Meet a Member: Justin Goldstein, BRI
Meet PAR member Justin Goldstein, CAE, Director of Corporate Relations for the Bill of Rights Institute.
What do you find most rewarding about your work in associations?
What I find most rewarding about my work in associations is the opportunity to connect people and organizations in ways that create real impact. I get to build relationships, open doors, and bring together resources that make programs possible. There is nothing better than seeing a project move from an idea to something that changes lives because of the partnerships we built and the trust we earned along the way.
What is a recent project or initiative that you're especially proud of?
One project I am especially proud of is the Power of the Printed Word. Over the past year, I have worked to get free pocket constitutions into the hands of students across the country, reaching more than 1,000 classrooms and 100,000 students. This initiative is about more than just a printed document. It is about helping students connect with the founding principles of our country in a tangible way and showing them the enduring value of print in a digital world. By building partnerships, securing sponsorships, and coordinating with educators, I have been able to ensure that thousands of students now have a personal copy of the Constitution they can hold, study, and keep for years to come. I was also very proud to get support from large corporations such as Canon and Konica Minolta, who believe in what I was doing and recognized the value of investing in a program that empowers students and strengthens civic education. Their support not only helped expand our reach but also validated the importance of the mission, showing that leading companies see the long-term impact of equipping the next generation to be informed and engaged citizens.
What’s your favorite quote or motto that keeps you motivated?
"Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not. Nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not. Unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not. The world is full of educated people who fail to act. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent." - Calvin Coolidge. It is a constant reminder to keep going, no matter the obstacles. I always carry this quote in my wallet.
What’s the best piece of professional advice you’ve given (or would give) to a new association professional?
The best piece of advice I would give to a new association professional is to remember that no single opinion defines your worth or your career. Focus on the colleagues who consistently support you, the partnerships you build, and the companies you help achieve their goals. The real measure of your success comes from the impact you make and the trust you earn over time, not from any one person’s perception. I’ve seen this firsthand by securing sponsorships from companies I had not worked with in years, simply because the relationships we built were strong and the trust was still there. In this field, relationships and credibility are everything, they will open doors long after a project ends.
What’s a fun fact or quirky hobby that helps you unwind outside of work?
A fun fact about me is that I collect magnets from the places I visit. It started as a small souvenir tradition and has turned into a way to capture memories from my travels. Each magnet has a story, and seeing them all together is a reminder of the experiences and connections I’ve made along the way.
Meet PAR Member Organization: Bill of Rights Institute (BRI)
Founded in 1999, the Bill of Rights Institute is a non-partisan, non-profit educational organization. Its team develops educational resources on American history and government, provides professional development opportunities to teachers, and runs student programs and scholarship contests. The Institute's depth of knowledge is drawn from a full-time staff with more than 100 years of combined classroom experience, as well as from partners who are experts in their fields. Its mission is "to equip students and teachers to live the ideals of a free and just society."