Event Summary

On March 14, AEI’s Brent Orrell and the Brookings Institution’s Tony Pipa hosted Carol Graham, also of the Brookings Institution, to discuss her book, The Power of Hope: How the Science of Well-Being Can Save Us from Despair. This conversation was part of the “On the Front Porch with Brent Orrell and Tony Pipa” series hosted by AEI and the Brookings Institution.

Mr. Orrell, Mr. Pipa, and Dr. Graham discussed her research on the important role that hope plays in buoying individuals and communities from poverty and despair. Specifically, Dr. Graham discussed her work with adolescents in Peru and in St. Louis, Missouri, for whom having high aspirations for their futures resulted in better outcomes.

The panel also discussed the prevalence of loneliness and recent declines in civic engagement and social trust across the US. They considered the social and economic factors that have contributed to these trends and analyzed their impacts on various demographics, including black Americans, white Americans, immigrants, low-income Americans, and rural Americans. Finally, they discussed possible ways to boost hope in struggling communities, such as through investing in public services and the arts. Following this discussion, the event ended with a Q&A.

—David Veldran

Event Materials

Carol Graham: The Power of Hope: How the Science of Well-Being Can Save Us from Despair

Agenda

4:00 p.m.
Introduction:
Brent Orrell, Senior Fellow, American Enterprise Institute
Tony Pipa, Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution

4:10 p.m.
Presentation:
Carol Graham, Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution

4:25 p.m.
Discussion:
Carol Graham, Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution
Brent Orrell, Senior Fellow, American Enterprise Institute
Tony Pipa, Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution

5:10 p.m.
Q&A

5:30 p.m.
Adjournment