Events: A conversation with Matt Desmond on ending poverty in America

EventsBy Karly Meyer (Former Engagement Fellow) May 1, 2023

Homeless Tents Encampment in front of Union Station at Columbus Circle, NE by Elvert Barnes Photography licensed under Creative Commons.

Discuss how we can end poverty in America: The United States has a higher poverty rate than any other advanced democracy. A range of policies and practices have caused this persistent but urgent challenge, but so too have the decisions and actions of people in the middle and upper classes.

Join the Urban Institute on Wednesday, May 3 from 12:00 - 1:30 for a discussion with Pulitzer Prize-winning author Matt Desmond about why poverty persists in America and how everyone can play a role in fighting it. Learn more about the hybrid event and register here.

Wednesday, May 3:

Strap on your helmet and lace up your shoes for this year’s National Bike and Roll to School Day: National Bike & Roll to School Day is May 3, 2023, and invites participants to celebrate the joy of active commuting while building a sense of community and school spirit. Whether addressing the need to make routes to school safer for active trips or encouraging children and teens to be more active, these events can be powerful tools to inspire lasting change.

Join in on Capitol Hill’s annual celebration of National Bike and Roll to School Day this Wednesday. Learn more about the event here.

Thursday, May 4:

Attend the University of Maryland’s Resilience Research Hub Showcase: UMD’s Resilience Research Hub highlights the faculty engaged in inequality and/or resilience research across the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences (BSOS). The hub includes important research on fostering resilient cities that can prevent and recover from various shocks and stresses such as climate change-induced extreme weather events, sea level rise, or global pandemics.

​Join UMD in celebrating research excellence across resilience themes-including environmental, economic, health and safety, and more. Learn more about the event and RSVP here.

Saturday, May 6:

Volunteer to restore Fort Slocum Park: Invasive plants are a major threat to our fragile forests, and stopping their spread helps allow for a thriving native understory. Join Rock Creek Conservancy and the National Park Service for this invasive plant removal restoration event in Rock Creek Park at Fort Slocum Park. Learn more and register here.

Tuesday, May 9:

Share your input on the Monumental Core Streetscape Design Guidelines: The public is invited to an online meeting to learn about and comment on the proposed Monumental Core Streetscape Design Guidelines: Small-Scale Elements. These guidelines inform the placement and characteristics of streetscape furnishings and civic infrastructure including benches, waste receptacles, bicycle racks, and utility boxes, among others in downtown Washington, DC’s monumental core, including in and around the National Mall.

The National Capital Planning Commission, together with the federal and District agencies responsible for these streetscapes, drafted these guidelines to provide a coordinated approach to ensure the area’s beauty and functionality. The proposed Small-Scale Streetscape Elements are part of a larger initiative to update the 1992 National Mall Streetscape Manual. Learn more about the Streetscape Design Guidelines and register to attend the virtual public meeting here.

Discuss a “Bold New Transportation Plan for Maryland”: The Action Committee for Transit (ACT)’s monthly in-person meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 9. The meeting will be joined by the speaker, Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller. Join this month’s meeting to hear directly from Lieutenant Governor Miller on the future of transportation in Maryland. Learn more about ACT and this Tuesday’s meeting at the Silver Spring Civic Center here.

View more upcoming events on our calendar!


Community members submit events for inclusion on our events posts and in our events calendar. Submit your event here. Submissions may be edited for context and clarity.