Presidential Distinguished Forum: Pines, Rev. William Barber II to Discuss First Year Book Theme of Abolishing Poverty

Why is there so much poverty in the richest nation in the world? What would it take to end it?

On Oct. 28 at 4 p.m., join President Darryll J. Pines in conversation with a noted civil rights activist, academic and author, the Rev. William J. Barber II, about addressing the grand challenges of systemic poverty, racism and economic inequality.

He will offer insights about the themes in the 2024-25 First Year Book, “Poverty, by America” by Matthew Desmond, which challenges readers to rethink their relationship with poverty and consider collective ways to address it.

Barber is the co-chair of the Poor People's Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival, professor in the practice of public theology and public policy and founding director of the Center for Public Theology and Public Policy at Yale Divinity School. A MacArthur “Genius Grant” recipient, he is the author of five books including “White Poverty: How Exposing Myths About Race and Class Can Reconstruct American Democracy” (2024).

Registration is open for the Presidential Distinguished Forum, a virtual event co-sponsored by the First Year Book program, College Park Scholars and the Do Good Institute.