We hope you enjoy these news stories about TFAS activities, alumni and events this week. Sign up to receive TFAS updates, and visit us on social media for additional up-to-the-moment TFAS news!
Jacek Spendel on Defending Freedom – Liberty + Leadership Podcast
In 2005 as a student at the University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland, Jacek Spendel became involved in the KoLiber association, a Polish nonpartisan youth group dedicated to classical liberal ideas, free-market economics, and traditional values. In the years since, Jacek has gone on to open his own pizza restaurant to better understand the entrepreneurial experience and started “Project Arizona” to bring European students and young professionals (including many TFAS alumni) to Arizona to teach them how to be better leaders for freedom within their own countries. He was recently named president of Liberty International, a nonprofit organization committed to advancing world liberty through international education and networking.
In this week’s episode of the Liberty and Leadership Podcast, Roger Ream sits down with Jacek to discuss his journey in the liberty movement and the impact of his experiences with TFAS. Jacek shares his early involvement with the KoLiber association in Poland, and how attending a Language of Liberty program in Slovakia in 2007 inspired him to organize similar events in multiple countries. He also delves into his time in Washington, D.C. with TFAS’s Capital Semester program and how it influenced his decision to found the nonprofit Freedom and Entrepreneurship Foundation. Jacek and Roger discuss his work and founding of Project Arizona, a program that brings international students and young professionals to Arizona to learn about leadership and freedom, and his current role as president of Liberty International. They also discuss the state of freedom in Poland, and how Spendel’s work and experiences have contributed to the liberty movement in his home country.
On Air: TFAS Outreach Fellow Jorge Galicia
TFAS Outreach Fellow Jorge Galicia continues traveling the U.S. to connect with students. He warns them of the creeping socialist tendencies in the U.S., while sharing the harsh realities of life in Venezuela. In addition to in person events Jorge is a frequent guest on radio and podcast shows, spreading his messages to thousands of listeners across the U.S.
On Jan 13, Jorge appeared as a special guest on The Rob Carson Show. Host Rob Carson interviewed Jorge about the noticeable shift towards socialism here in the states. Jorge’s segment begins at the 19:39 time mark.
This week, Jorge spoke with Cheryl Chumley, Novak ’08, on her Bold and Blunt Podcast with the Washington Times. The two discuss Jorge’s activism for democracy, why is passionate about spreading the message of liberty, and the history of socialism in Venezuela. His segment begins around the 11:53 time mark and continues to the end of the episode.
TFAS Faculty, Alumni, Supporters in the News
Jack Butler, Novak 22, writes about the “Speaker drama” in the Ohio State House for The Wall Street Journal.
TFAS Senior Scholar, Dr. Donald J. Boudreaux writes “Individuals, Not Governments, Have a Comparative Advantage at Improving Comparative Advantages” for the American Institute for Economic Research.
Haley Britzky ’16 write an article for CNN about how a quarter of U.S. service members have been food insecure.
Cynthia Salarizadeh ’11 wrote about female representation in the cannabis industry in an article for Newsweek.
John Hirschauer, Novak ’22, wrote an article for The American Conservative about how Benedict XVI was willing to give his entire life to Jesus unlike most men.
Lauren Crawford Shaver ’04 started a new position as senior managing director and the head of healthcare & life sciences for the Americas at FTI Consulting.
Jennifer Harthan ’18 started a new position as a senior associate for the Congressional Program at The Aspen Institute.
Josh Sorbe ’18 started a new position as press secretary for the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee with Chairman Dick Durbin.
Olly Wiseman, Novak ’21, wrote an article for Politico about how long Kevin McCarthy may be able to hold on to being Speaker.
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