Thank you to Prof. Tarek Masoud, Middle East Initiative (MEI) Faculty Chair, and Bret Stephens, @NYTimes opinion columnist & SAPIR Journal founder & editor-in-chief, for last night's open discussion on the war in Gaza, U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East, & free speech on college campuses.

'What I'm trying to do in my work is talk about big system structures… and the core of it is: How does it affect people?' – Ava DuVernay, Oscar-nominated filmmaker and screenwriter, in the JFK Jr. Forum with Professor Khalil Gibran Muhammad.

Congratulations to Institute of Politics Polling Director John Della Volpe for being recognized as a Trailblazer by NextGen America 🗳!

Last week, Black Family Fellows helped organize a John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum Institute of Politics event that sought to lift the stigma around mental health in military communities. The conversation, moderated by faculty advisor for the Black Family Fellowship Dana Born.

“The very wealthiest people are doing phenomenally. Meanwhile working people all over this country are struggling.”
—Senator Bernie Sanders at the Institute of Politics ken.sc/4aHUc6C

'I don't see my work as being about trauma. I see all my work as being about triumph, and you cannot triumph if you do not know what you are overcoming.' – Ava DuVernay in conversation with Prof. Khalil Gibran Muhammad at the Institute of Politics JFK Jr. Forum
news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/…

Last night, Oscar-nominated filmmaker Ava DuVernay joined Prof Khalil Gibran Muhammad on stage at the Institute of Politics's JFK Jr Forum.

Couldn't tune in live? Watch the full conversation via YouTube: youtube.com/watch?v=fz7vyB…

As part of the Middle East Initiative (MEI) 'Middle East Dialogues,' join Prof. Tarek Masoud in the JFK Jr. Forum for a conversation with Bret Stephens on the war in Gaza, U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East, & free speech on college campuses.

RSVP: ken.sc/forum-0429

ICYMI: We released the 47th edition of the Harvard Youth Poll, the longest-running poll of young Americans aged 18-29 nationwide on politics and public service. Watch our highlights video below for findings on the presidential race, immigration, and more. youtu.be/h0fod6smUlY

TOMORROW: Join us for free lunch and a great conversation with Prof. Danielle Allen! Our discussion will be moderated by IOP student leader Kiersten Hash. Don't miss this final Pizza & Politics session of the semester 🍕

RSVP: ken.sc/pizpol0426

TODAY at 5:30pm: Former Secretary of the Navy and U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Ray Mabus, joins us in the Forum for a discussion on:

*Russia-Ukraine conflict
*U.S.-China relations
*Military future
*2024 election outlook

RSVP: ken.sc/forum-04241

This Friday, 4/26, join us for our final Pizza & Politics of the semester with Danielle Allen, James Bryant Conant University Professor at Harvard & Director of Harvard Kennedy School's Allen Lab for Democracy Renovation.

RSVP for free lunch & great conversation: ken.sc/pizpol0426

Don't miss a conversation between Oscar-nominated filmmaker and screenwriter Ava DuVernay and Professor Khalil Gibran Muhammad in the JFK Jr. Forum that will explore the relationship between film and advancing racial equity.

🗓️ April 24 at 7pm
🎟️ ken.sc/forum-04242

Tens of millions of Americans will head to the polls in November, but only a handful of swing states are likely to determine the results of this consequential presidential election. So what's to be done?

Read more from the Ash Center's recent convening⤵️
ash.harvard.edu/articles/movin…

From the latest developments in the war between Russia & Ukraine to a look ahead to the 2024 Presidential election, Secretary Ray Mabus joins us in the Forum TOMORROW, April 24, for an insightful conversation on current events.

RSVP: ken.sc/forum-04241

The Spring 2024 IOP Harvard Youth Poll shows young voters still plan to show up to vote, but are subject to 'seismic mood swings' over specific issues
news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/…

4/29:
Join Prof. Tarek Masoud for a conversation with Bret Stephens, The New York Times opinion columnist & founder & editor-in-chief of SAPIR Journal, on the war in Gaza, U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East, & the crisis of speech on college campuses.

Register: belfercenter.org/event/conversa…

A big thank you to Gwen Carr, mother of Eric Garner, & Selwyn Jones, uncle of George Floyd, who joined us in the Forum last week to share their experiences on transforming personal loss into impactful advocacy for social change.

Watch now: ken.sc/0418-watch

🗓️ THIS WEDNESDAY: Join us in the Forum for an insightful conversation with Secretary Ray Mabus on current events and the future of the military at home and abroad. RSVP: ken.sc/forum-04241

African Union Ambassador to the US, Hilda Suka-Mafudze, joins us in the Forum on 4/23 for a discussion on:

🔸 US, China, EU partnerships
🔸 African Union's role in SADC
🔸 Impact of recent coups in Niger, Chad, Guinea

RSVP: ken.sc/forum-0423
Harvard Center for African Studies Belfer Center