AIER's Bastiat Society program in Nashville, in partnership with the Political Economy Research Institute at MTSU, will host an event with Ismael Hernandez, Founder and Executive Director of the Freedom & Virtue Institute.

About the event: Ismael will tell his personal story of his journey away from the ideas of Marxism and the discovery of a new way of looking at the human person and social processes. He will discuss the reasons behind his ideological conversion, as well as his ideas for a freedom revolution in disadvantaged and minority communities through a rejection of government dependency and an embrace of personal liberty, financial literacy, work ethic, self-reliance, and human dignity. Coming to America became a transformative endeavor that Ismael recounts vividly.

About the Speaker: Ismael Hernandez is the Founder and Executive Director of the Freedom and Virtue Institute. With a Master’s Degree in Political Science from the University of Southern Mississippi and professional experience as executive director of the African Caribbean American Catholic Center, Ismael leads FVI based on the principles of effective compassion and personal responsibility. Ismael frequently lectures with the Acton Institute’s Acton University in Grand Rapids, Michigan and has lectured for American Enterprise Institute. Ismael is the author of the book Not Tragically Colored, as well as many articles for various publications.