Inequality Matters Event Series 2005-2006

The Inequality Matters Event Series, part of The Demos Forum, highlights the profound and alarming implications of three decades of rising inequality.

The growing concentration of wealth, income, and economic and political power was the topic of a three-day Inequality Matters conference in June 2004. Spearheaded by Demos and cosponsored by ACORN, Center for American Progress, Common Cause, National Council of Churches, United for a Fair Economy, and a wide array of other organizations, the Inequality Matters conference drew more than 300 activists, academics, religious leaders, trade unionists, and others to New York City for an intense three days of learning and brainstorming.

One outcome of this conference was the compilation of Inequality Matters - the book - published by the New Press in partnership with Demos. A collection of essays on inequality, contributors include:

Tamara Draut                             Meizhu Lui            
Barbara Ehrenreich                     Miles Rapoport 
Robert H. Frank                          Jonathan Rowe
Robert Franklin                           Theda Skocpol
Stanley B. Greenberg                  Eric Wanner
William Greider                           Lawrence R. Jacobs
Christopher Jencks                      Jim Wallis
David Cay Johnston                    Christian E. Weller
Robert Kuttner                            David Williams 
Judith L. Lichtman                       Betsy Leondar-Wright 

Inequality Matters: The Growing Economic Divide in America and Its Poisonous Consequences has a foreword by Bill Moyers and was co-edited by James Lardner and David Smith.

To mark the publication, and to continue our exploration of this three-decade-long trend, Demos will hold a series of events over the next several months on health, education and the future of the middle class.

For more information about Inequality Matters: The Growing Economic Divide in America and Its Poisonous Consequencesonline visit go www.inequality.org



Inequality Matters: A Public Forum with Paul Krugman
January 31, 2006
7:00pm
The New School Tishman Auditorium 66 West 12th Street b/n 5th and 6th Ave

Join Demos, The New Press and the Wolfson Center for National Affairs at The New School for a public forum addressing the growing concentration of wealth, income, political and economic power in America. This event celebrates the release of Inequality Matters: The Growing Economic Divide in America and Its Poisonous Consequences, and will feature New York Times columnist and Princeton economist Paul Krugman. Krugman will discuss the causes and far-reaching consequences of this quarter century-long trend.

Joining Krugman will be co-editor of Inequality Mattersand Demos Senior Fellow James Lardner and contributors Meizhu Lui of United for Fair Economy, Miles Rapoport of Demos and others. This event will be moderated by Laura Flanders of Air America.

This event will take place at the Tishman auditorium at the New School for Social Research located at 66 West 12th Street.

TICKETS: Tickets are $8. Please note that The New School Box Office is closed for the holidays and university winter recess until Sunday, January 22, 2006.

Reservations for upcoming events can be taken by phone at 212.229.5488 or via email at boxoffice@newschool.edu and messages will be checked. The Box Office opens for in person purchases on Monday, January 23, 2006 at 66 West 12th St, main floor, Mon.-Thurs. 1-8 p.m., Fri. 1-7 p.m.

The Inequality Matters event series, highlights the profound and alarming implications of three decades of rising inequality. Inequality Matters: The Growing Economic Divide in America and Its Poisonous Consequences, released in December, is a new book on inequality edited by Demos and published by the New Press. www.inequality.org

Inequality Matters: a public forum on the consequences of the growing economic divide in America
January 25, 2006
2:30 - 4:30pm
Children's Home Society and Family Services, 1605 Eustis St, St. Paul, MN

Demos, Minnesota Council of Nonprofits, Citizens League, Institute for Local Self-Reliance, The Itasca Project, Midwest States Center and The Minneapolis Foundation held a forum on growing inequality with national and local experts. Speakers included James Lardner, contributor and co-editor of Inequality Matters: The Growing Economic Divide in America and Its Poisonous Consequences; Miles Rapoport, president of Demos; Karen Kelley-Ariwoola, Vice President of Community Philanthropy at The Minneapolis Foundation; Mary Brainerd, President and Chief Executive Officer of HealthPartners and member of the Itasca Project; and Nan Madden, Minnesota Budget Project Director at the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits.

The Inequality Matters event series, highlights the profound and alarming implications of three decades of rising inequality. Inequality Matters: The Growing Economic Divide in America and Its Poisonous Consequences, released in December, is a new book on inequality edited by Demos and published by the New Press. www.inequality.org

The Growing Educational Divide
January 10, 2006
5:30 - 7:30pm
Demos

Demos, Campaign for Fiscal Equity, Alliance for Quality Education and The Century Foundation hosted a panel discussion on whether increased economic inequality produces increased educational inequality. Joining us was New York City Councilperson Robert Jackson, Rick Kahlenberg of The Century Foundation, Jorman Nunez of Sistas and Brothas United and Ellen Yan of Newsday as moderator.

Jackson looked back at the triumphs and challenges of a twelve-year legal battle for adequate school funding throughout New York State - a lawsuit in which Jackson was the lead plaintiff. Kahlenberg discussed growing school segregation along economic-class lines while Nunez provided on-the-ground examples of how to enact effective policy reform in low-income communities and communities of color.

The Inequality Matters event series, highlights the profound and alarming implications of three decades of rising inequality. Inequality Matters: The Growing Economic Divide in America and Its Poisonous Consequences, released in December, is a new book on inequality edited by Demos and published by the New Press. www.inequality.org

Inequality Matters in Boston
January 6, 2006
Boston, MA

Join Demos and United for Fair Economy for a book and author reception of Inequality Matters: The Growing Economic Divide in America and Its Poisonous Consequences, with Meizhu Lui, James Lardner, Betsy Leondar-Wright and other Inequality Matters contributors.

The Inequality Matters event series, highlights the profound and alarming implications of three decades of rising inequality. Inequality Matters: The Growing Economic Divide in America and Its Poisonous Consequences, released in December, is a new book on inequality edited by Demos and published by the New Press.



Keeping Up With the Joneses: How Inequality Hurts the Middle Class
November 17, 2005
12 - 2pm
Demos

Please join us for a provocative discussion with Cornell economist, and Demos Distinguished Senior Fellow, Robert Frank, who will talk about his new research into how rising economic inequality in recent decades has reshaped middle class life. Frank will discuss new spending and lifestyle pressures in an era when middle class Americans have more good reasons than ever to worry about being left behind.

Michael Marmot discussing The Status Syndrome
September 22, 2005
12 - 2pm
Demos

As part of the Inequality Matters Event Series, Demos will be holding a discussion with Michael Marmot on his latest book The Status Syndrome: How Social Standing Affects Our Health and Longevity. Marmot is an epidemiologist working on, what The New York Times describes as, the "cutting edge of public health research." His new book expands the discussion around health disparities through highlighting, not only the realities of unequal access to health care, but how where you stand in the social hierarchy is intimately related to your chances of getting ill and your length of life. Please join us for a lively discussion about a book which The New York Times claims has "transformed the health establishment's thinking about the link between status and health," and The Washington Post describes as "bold, important and masterful."