Sen. Tobin told Future Caucus. “It is a value that is deeply entrenched in the folks who choose to make Alaska their home. It’s always Alaska first and everything else second.” You can learn more about Sen. Tobin and the experiences that inspired her to lead with empathy in our Young Lawmakers' Storybank! Link to the full story below! ?? https://lnkd.in/e44aTwak

Leadership lessons don’t end when the program does. A few months ago, we had the privilege of working with Future Caucus at the George Washington Leadership Institute, exploring how Washington’s leadership principles apply to today’s challenges. We love seeing organizations invest in leadership development, and we look forward to welcoming more groups in the future! If your team is interested in exploring leadership training with us, reach out to learn more.?https://lnkd.in/ek4rZJxy