Sorensen Staff

In its Sunday editorial today, the Roanoke Times presented a thoughtful look at the work and mission of the Sorensen Instiute.

If a new generation of politicians does not get caught up in today's zero-sum politics, the General Assembly might dare to set aside rigid ideology and deal pragmatically with the challenges ahead.

Click here to read the full story.

In an email to members of the Sorensen Institute's State and Regional Boards this afternoon, Executive Director Bob Gibson announced that Marc Johnson would be leaving the Sorensen staff.

Marc will be joining the Tayloe Murphy Center—Virginia at the Darden Graduate School of Business at UVA, where he will serve as the Associate Director.  The Tayloe Murphy Center aims to help reshape disadvantaged communities within the Commonwealth into economically competitive communities. Marc will join other Center staff in reaching out to select communities within the Commonwealth of Virginia. Targeted communities will be defined by sluggish growth and overall economic distress. They will be communities marked by disadvantage, but which, with Tayloe Murphy Center support — education, leadership, alliances and resources — will be encouraged to reach towards reinvention.

"Marc's enthusiasm and commitment to Sorensen will be greatly missed by all of us," Gibson said. "Since he came to Sorensen in 2004 as an alumnus (CLP 2003) and the new manager of the College Leaders Program, he has helped teach and inspire literally hundreds of Sorensen graduates in pursuit of the institute's mission of improving political leadership and strengthening the quality of governance at all levels. As Assistant Director and Director of Programs the past several years, he has been a great help in building and strengthening all of Sorensen's programs."

"We all wish Marc the best as he pursues new opportunities helping direct the Tayloe Murphy Center's mission of helping distressed Virginia communities. I am delighted that he stays close by at the University in his new career endeavor and expect great things from him as he works to help stressed communities reinvent themselves."

Johnson said he has been "deeply honored to work at the Sorensen Institute for the past six years. It is an institution whose ideals and mission are compelling and easily inspire passion.  To have been part of pursuing that mission alongside Sorensen's staff, program participants, fellow alumni, and board members has been a true delight and inspiration.  As I move on to new challenges, I know that what I have learned from the people associated with Sorensen will be the foundation for my future work.  As an alumnus, I will certainly never be a stranger to the Sorensen Institute, and I look forward to supporting the organization in new ways as I leave the staff."

The Sorensen Institute's Bob Gibson and Coy Barefoot participated in a panel discussion recently in Charlottesville exploring civility in public debate and discourse. The event was sponsored by the Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression and titled "Free Speech or Disruption: Balancing the Rights to Speak and Hear."

Panelists included Bob Gibson, Executive Director of the Sorensen Institute; Elaine Jones, retired Director-Counsel for the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and the first African-American woman to graduate from the UVa School of Law; Robert O'Neil, Director of the Thomas Jefferson Center and former President of the University of Virginia; Dahlia Lithwick, Senior Editor for Slate.com and a Contributing Editor to Newsweek; and John Whitehead, CEO and Founder of the Rutherford Institute. Coy Barefoot served as the moderator.

This was a fascinating conversation that explored from many angles the role of civility in public discourse today. Click here to watch a complete video of the event.

The University of Virginia's Cavalier Daily has a story in today's issue about the successes of Sorensen graduates in the recent elections. The article includes interviews with Bob Gibon and James Brown (CTP Spring 09), who was elected Sheriff in Charlottesville last week.

Click here for the article.

Sorensen's Bob Gibson was a guest on WAMU's Kojo Nnamdi Show yesterday discussing the results of Election 2009. Click here or photo above for video and audio.