July 2015 kicked off the inaugural year of POLIS: The Center for Political Leadership, Innovation, and Service. Typical of a start-up, we spent much of our time building a foundation for future success: hiring staff, refining a vision, creating a brand identity, establishing relationships with potential partner organizations, generating buzz among students and colleagues, and, of course, raising money. Atypical of a first-year program, we hit the ground running, sponsoring or co-sponsoring 26 events; launching 3 experiential learning programs; engaging 67 alumni in programs, meetings, and events; and bringing together 51 state leaders for two significant and ongoing North Carolina-focused projects.
We are proud of what POLIS has been able to accomplish in such a short time, but we are even more excited about what is ahead. If this political season has demonstrated anything, it is that the twin missions of POLIS—to seek solutions to the problems that plague our politics and to develop the next generation of political leaders—could not be more critically needed.
Frederick “Fritz” Mayer
Please see the full report:POLIS End of Year Report 2015-16