Founder & Vice Chair, America's Promise
- "Any definition of a successful life must include serving others." -- George H.W. Bush
- The president needs to be a national leader, not just a federal leader (e.g. lead the Cabinet and nation to making national service a personal priority; e.g. recognize a Point of Light daily to lend political capital to people doing good in the communities).
- Start with small cells to change people's lives, and eventually with enough people, the movement will push upwards.
Shirley Sagawa
Co-Founder, Sagawa/Jospin
- The National and Community Service Act idea became legislation in record time; national service gets bipartisan support.
- Book pitch: Common Interest, Common Good: Creating Value Through Business and Social Sector Partnerships.
Robert Gordon
Senior Vice President for Civic Leadership, City Year
- Current-day politics is so toxic and bipartisan because there is no (military) service bonding the baby boomers.
- Hold enemies close (e.g. win the military over when promoting national service).
- Build social capital. (e.g. How would the Iraq war be different if we had more social capital?)
- Presidents have great ideas and can lend political capital, but they need executers.
