Desmond’s latest book, 鈥�,鈥� focuses on the roots of poverty in America, how it is sustained, and how we can make changes.

鈥淧overty is one of the most intractable problems we have in Arkansas, and it is important that we listen to a variety of perspectives on this issue,鈥� Chancellor Christina S. Drale said. 鈥淚f we can ultimately move the needle on poverty, we will move the needle on so many other challenges that are connected to it. Few subjects are more central to our future than this.鈥�

The event, which is free and open to the public, will begin at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 10, in the University Theatre in the Center for Performing Arts at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. Those who would like to attend may register online.

Desmond will share insights with a lecture focused on his book 鈥淧overty, By America.鈥� Little Rock Vice-Mayor Kathy Webb will then join Desmond for an on-stage conversation, followed by a book-signing opportunity in the lobby.

鈥淒esmond鈥檚 books 鈥楨victed鈥� and 鈥楶overty, by America鈥� have both made a major impact on me, and have given urgency to tackling poverty and housing,鈥� Webb said. 鈥淚 am excited that 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock is bringing Desmond to Little Rock and hope that the conversation sparks thought and renewed action.鈥�

In addition to Desmond, several local nonprofit organizations will be on hand ahead of the event to share how they are addressing a range of topics in the central Arkansas community like poverty, food insecurity, and affordable housing shortages.

Desmond is a professor of sociology at Princeton University. After receiving his Ph.D. in 2010 from the University of Wisconsin at Madison, he joined the Harvard Society of Fellows as a junior fellow. He is the author of four books, including 鈥淓victed: Poverty and Profit in the American City鈥� (2016), which won the Pulitzer Prize and the Carnegie Medal. The principal investigator of the Eviction Lab, Desmond鈥檚 research focuses on poverty in America, city life, housing insecurity, public policy, racial inequality, and ethnography.

糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 Inclusive & Inspiring Speaker Series began in 2022 and is an opportunity for the campus community to hear from a variety of voices on subjects that advance understanding around issues of national and global importance.

The event is presented by the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Office of the Chancellor and is made possible by the generosity of sponsors including the Chancellor鈥檚 Circle, Arkansas Community Action Agencies Association, Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance, Anne Fund, Little Rock Vice-Mayor Kathy Webb, Kelly and Shannon Fleming in honor of Habitat for Humanity, Little Rock City Director Capi Peck, Mary and Jim Wohlleb, Methodist Foundation of Arkansas, Arkansas Rep. Tippi McCullough, and Winrock Foundation.

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The University of Arkansas at Little Rock will welcome author M贸nica Guzm谩n to campus on Wednesday, Feb. 8, for the university鈥檚 second annual Inclusive and Inspiring Speaker Series.

Guzm谩n will hold a lecture and Q&A, which is free and open to the public, from 5:30-7 p.m. Feb. 8 in the Student Services Center Auditorium. She will discuss her new book, “.鈥� Christine Jones, past president of the Racial Barriers Committee, will moderate the discussion. You may register for the discussion at .

鈥淲e are at a moment in our history where productive conversation across divided groups has become exceedingly difficult,鈥� Chancellor Christina Drale said. 鈥淢贸nica Guzm谩n is bringing us valuable insight on how we can begin to change that. As learners and scholars, it is particularly important for us to develop this skill so that we don’t get stuck in our silos and may continue to encounter the world with curiosity and optimism.鈥�

The university started the Inclusive and Inspiring Speaker Series last year with a lecture by Heather McGhee, best-selling author of 鈥淭he Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together.鈥� The speaker series is an opportunity for transformation and personal growth as we hear from thought leaders who challenge assumptions and inherent biases.

During her visit to campus, Guzm谩n will also hold a workshop for students and faculty and meet with members of the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Cabinet and Racial Barriers Committee.

“Guzm谩n鈥檚 book is so relevant to our current political climate because she focuses on the need for more civility in the ways we talk to each other about seemingly divisive issues,鈥� said Dr. Melvin Beavers, the chancellor鈥檚 diversity, equity, and inclusion fellow. 鈥淚 really applaud her efforts to offer practical strategies for folks who might otherwise choose not to engage in difficult, politically charged conversations.”

Guzm谩n is a bridge builder, journalist, and author who lives for great conversations sparked by curious questions. Her book was featured on the Glenn Beck Podcast and named a New York Times recommended read. She鈥檚 a senior fellow for public practice at Braver Angels, the nation鈥檚 largest cross-partisan grassroots organization working to depolarize America; founder and CEO of Reclaim Curiosity, an organization working to build a more curious world; and co-founder of the award-winning Seattle newsletter The Evergrey.

Guzm谩n was a 2019 fellow at the Henry M. Jackson Foundation, where she studied social and political division, and a 2016 fellow at the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University, where she researched how journalists can rethink their roles to better meet the needs of a participatory public.

She was named one of the 50 most influential women in Seattle and served twice as a juror for the Pulitzer Prizes. A Mexican immigrant, Latina, and dual US/Mexico citizen, she lives in Seattle with her husband and two kids.

Those who plan to attend the lecture virtually , while those who plan to attend in person .

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