Before joining The University of Texas faculty as a professor of journalism in 1983, Olasky worked as a reporter for the Bend, Oregon, Bulletin and for the Boston Globe, and as an executive speech writer and public affairs coordinator at the DuPont Co. He is also editor-in-chief of World magazine, the fourth most-read newsweekly in the United States, and a syndicated columnist. He is a senior fellow of the Wilberforce Forum and of the Action Institute, an elder at Redeemer Presbyterian Church, a board member of City School, and faculty adviser for Reformed University Fellowship. Olasky is the author of 14 books, including The Religions Next Door, Compassionate Conservatism, The American Leadership Tradition, and Central Ideas in the Development of American Journalism, along with 14 other monographs or co-authored books. He has published more than 800 articles on journalism, history, the fight against poverty, religion, sports and other matters. Copies of his book Standing for Christ in a Modern Babylon will be sold at the event.

Please click here for more details or to RSVP.

More about the Future Forum: The purpose of the Future Forum is to expand the involvement of young Texans with the LBJ Library and its programs by initiating dialogue about current issues and by providing educational and cultural information to its members. It is the ultimate goal of the Future Forum to foster greater civic involvement within our community.

If you would like to be added to the Film Cluster email list, or have a suggestion for a film, please email Taline Manassian. See you at the movies!

If you would like to be added to the Book Club list, please email Rob Crosnoe.

If you would like to help plan events for the Cultural Cluster , please email Cindy LaFrance or email the Future Forum.

Following the inspirational program on Sargent Shriver last month, we recognize The Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law as our "Doer & Builder" of the month.

We serve as a foundation for critical thinking, planning, and action for advocates working to achieve economic opportunity and social justice. We provide leadership in finding opportunities where others may not while also competitively and passionately working for a humane and realistic safety net for low-income people. Our goal is to help enable our clients live in dignity and benefit from laws and policies that assist them in their efforts to permanently escape poverty. The Shriver Center is at the core of the nation's antipoverty work, blending legal advocacy and expertise, communication, research, substantive and skill training, and strategic planning mechanisms. For more information, please visit www.povertylaw.org.

On April 19, Future Forum members joined members of the Friends of the LBJ Library at the Paramount Theatre for special evening with First Lady of California Maria Shriver. Ms. Shriver introduced American Idealist: The Story of Sargent Shriver, an inspiring new documentary about her father. The documentary highlights the life of an idealist who created and launched the Peace Corps and spearheaded Lyndon Johnson's War on Poverty. Shriver founded Head Start, Job Corps, VISTA, Legal Services for the Poor and together with his wife, Eunice, the Special Olympics. He later served as ambassador to France under Presidents Johnson and Nixon.

Sarge - The Life and Times of Sargent Shriver, a biography by Scott Stossel, is for sale in the LBJ Museum Store. Copies are autographed by Maria Shriver.

Please be sure you have renewed for the 2006-2007 season! You can Renew (or join) online now.
And, if you join now, we'll throw in the 2007-2008 season for free.

For more information on this exhibit and Library hours, please visit www.lbjlib.utexas.edu.

Also at the LBJ Library: "The Politics of Peace and the Consequences of War."

The conference will be held May 6-7, 2007. Please check out the web site for more information (and to register, if you intend to go to the conference): The Politics of Peace and the Consequences of War.

On Saturday, May 5, join Shoes for Austin for the annual 5K Fun Run and Walk. Each 5K entry fee provides new athletic shoes to motivate kids (and adults) to improve their grades, their nutrition, fitness, and their lives. For more information or to register, please visit Shoes for Austin online.

On Saturday, May 12, support the March of Dimes Walk America and specifically the "Ford's Hope" team. Walk begins at 10:30 a.m. at Auditorium Shores. For more information or to register on this team, please visit www.walkamerica.org/fordshope.

Thank you for your continued involvement in, and support of, the Future Forum.

Sincerely,