The Heights

“Poverty, By America”: Desmond Dissects Increasing Financial Problems in the U.S.

Aidan Gravina • October 15, 2023

Matthew Desmond’s experiences growing up in poverty prompted him to take a stand as a poverty abolitionist. The Lowell Humanity Series hosted a lecture on Wednesday titled, “Poverty, By America.” Desmond, a Pulitzer Prize–winning author, said watching his family get evicted from their home motivated him to ask why the United States deals with poverty in the way it does.

Rise3 Symposium Explores Effects of Incarceration

Celia Carbone • February 11, 2019

Adam Foss, a former assistant district attorney in the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, and Jessica Simes, a sociology professor at Boston University hosted the second Rise3 Symposium.

Poverty is Caused by a Failure of Ethics, Not Economy, Sachs Says

Joshua Holtz • March 26, 2017

“Capitalism is a system that is absolutely susceptible to grave injustice,” Sachs said.

Structural Change Needed to Ease Eviction Burden on Those in Poverty, Desmond says

Dante Keeler • September 22, 2016

Matthew Desmond, a New York Times bestselling author, told BC students Wednesday that he hopes they will come to hate poverty as he does.

U.S. Presidents Have Targeted Poverty Since 1962, Professor Explained

Kyla Nwede • April 14, 2016

Professor Sandy Jencks discussed how poverty became an increasingly important issue to U.S. presidents beginning in 1962.

Fences Built Out Of Fear

William Flautt • March 19, 2015

There once was a man who made it big selling fences—and how badly he wished he didn't have to make it big at all.

Former ‘General Hospital’ Producer Recalls Spiritual Journey

Sophie Reardon • October 22, 2014

As an adult, Gerry Straub worked in the filmmaking industry. He became the network producer for General Hospital, and began working with many celebrities. Despite his career success, though, he said that he still felt that something was missing in his life.

The Honesty Inherent In An Unmade Bed

Maggie Powers • September 24, 2014

To understand part of what it means to be homeless, try looking at what some of the impoverished treat as a bed.