Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the U.S. Senate

#OnThisDay in 2015, the Institute first opened its doors to the public for everyone to experience democracy! 🇺🇸Thank you to the wonderful visitors, educators, and students who make our work meaningful year round.

Today’s the day. Join The Edward M. Kennedy Institute in welcoming @TracyPalandjian and @DM_Rubenstein TONIGHT for a timely conversation on investing in opportunity and what it will take to revitalize the American Dream. Register for tonight’s livestream: eventbrite.com/e/virtual-even…

Still time to register for the Stone Social Impact Forum. Limited seats available. Join us Monday, March 30 for a dynamic conversation on innovative investments in workforce, education, and wealth building with Social Finance CEO and Co-Founder @TracyPalandjian, moderated by @DM_Rubenstein, Co-Founder and Co-Chairman of The Carlyle Group. Register today: 📍 In-person: eventbrite.com/e/in-person-ev… 🌐 Virtual: eventbrite.com/e/virtual-even…

Less than two weeks until our Stone Social Impact Forum! Join us Monday, March 30 for a dynamic conversation on innovative investments in workforce, education, and wealth building with Social Finance CEO and Co-Founder @TracyPalandjian, moderated by David M. Rubenstein, Co-Founder and Co-Chairman of The Carlyle Group. Register at: 📍 In-person: eventbrite.com/e/in-person-ev… 🌐 Virtual: eventbrite.com/e/virtual-even…

This week in honor of #BlackHistoryMonth, we remember Robert Smalls for his incredible legacy and work as state legislator and congressman. Born 1839 into slavery in Beaufort, South Carolina, Smalls was forced to serve on an ammunition transport ship by the Confederate army during the Civil War. Smalls and other enslaved crew members made a successful escape from enslavement in May 1862, handing over the ship to the U.S. Navy. For the remainder of the war, Smalls served in the U.S. Navy and fought for civil rights in the North, including organizing a mass boycott to desegregate public transportation in Philadelphia. He returned South after the war and purchased his former enslaver’s home, opened a school for Black students, and eventually served in the South Carolina House of Representatives in 1868 and later the South Carolina Senate in 1872. He helped write a new state constitution and lobbied to cement public education into state law. In 1874, Smalls was elected to the United States Congress, where he would serve five terms. He devoted much of his political efforts to preventing the disenfranchisement of Black voters.

Due to the inclement weather forecast, Monday’s Stone Social Impact Forum with Tracy Palandjian and David M. Rubenstein has been RESCHEDULED. 🗓️ NEW DATE: Monday, March 30, 2026 at 5:30 PM ET 📍 Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate, Boston 🎟️ Free and open to the public Register here: eventbrite.com/e/in-person-ev… We look forward to seeing you in March!

Happy Birthday to Senator Edward M. Kennedy! Today marks what would have been the 94th birthday of a man who dedicated his life to serving the American people. Throughout his career, Senator Kennedy fought to advance civil rights, health care access, immigration, education, and the economic well-being of all Americans. The Senator’s legacy inspires the work the Kennedy Institute does with students and the public every day. In this photo from 1982, Senator Kennedy greets his supporters while campaigning in Fall River, Massachusetts.

Can we build a more equitable future through smarter investing? 💡 Join the Kennedy Institute on Feb 23 as Tracy Palandjian and David M. Rubenstein discuss revitalizing the American Dream through social finance and education. #ImpactInvesting

This #BlackHistoryMonth we remember Representative John Lewis, for his civil rights leadership, and his more than 30 years of service representing Georgia’s 5th district in Congress. As a freedom rider, chairman of SNCC, and an organizer of the March on Washington, Lewis challenged segregation and oppression. He carried this fight to Capitol Hill, where the 18-term congressman became known as the “Conscience of Congress.” In 2015 we were honored to host Congressman Lewis at the Institute to mark the 50th Anniversary of the Voting Rights Act. On that occasion, as on so many others, he urged us to get into #goodtrouble in pursuit of justice.

