Summer 2016 · Issue 3
The Next Generation
As leadership shifts from baby boomers to the next generation of Americans, what does this say about the nation’s future? And what can we expect from the next generation here and abroad?
As leadership shifts from baby boomers to the next generation of Americans, what does this say about the nation’s future? And what can we expect from the next generation here and abroad?
In this issue
September Update
A New Generation of Problem Solvers
Mark McKinnon
The co-creator of Showtime’s The Circus explains the compelling narrative millennials can offer the country as they become leaders.
Millennials: Saving the World Also Means Running for Office
Mark Updegrove
Mark Updegrove, author, historian, and director of the LBJ Presidential Library, challenges millennials to run for office, just like young leaders of other generations stepped forward in their times.
Conversations
The Drivers of Change
Kristen Soltis Anderson
Young people have always set the fads of the day but they also introduce significant change to society. Kristen Soltis Anderson believes the next generation is about more than selfies: They’re not beholden to partisan lines and they expect data-driven and responsive government.
The Millennial Policymaker
Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.)
Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) is one of the first of the next generation of policymakers. And the 32-year-old proudly espouses millennial values: transparency, working across divisions, and accepting immediate feedback.
Creating a Pipeline of Young Leaders
Jon Daniels
As president and general manager of the Texas Rangers baseball team, Jon Daniels must assemble a roster that is not only physically gifted but also has enough leaders to carry the team through the mental rigors of the season.
Bringing Education to Every Child
Dionel Waters
The principal of Paul Dunbar Learning Center in Dallas, Dionel Waters describes how he is trying to turn around a school in an impoverished neighborhood. A millennial who grew up in poverty himself, he also discusses how the nation, including schools, can address the tension between law enforcement officials and people of color.
Essays
It’s a Millennial World Now: Twelve Things to Know
Paul Taylor
Author Paul Taylor, formerly of the Pew Research Center, looks past the headlines to focus on the hard data and numbers about millennials, revealing a complex but dynamic generation that will leave a large imprint on the world.
A Little Less Condemnation, A Little More Credit, Please
Brittney Bain
The generation that came of age on September 11, 2001 isn’t living on Facebook in a sheltered world. It’s carefully watching a divided country, poised to tackle partisan politics and divisive discourse head-on.
Rising Leaders Should Tackle Kitchen Table Issues
Holly Kuzmich, Holly Kuzmich
The discussion in this year’s election cycle is sorely lacking in an important ingredient: solution-oriented discussion of policies. How can we fix the divide and find optimism in the system?
Why Foreign Policy Should be a Millennial Priority
Phillip Lohaus
Polls show younger Americans are wary of U.S. intervention in overseas matters, preferring a focus on domestic policy. They need to hear why our role matters and why choosing between domestic and foreign priorities is a false choice.
Embracing a World of Possibilities
Lauren Aguirre
As a recent college graduate, Lauren Aguirre (SMU ’15) sees both challenges and opportunities for herself and her classmates. And while there is cause for worry, there is more cause for optimism that this generation is uniquely prepared for the world.
How Wazhma Furmuli is Challenging Conventional Thinking
Wazhma Furmuli
A millennial who now lives in New York City and maintains deep ties to Afghanistan, Wazhma’s story shows how a new generation is bringing fresh perspectives to some of the globe’s most difficult challenges.
The Journey to Freedom
Diana Mao
Impassioned members of the next generation are relentless in the quest to solve lingering social ills. Diana Mao has set forth to fight modern-day slavery, a little talked-about issue with startling numbers.
Next Generation Leaders on a Mission
The Bush Institute
Connected, undaunted by borders, and primed to address big needs, the next generation of organizational leaders aren’t driven by money. Instead, they’re driven by a deep desire to make the world a better place.