Our Mission
For more than a decade, Center Forward has been bringing policymakers, business and thought leaders, and administration officials from all sides of the political spectrum together to engage in honest and thoughtful dialogue about the most significant challenges facing our nation. For too long, the disconnect between what the American people expect of their government and the way political leaders approach these challenges has grown. Our goal is to bridge that gap. Rather than conceding that we live in a partisan society where elected officials simply retreat to their partisan corners, Center Forward creates an environment where the open sharing of ideas leads to better outcomes and better policy solutions.
“For the last several decades, we have seen the politics in our country deteriorate into a level of partisanship that is toxic, with the loudest and most extreme voices dominating public discourse. We founded Center Forward with a firm belief that the majority of the American people expect more of their elected leaders, and those leaders are capable of rising to the challenge. Since our founding in 2010, we have brought together Republicans and Democrats and have seen first-hand how breaking down those barriers can lead to positive change in how government operates. We will continue to work to be a positive force in Washington as policymakers address the issues that face Americans across the country.”
— Hon. Robert “Bud” Cramer, Chairman, Board of Directors
“Open and honest debate among those with divergent views on how to address the real challenges facing the country is the cornerstone of our democracy. Often times it is just a matter of facilitating dialogue among policymakers and leaders from across the political spectrum to move the country forward. Only by bringing the two sides together can we affect positive change that endures the test of time. Center Forward will continue to create an environment where an open discussion of the issues leads to better policy outcomes and a better future.”
— Cori Kramer, Chief Executive Officer
“Our mission to build consensus is woven into the fabric of our day-to-day operations. We work tirelessly to promote bipartisanship in Congress and create an environment where lawmakers from both sides of the aisle can come together to find common ground on the most pressing issues facing our nation with invested stakeholders. Despite the challenges of bringing together individuals with diverse perspectives and ideologies, we believe that collaboration is vital to the success of our democracy. Our team believes that consensus building is not just about finding agreement, but also about understanding different perspectives and working towards shared goals.”
— Riley Kilburg, Executive Director