Sorensen in the News

C-SPAN's coverage of the Sorensen Institute's 2008 Gala celebration at which we honored U.S. Senator John Warner is now available for viewing online.

Click here to visit the C-SPAN site and watch the Sorensen Gala. You can also purchase DVD copies of the Gala coverage directly from C-SPAN.

The Virginia General Assembly has honored the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership during this, the 15th anniversary of our founding. The Assembly passed a resolution praising the work of the Sorensen Institute and hailing it as the national model for bipartisan leadership training.

Delegates, alumni, and State Advisory Board members Jennifer McClellan and John Cosgrove presented a copy of the official resolution to State Board Chairman Barbara Fried (above) at our recent 2008 Gala.

We are proud that the resolution was co-patroned by every one of our sixteen alumni now serving in the Virginia General Assembly.

Click here to download an official copy of the resolution.

An editorial in today's edition of the Roanoke Times praises the work of the Sorensen Institute. Titled, Civil Politics Shouldn't be an Oxymoron, the editorial reads in part,

By bringing together those with differing ideologies into the same classes, the institute has helped future leaders see issues from multiple perspectives...Americans deserve substantive campaigns. They deserve candidates who debate ideas rather than tear down their opponents with misleading attacks and slimey tactics. Sorensen has been doing what it can. Perhaps this PBS documentary, which will air in Charlottesville and Richmond later in the month and, we hope, across the nation later, will broaden the institute's reach.

Click here to read the full editorial.

The new PBS documentary about the Sorensen Institute is currently being previewed to select audiences of alumni and friends across Virginia. The reaction thus far has been very positive. As one Sorensen graduate who saw the documentary observed: "Applause, laughter and tears at all the right moments! We thoroughly enjoyed it and left wanting more."

The documentary will premiere in Richmond and Charlottesville on Wednesday, May 28 at 8pm. Broadcast dates in other Virginia markets and around the country have yet to be announced.

Click here to read news about the documentary.

FLASH: We confirmed late this afternoon that C-SPAN cameras will be joining us at the Sorensen Institute's 2008 Gala in Northern Virginia tomorrow night (Friday evening, April 25). The entire program will be taped for national broadcast at a later time.

At this year's Gala we are thrilled to honor U.S. Senator John Warner, the Honorary Chairman of our State Advisory Board, for his service to the nation and Virginia. Speakers will include Governors Holton, Robb, Baliles, Kaine, and of course Senator Warner. Our State Advisory Board Chairman Barbara Fried will moderate the evening's program.

The guest list also includes Senator Jim Webb and Governors Wilder, Allen, Gilmore, and Warner—making this the largest gathering of Virginia governors in the state's history.

We will post here in the Newsroom select photos and video excerpts from the Gala in coming days.

And as soon as we know the C-SPAN broadcast date and time, we will let you know.

Check it out: the second of three commercials now running in Richmond and Charlottesville for "Across the Aisle."

"Across the Aisle," a PBS documentary about the Sorensen Institute's Political Leaders Program will see its broadcast premiere on Wednesday evening May 28 at 8pm. The 90-minute documentary follows the PLP Class of 2007 throughout the year. Here is one of three commercials now running in Richmond and Charlottesville promoting the documentary. (We will post the other two promos in coming days)

Beginning next week the Sorensen Institute will host a number of premiere parties across Virginia to celebrate the upcoming broadcast (on Wednesday May 28!) of the PBS documentary "Across the Aisle" about our Political Leaders Program. We will hold these premiere parties in Charlottesville, Richmond, Northern Virginia, and Hampton Roads.

Alumni, board members, and supporters of Sorensen have been invited to attend. Spouses and close friends are also invited— though seating is limited at each event so please RSVP as soon as possible to Amber Capron at (434) 982-5234 or capron@virginia.edu.

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Charlottesville: Co-Hosted with WHTJ-PBS
Thursday, May 1

Reception at 6:00 p.m.
Program at 7:00 p.m.

Auditorium of the Harrison Institute
Small Special Collections Library
University of Virginia

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Richmond: Co-Hosted with WHTJ-PBS
Friday, May 2

Reception at 6:00 p.m.
Program at 7:00 p.m.

The Library of Virginia Theater
800 East Broad Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219
(free underground parking available on site)

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Northern VA
Thursday, May 15

Dinner is available for purchase at 6:00 p.m.
Program at 7:00 p.m.

Arlington Cinema 'n' Drafthouse
2903 Columbia Pike
Arlington, Virginia

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Hampton Roads
Friday, May 16

Reception at 6:00 p.m.
Program at 7:00 p.m.

At the Rivers Room of the Webb Center
Old Dominion University in Norfolk

Cox Communications is now running this piece about the Sorensen Institute on its CNN Headline News channel through the Washington metro area. This segment includes an interview with Barbara Fried, Chairman of the State Advisory Board, and alumnus Sean Connaughton (PLP Fall 95), Director of the U.S. Maritime Agency.