Heart of the Nation

Heart of the Nation is a book about the golden thread of American democracy-volunteering-and how Presidents since the founding of our nation have worked to enlist more Americans to serve their neighbors and nation. In the process, the book shows how each individual can find his or her own service calling and, in the process, find his or her own happiness.

John Bridgeland is President & CEO of Civic Enterprises, a public policy firm in Washington, D.C. Bridgeland was recently appointed by President Obama to the White House Council for Community Solutions. Formerly, Bridgeland served as Director of the White House Domestic Policy Council in the first term of President George W. Bush and then as Assistant to the President of the United States and first Director of the USA Freedom Corps, where he coordinated policy on international, national, community and faith-based service in the aftermath of 9/11. Bridgeland also was a co-convener of ServiceNation, a Presidential forum with Senators John McCain and Barack Obama on September 11, 2008, and a national summit that showcased a comprehensive plan to increase community, national and international service opportunities. For his work in promoting the national service agenda, Bridgeland was selected a NonProfit Times Executive of the Year. He lives with his wife, Maureen, and their three children, Caily, Fallon and Regis in McLean, Virginia.