Join the Kennedy Institute at 5:30pm ET on Monday, February 23 for this year’s Stone Social Impact Forum, featuring @TracyPalandjian in conversation with @DM_Rubenstein on the role of finance in expanding economic opportunity and building pathways to upward mobility. Register here: eventbrite.com/e/in-person-ev… To attend virtually: eventbrite.com/e/virtual-even…

🎉We’ve partnered with the Edward M. Kennedy Institute to launch The Student Senate on AI Policy. 🏛️Students learn about AI, explore the legislative process, and draft AI policies for their schools.🗓️ Join the free info session Dec 2 at 3:30 PM ET 🔗 dayofaiusa.org/pd

Military service was a significant part of the Kennedy family’s legacy. John F. Kennedy and his older brother, Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr., were decorated lieutenants in the United States Navy during World War II. Edward M. Kennedy served in the U.S. Army from 1951 to 1953 as a private first class and after taking office, he became a representative of the Senate Armed Services Committee, pictured here. Today and every day, we salute our veterans and recognize their service and sacrifice for our country. Thank you, veterans! 🇺🇸

Earlier this month, we had the pleasure of welcoming the @GirlScouts for a special Girls Leading Government with @RepPressley! Congresswoman Pressley spoke with the girls about the importance of taking up space and never asking permission to lead. These young future leaders took on the role of Senator-for-a-Day and worked together in the Institute’s Senate Chamber to build and debate legislation to tackle climate change.

Former Secretary of Labor and Former Boston Mayor Marty Walsh spoke about the need to come together across the aisle for the good of our country. Drawing from his time both in Boston and under the Biden Administration, he talked about what was accomplished when people put aside their differences to ignite change. Watch his full speech at: youtu.be/KJT-lFRahPE

We were proud to honor Retired United States Navy Admiral Lisa Franchetti, former Chief of Naval Operations, with our Award for Inspired Leadership on Sunday evening. She spoke about her journey as a woman in the Navy and the impact that both Senator Kennedy and President Biden had on her career, from women being granted the right to serve on combat ships through her appointment as the first woman to serve on the Joint Chiefs of Staff. To view her full speech, visit youtu.be/cAa2vj02UUM

Last night we had the pleasure of honoring President @JoeBiden with a Lifetime Achievement Award as part of our 10th Anniversary Celebration. The President delivered a touching and inspiring speech in front of nearly 600 people including family members, former colleagues and close friends. He called on the public to defend democracy, and underscored the importance of our Institute's role in “teaching young people how to fight for, strengthen, and cherish the institutions that make our democracy.” To view his full speech, visit: youtu.be/2af0DnurlZA

We had an incredible time with @RepPressley and the @GirlScouts on our Senate floor! 😊

All of us at the Edward M. Kennedy Institute mourn the passing of Joan Bennett Kennedy, former wife of the late Senator Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA), classical pianist, music teacher, and advocate for mental health and addiction services, who passed away peacefully this morning in Boston at the age of 89. She is survived by two children, Ted Kennedy, Jr., and former Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy (D-RI), 9 grandchildren, 1 great-grandchild, over 30 nieces and nephews, and a sister, Candace (Candy) McMurrey, of Houston, TX. Her daughter, Kara, died in 2011. “I will always admire my mother for the way that she faced up to her challenges with grace, courage, humility, and honesty. She taught me how to be more truthful with myself and how careful listening is a more powerful communication skill than public speaking,” said Ted Kennedy, Jr. “Besides being a loving mother, talented musician, and instrumental partner to my father as he launched his successful political career, Mom was a powerful example to millions of people with mental health conditions. She will be missed not just by the entire Kennedy Family, but by the arts community in the City of Boston and the many people whose lives that she touched,” said Patrick Kennedy. We honor the memory of a remarkable woman and extend our deepest sympathy to the entire Kennedy family.