2025 Events
Champions of Collaboration Awards
The inaugural Champions of Collaboration Awards brought together community members and civic leaders for an evening of conversation, reflection, and storytelling. The event honored Lieutenant Governor Denny Heck for his leadership on the nonpartisan Project for Civic Health, which promotes trust, dialogue, and democracy across the state. The event also honored participants of the Washington Collaborative Elected Leaders Institute (WA-CELI), a group of elected officials who are committed to reducing polarization and enhancing civic engagement. Guests heard stories from across the state that highlighted collaboration and respect.
Watch the 2025 Champions of Collaboration Awards!
Earlier Events
2024: Roelf Meyer & Mohammed Bhabha
The 2024 Ruckelshaus Circle Celebration featured a conversation with Roelf Meyer and Mohammed Bhabha, noted peace activists who helped negotiate the end of apartheid in South Africa. In a conversation moderated by Julia Carboni, the Center’s Executive Director, Roelf and Mohammed spoke about overcoming polarization and upholding democracy.
Watch the conversation with Roelf and Mohammed!
2023: Valerie Jarrett
The 2023 Ruckelshaus Circle Luncheon featured a conversation with Valerie Jarrett, CEO of the Barack Obama Foundation. As the longest-standing senior advisor to President Barack Obama, Jarrett oversaw the Office of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs. In a conversation moderated by Michael Parham, General Counsel for RealNetworks, Jarrett discussed her past, present, and future work in public service.
Watch the 2023 Ruckelshaus Circle Luncheon!
Fall 2022: Timothy Egan & Shaylyn Romney Garrett
The 12th Annual Ruckelshaus Circle Luncheon featured an engaging conversation with Timothy Egan and Shaylyn Romney Garrett. In a discussion moderated by Jodi Sandfort, Dean of the University of Washington Evans School of Public Policy and Governance, the two authors shared how Americans can unite to overcome political polarization.
Watch the Fall 2022 Ruckelshaus Circle Luncheon!
Spring 2022: Mark Gerzon & Ben Rekhi
The 11th Annual Ruckelshaus Circle Luncheon featured Mark Gerzon and Ben Rekhi of The Reunited States. Based on Gerzon’s book, The Reunited States is a powerful documentary that follows everyday heroes working to bridge political and racial divides. In a virtual conversation with Michael Kern, former Director of the Ruckelshaus Center, Gerzon and Rekhi discussed how Americans can collaborate to find mutual solutions to public policy problems.
Learn more about The Reunited States!
2020: Lisa Jackson & William Reilly
Over 550 people attended the 10th Annual Ruckelshaus Circle Luncheon. The Luncheon celebrated Bill Ruckelshaus and commemorated the 50th anniversary of the Environmental Protection Agency. The Luncheon also featured former EPA Administrators Lisa Jackson and William Reilly, who spoke about past, present, and future environmental protection.
Watch the 2020 Ruckelshaus Circle Luncheon!
2019: Robert Siegel
The 9th Annual Ruckelshaus Circle Luncheon was attended by over 400 people. The Luncheon celebrated Bill Ruckelshaus and his service to the Center. The Luncheon also featured a conversation with Robert Siegel, the former, award-winning host of All Things Considered. Siegel spoke about the importance of media in an effective democracy.
Watch the 2019 Ruckelshaus Circle Luncheon and the video highlighting Bill’s career.
2018: Carolyn Lukensmeyer
The 2018 Ruckelshaus Circle Luncheon featured a remarkable conversation with Carolyn Lukensmeyer, the Executive Director of the National Institute for Civil Discourse. In a discussion with former US Representatives Mickey Edwards and Dan Glickman, Carolyn shared trends in public dialogue and efforts to revive civility.
Watch the 2018 Ruckelshaus Circle Luncheon!
2017: US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
Over 500 people attended the 7th Annual Ruckelshaus Circle Luncheon, which featured former US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Now serving as the Director of the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, Rice works to advance ideas that promote economic prosperity and political freedom. In an engaging conversation with Bill Ruckelshaus, she discussed the future of democracy in the United States.
Watch the 2017 Ruckelshaus Circle Luncheon!
2016: David Domke
The 6th Annual Ruckelshaus Circle Luncheon was attended by over 300 community leaders. The Luncheon featured nationally-recognized speaker and policy analyst David Domke. In his presentation, Domke discussed the 2016 election and compared contemporary social movements to those in the most defining eras of our nation’s history.
Watch the 2016 Ruckelshaus Circle Luncheon!
2015: US Senators Tom Daschle & Trent Lott
The 2015 Ruckelshaus Circle Luncheon featured former US Senate Majority Leaders Tom Daschle (D-SD) and Trent Lott (R-MS). Daschle and Lott previously served as Co-Chairs of the Bipartisan Policy Center’s Commission on Political Reform, where they worked to improve the legislative process and reduce political polarization. In a refreshing conversation with Bill Ruckelshaus, Daschle and Lott spoke about strengthening democracy and overcoming gridlock.
Watch the 2015 Ruckelshaus Circle Luncheon!
2014: Prime Minister Tony Blair
The 2014 Ruckelshaus Circle Luncheon featured former Prime Minister Tony Blair. After leaving office in 2007, Blair founded the Institute for Global Change, where he helps leaders translate ideas into meaningful actions. In a conversation with Bill Ruckelshaus, Blair discussed the challenges and opportunities that come with global leadership.
Watch the 2014 Ruckelshaus Circle Luncheon!
2013: US Senator Alan Simpson
The 2013 Ruckelshaus Circle Luncheon featured former US Senator Alan Simpson, a trusted bipartisan leader who previously chaired the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform. In a conversation with Bill Ruckelshaus, Simpson provided candid views on politics, the economy, and the tough choices required of American leaders.
Watch the 2013 Ruckelshaus Circle Luncheon!
2012: Ronald Brownstein
The 2012 Ruckelshaus Circle Luncheon featured Ronald Brownstein, author of The Second Civil War: How Extreme Partisanship has Paralyzed Washington and Polarized America. Brownstein formerly served as a senior political analyst at CNN and a senior editor at The Atlantic. Over 100 people attended to hear Brownstein’s remarks.
2011: Douglas Brinkley
The inaugural Ruckelshaus Circle Luncheon featured renowned historian Douglas Brinkley. In 2011, Brinkley interviewed Bill Ruckelshaus to create an oral history outlining his remarkable contributions to public service and collaborative public policy. Watch Brinkley’s oral histories to learn more about Bill’s life and leadership:
William D. Ruckelshaus History: Part I
William D. Ruckelshaus History: Part II