The spring meeting of the Advisors, on April 11-12, 2024, at the Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture at the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, brought together 35 Advisors. Our focus was “Exploring a Dense Network of the Institutions and Sectors of a Vibrant Moral Ecology.” Our packed agenda was kicked off by introductions from Ryan Olson, Angel Adams Parham, and James Davison Hunter. Drawing on the incredible expertise in the room, we heard presentations from Advisors, with responses and discussion from other Advisors, that were organized by sectors: higher education, youth formation, politics, faith, business, and civic organizations.

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Our proceedings were captured by an illustrator whose real-time work was the source of endless fascination and the catalyst of many side conversations. An after-dinner speech by Advisor Dan Porterfield, CEO of the Aspen Institute, previewed his book on formation in higher education. Interest in a breakfast conversation between Christine Emba of The Atlantic and James Davison Hunter about his new book overcame our grogginess from the very early convening time.

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We concluded by acknowledging that we had much more to discuss together. Several collaborations were proposed, a few of which have begun to take institutional forms. There was consensus that the Advisors should meet again to pursue common goals.