Carson emphasized his Christian faith in the announcement Former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Dr. Ben Carson announced Wednesday that he is launching a conservative think tank to "engage with local governments and work with communities to find solutions to our nation's problems." "The American Cornerstone Institute will be dedicated to creating dialogue and smart discourse," Carson said in a RealClearPolitics op-ed announcing his project. "ACI will focus on promoting and preserving individual and religious liberty, helping our country's most vulnerable find new hope, and developing methods to maximize government's efficiency and effectiveness to best serve all our nation's citizens."