Marshall Seminars

From October 9-11, more than 80 GMF alumni from across the United States and Europe convened in Detroit for the 2025 Marshall Seminar. Thanks to the generous partnership of Wendy Jackson and The Kresge Foundation, the seminar brought together Marshall Memorial Fellows, TLIN leaders, BUILD alumni, and APSA Congressional Fellows for three days of reflection, conversation, and community building.

The theme, Evolving an Enduring Transatlantic Partnership for the 21st Century, shaped conversations on democratic resilience, migration and belonging, youth leadership, and the pressures of a shifting global order. Through Marshall Sparks, panel discussions, and visits to Detroit’s LOVE Building, Michigan Central, NewLab, and other hubs of innovation, participants engaged with the city not just as a backdrop, but as a teacher; One whose story of reinvention and collaboration mirrors many of the challenges facing the transatlantic community.

Alumni speakers gave individual “Marshall Sparks”, demonstrating how societies build belonging, how the next generation can revive democratic trust, and how to confront complacency in fractured times. A common message emerged: this renewal begins locally through civic trust, community leadership, and relationships that bridge borders.

The seminar served as a homecoming to alumni who had long hoped for opportunities to gather in-person again, reaffirming the strength of GMF’s global network and its critical role in shaping a resilient, inclusive transatlantic future.

At the 2025 Marshall Seminar in Detroit, over 80 GMF Leadership Programs alumni from across the United States and Europe gathered to explore what it will take to strengthen the transatlantic partnership for the next generation.

Through candid dialogue and collaborative problem-solving, the 2025 Marshall Seminar participants identified five core ideas to renew democracy, belonging, and leadership for the 21st century.

At a glance:

1. Move Beyond Complacency to Rebuild a Shared Vision 

   Alumni emphasized that post–Cold War optimism led to a false sense of security about democracy’s endurance. Renewing the partnership requires teaching democratic values, strengthening civic networks, and building a forward-looking strategy to confront today’s geopolitical challenges.

    

2. Treat Migration as a Systemic Opportunity

   Rather than viewing migration as a crisis, participants reframed it as a catalyst for redesigning systems around belonging. Speakers underscored that immigrant leadership is essential to democratic renewal and that pragmatic pathways for labor, representation, and civic inclusion are central to resilient societies.

    

3. Learn From the Midwest’s Model of Transformation 

   Detroit, along with other heartland cities like Cleveland and Chicago, demonstrated how place-based renewal emerges through honest assessment, public-private partnerships, cultural investment, and networked collaboration. These cities offered a blueprint for how local actors can drive democratic resilience and inclusive growth.

    

4. Build a Faster, More Inclusive Transatlantic Economy 

   To remain competitive, the transatlantic community must make decisions with greater speed and align strategies across markets. Participants stressed the importance of innovation, people-centered investment, and coordinated responses to disinformation, protectionism, and economic fragmentation.

    

5. Activate the GMF Network Through Ground-Up Engagement

   Alumni highlighted the power of GMF’s 4,000-strong network to drive change locally. Strengthening ties with cities, community organizations, and civic actors—and turning connections into collective action—will be essential to renewing the transatlantic relationship in an era of democratic stress.

    

Read the full 2025 Marshall Seminar read out here.

The Marshall Seminars bring together leaders from across GMF’s transatlantic network for in-depth dialogue, collaborative problem-solving, and fresh perspectives on global and local challenges. 

Why Sponsor the Marshall Seminar?

• Align your brand with influential leaders in public policy and business.
• Engage with a network of midcareer professionals and civic innovators.
• Gain visibility and thought leadership opportunities through speaking roles and co-hosted sessions
• Gain thought leadership opportunities and participate in speaking roles.
• Access insights on AI governance, trade policy, and sustainability.

Sponsorship levels are available. For more details, view our one-pager or contact us at [email protected] to discuss a tailor-made partnership.