World-Renowned Author and Sociologist to Speak on Opportunity in Delaware

Tickets are still available to hear Prof. Robert D. Putnam, author of Our Kids and Bowling Alone.

The public is invited to hear world-renowned sociologist and author Prof. Robert D. Putnam speak about opportunity in Delaware on Nov. 14 in Wilmington at an event hosted by the Delaware Community Foundation.

Putnam, the author of Our Kids: The American Dream in Crisis and Bowling Alone, will speak about the growing imbalance of access to health care, education, employment and other opportunities necessary to achieve social and economic success in Delaware and throughout the country.

The presentation will be followed by a Q&A and a Take Action Fair, where attendees can learn about ways to get involved in helping to build opportunity for all people in Delaware.

Putnam will speak at 6:30 p.m. at the baby grand in the Edith & Alexander Giacco Building, 818 N. Market Street, Wilmington.

Tickets are available for $30 + $8 processing fee. A discounted price of $20 + $8 processing fee is available to Young Opportunity Builders, age 35 and under. To purchase discounted tickets, call the Grand at 302.652.5577.

Putnam’s presentation is possible thanks to generous support from the 1916 Fund at the DCF, JPMorgan Chase and Christiana Care Health System.

About Building Opportunity in Delaware

Putnam’s presentation is part of Building Opportunity in Delaware, the DCF’s multiyear initiative to explore the opportunity gap, convene conversations that lead to solutions, and leverage resources for the greatest impact on creating opportunity for all Delawareans.

The opportunity gap refers to the ways in which institutional barriers in our society – educational, economic, and racial – contribute to growing disparities among classes in America and perpetuate lower educational aspirations and economic success for some citizens.

Through Building Opportunity in Delaware, the DCF is working to foster discussion and collaboration that will empower the community to reduce the opportunity gap.

Among the activities so far, the DCF has engaged more than 450 people throughout the state in reading and discussing Putnam’s Our Kids. Participants received free copies of the book and discussion guides, thanks to a partnership with Delaware Humanities.

In 2019, the DCF will host a series of community conversations about the opportunity gap in Delaware. More information about the community conversations will be shared at the Nov. 14 event.

Learn more about the DCF’s Building Opportunity in Delaware initiative.