Our newest fellow:

Friend, We are honored to welcome President Michael D. Higgins (Ireland 2011-2025) as a Fellow of the Sanders Institute. His strong and consistent voice has helped shape public discourse around civic responsibility, the arts, and what it means to live in a vibrant democratic society in his home country and around the world. President Higgins has inspired generations to pursue justice with compassion and imagination. His decades of leadership as a statesman, poet, and advocate for equality embody the very spirit of global dialogue and moral courage that drives our work. Would you give President Higgins a warm Sanders Institute welcome by signing our welcome card? During his presidency, President Higgins championed social inclusion, equality, environmental stewardship, and anti-racism. As Ireland's first Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht from 1993 to 1997, he helped revive the Irish film industry, expand access to local arts and cultural venues, and lead the restoration of Ireland's historic canal network — reopening more than 1,000 kilometres of waterways and supporting jobs across rural communities. A lifelong advocate for human rights, peace, and democracy, President Higgins has stood in solidarity with global movements in Nicaragua, Chile, Cambodia, Iraq, and Somalia. In 1992, he became the inaugural recipient of the Seán MacBride Peace Prize from the International Peace Bureau in recognition of his international work for peace and justice. This new fellowship formalizes a bridge between the Sanders Institute's progressive agenda and Ireland's rich tradition of cultural leadership and social justice activism. Sign President Higgins' welcome card! As a Distinguished Fellow of the Sanders Institute, President Higgins joins a respected network of thought leaders and changemakers from around the world who contribute to the Institute's mission through public dialogue, research, and collaborative policy development. Fellows serve as educators, writers, and advocates, advancing bold, progressive solutions to the economic, social, and environmental challenges of our time. You can see a full list of our fellows here. In solidarity, Jane O'Meara Sanders & Dave Driscoll The Sanders Institute DONATE Paid for by the Sanders Institute 131 Church St., Burlington, VT 05401 The Sanders Institute is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization.   Sent via ActionNetwork.org. To update your email address, change your name or address, or to stop receiving emails from The Sanders Institute, please click here.