Speaker Series

Bond Street is dedicated to preserving the Charleston Library Society’s renowned collection and historical significance, as an immensely valuable repository of history in the South.

Bond Street REIT proudly supports the Charleston Library Society, founded in 1748 and recognized as one of the oldest cultural institutions in the United States. With its rich collection of rare books and historical documents, the Library Society plays a vital role in promoting literary excellence, intellectual exploration, and the preservation of history in the South. Under the leadership of Founder and CEO Michael D. Reynolds, who serves as a member of the Board of Trustees and Treasurer of the Library Society, Bond Street REIT launched a Speaker Series. This initiative celebrates the Library Society’s cultural and literary legacy through a series of engaging discussions and thought-provoking lectures. Deeply committed to preserving this invaluable repository of Southern heritage, Bond Street REIT works to ensure the Library Society’s historical significance and cherished collection continue to inspire future generations.

Upcoming Speaking Engagements

The Bond Street Speaker Series: Deepak Srivastava - April 16th, 2026

Join us for the first of this year’s Bond Street Series, focused on the importance of cultural institutions in fostering creative conversation and enhancing opportunities for democratic engagement. Founder of Bond Street REIT, Michael Reynolds, will host a rare conversation with Special Guest Deepak Srivastava, President of Gladstone Institutes in California, and one of the nation’s leading physicians in the science and technology of stem cell research and opportunities to combat congenital heart disease.

Deepak Srivastava

Deepak Srivastava, MD, is President of Gladstone Institutes, a nonprofit biomedical research institute that uses visionary science and technology to overcome disease. He is also a senior investigator and director of the Roddenberry Stem Cell Center at Gladstone. In addition, he is a professor in the Departments of Pediatrics and Biochemistry and Biophysics, and the Wilma and Adeline Pirag Distinguished Professor in pediatric developmental cardiology at UC San Francisco (UCSF). Srivastava received his MD from the University of Texas, then trained in pediatrics at UCSF and in pediatric cardiology at the Children’s Hospital of Harvard Medical School. Before joining Gladstone in 2005, Srivastava was a professor of pediatrics and molecular biology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. He became Gladstone’s president in 2018, and has since been steering the organization toward a new era of convergence between technology and biomedical research. In his lab, Srivastava investigates the genes responsible for normal heart formation and congenital heart disease, and harnesses this knowledge to engineer cells that can repair heart damage. Srivastava is a member of the American Society for Clinical Investigation, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the National Academy of Medicine. He served as president of the International Society for Stem Cell Research in 2019–2020. In addition, Srivastava has co-founded two biotechnology companies, iPierian Inc. and Tenaya Therapeutics, where he continues to sit on the board of directors and on the scientific advisory board. Srivastava was recently recognized in the San Francisco Business Times’ Power 100 list for his leadership in business and research in the Bay Area.

Previous Speaking Engagements

The Bond Street Speaker Series: “Enhancing Democracy and Community through an Appreciation of Our Cultural Institutions”

In 1831, Alexis de Tocqueville toured America and visited Charleston in search of the “secret sauce” that made America’s democracy so powerful. What he discovered was that the “glue” that created community and civic discourse were its cultural institutions. Libraries, theaters, museums, and other cultural spaces served as the foundation for civic engagement and public dialogue. This insight is as relevant today as it was then, and the Charleston Library Society (CLS) endures because of this very truth. The inaugural speaker of the Bond Street Speaker Series is Bob Corker, former U.S. Senator from Tennessee, known for his leadership on foreign relations and fiscal policy. With prior experience as mayor of Chattanooga and a successful businessman, Corker brings a wealth of expertise from both the public and private sectors. Since leaving the Senate, he has remained active in business and public affairs, frequently commenting on national issues. In his remarks, Corker will reflect on the vital role of cultural institutions in shaping society, fostering community, and strengthening public discourse, offering insights on how leadership in both cultural and civic spaces can enhance shared values.

Bob Corker

Bob Corker, a former U.S. Senator from Tennessee (2007-2019), is known for his work on foreign relations and fiscal policy, with prior experience as mayor of Chattanooga and a successful businessman. Since leaving the Senate, he remains active in business and public affairs, frequently commenting on national issues.

Jon Meacham

Jon Meacham is a Pulitzer Prize–winning biographer celebrated for his New York Times bestsellers, including And There Was Light, Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power, American Lion, Franklin and Winston, Destiny and Power, The Soul of America, and His Truth Is Marching On. He is also a distinguished visiting professor at Vanderbilt University and a fellow of the Society of American Historians. His work often explores themes of leadership, morality, and American identity, making him a sought-after voice on history’s role in shaping contemporary issues.

Welcome To Bond Street REIT

This site and the materials herein are directed only to certain types of investors and to persons in jurisdictions where Bond Street REIT is authorized for distribution. Complete information about investing in shares of Bond Street REIT is available upon request. An investment in Bond Street REIT involves risks.

I acknowledge that (a) I am an accredited investor and United States resident or (b) I have otherwise received authorization from Bond Street REIT to access the contents of this website.