America is often celebrated for having one of the world's most advanced economies but time and time again policies have been created which routinely fail its people—from the student debt crisis, to the financial crash in 2008, to a lack of universal healthcare. There is a common thread that links these problems, says public policy expert Heather McGhee: Racism.

Structural racism is the driver of inequality—not just for people of color, but for everyone. In her new book "The Sum Of Us", Heather McGhee takes readers on a journey across the country, where she explores, with compassion, intelligence, and great care, what we lose when we buy into the zero-sum paradigm—the idea that progress for some of us, must come at the expense of others. "Now more than ever, racial division is a tool wielded by those who are the most wealthy, the most powerful, and the most self-interested," explains McGhee. What would actually improve our lives, and everything we share in common—from our infrastructure to our education system to democracy itself—would be to come together across racial divides.

This "Speakers Who Inspires" keynote is based on McGhee's extraordinarily powerful book, and will pull back the curtain on how racism divides and devastates us; but it also offers a path forward—into the achievable changes we need to make to create a just and equitable future for all.

AGENDA:

keynote presentation from Heather McGhee
panel presentation from local organizations applying some of the strategies from "The Sum of Us"
community conversation to mobilize into action with clear outcomes
Lunch and coffee will be provided free of charge. The event will be hosted in the Student Learning Center (SLC) on the University of South Florida St. Petersburg campus. A live-stream will be available.