Lecture

Join us for the kick-off of our spring 2025 Henry Cohen Lecture Series, "Inequality By Design: The Role of the U.S. Tax Code in Amplifying the Wealth Gap," on Tuesday, March 18 at 7:00 pm ET at The New School’s Starr Foundation Hall. This discussion will explore the false narratives that shape tax policy in the U.S., how the tax code creates and supports inequality, and provide a vision for how taxes can build an inclusive economy that supports a thriving democracy.

Presented by the Institute's Health and Political Economy Project (HPEP), this conversation will feature a public lecture from Acting Health Commissioner and Chief Medical Officer of the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Dr. Michelle Morse, who will then join a panel with Darrick Hamilton, Jamila Michener, and Brian Smedley, moderated by Dr. Dave Chokshi. The discussion will explore the kinds of health investments and policies, power-building strategies, and narratives we need to see real change.

Join us on Tuesday, April 8 for the third event of our spring 2025 Henry Cohen Lecture Series, "The Freedom Budget: From Civil Rights to Economic Rights." Featuring Nina Turner, Cori Bush, Tamieka Atkins, and Ash-Lee Woodard Henderson, the discussion will examine the enduring relevance of the 1966 Freedom Budget for All Americans—which aimed to eradicate poverty by tackling issues such as unemployment, substandard wages, poor housing and inadequate access to health services and education—in addressing the growing challenges and inequities of our contemporary political economy.

Join us at The New School's Starr Foundation Hall on Tuesday, April 15 as our 2025 Henry Cohen Lecture Series continues with an intimate conversation featuring Pulitzer Prize-winning Mojave poet, activist, and educator Natalie Diaz and Institute Founding Director Darrick Hamilton on the poetry of economics, with special remarks from The Rockefeller Foundation’s Chief Innovation Officer Zia Khan.

Join us at The New School on Tuesday, April 29 for the second to last lecture of our 2025 Henry Cohen Lecture Series. In this discussion, panelists will focus on the changing international, economic, and geopolitical environments—exploring key economic policies for promoting inclusive economic rights and the role of solidarity among different stakeholders.

Join us on Tuesday, May 6 for the closing lecture of our 2025 Henry Cohen Lecture Series. This public panel discussion will feature a conversation on the critical role of the labor movement in rebalancing power and achieving economic justice. The current political climate highlights the iterative and inseparable relationship between politics, economics, and identity—revealing threats to, and opportunities for, increased solidarity within and among justice movements.