Disrupted

Most of us entered 2020 assuming that the decennial Census, an impeachment trial, and the Presidential election would be the key defining political moments of the year. Six months in, however, and the global COVID-19 pandemic and uprisings over police violence have captured the public square in a way no one could have predicted. 

Together these two watershed events have both exposed and deepened longstanding tensions in the United States. They have also disrupted nearly every aspect of our lives including access to health care, economic security,  education,  public safety, and childcare. How do we make sense of these disruptions? And what are the things we need to consider as we chart a path toward recovery? Who are the voices raising new issues and new perspectives previously overlooked? What can we learn from these disruptions as we prepare for those yet to come? 

Dr. Khalilah L. Brown-Dean is an Award-Winning Scholar, and author most recently of “Identity Politics in the United States”. A tenured Associate Professor of Political Science at Quinnipiac University, she is a frequent contributor to media outlets across all platforms. With a keen eye toward the practical implications of democratic conflict, Dr. Brown-Dean is a preeminent expert on issues of American Politics, criminal punishment, mass incarceration, voting rights, and U.S. elections. She Chairs the Board of Directors of the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven; one of the oldest community foundations in the nation.