Our Cities: Matthew Desmond & Alex Kotlowitz

Harvard sociologist Matthew Desmond (MacArthur 2015) takes us into the poorest neighborhoods of Milwaukee to tell the story of eight families on the edge. In "Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City", Desmond argues that eviction is an active cause of poverty, not merely a reflection of it. Combining extraordinary storytelling with meticulous research, "Evicted" has been praised as a landmark work of scholarship and reportage that “has set a new standard for reporting on poverty” (Barbara Ehrenreich, "New York Times Book Review") Desmond will be joined in conversation by author and journalist Alex Kotlowitz.

We are proud to present Our Cities in collaboration with the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation in honor of the 35th anniversary of the MacArthur Fellows Program, which recognizes exceptionally creative people who inspire us.