CNN host and NYT best-selling author Van Jones is coming to Earlham College tonight
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RICHMOND, Ind. — Van Jones, CNN host, Emmy winner, New York Times best-selling author and one of the most recognizable voices in the political world, is coming to Earlham College on Friday, Sept. 29.
At 7 p.m. in Carpenter Hall’s Goddard Auditorium, Jones will be the inaugural speaker for Earlham College's Presidential Lecture Series, holding a lecture on "How do We Talk Across Political Polarization?” with a question-and-answer session to follow.
The event is free for the public to attend as the series was made possible through funding by the Hawkins Just Society Lecture Fund, the Artist and Lecture Series and the President’s Discretionary Fund. Earlham's press release states that free lectures such as these are designed to bring Earlham and its neighbors together for a shared experience.
The Hawkins Just Society Lecture Fund was established by Neil and Annmarie Hawkins and their daughter, Rachel, who graduated from Earlham in 2010, the press release adds. It was named in honor of Neil’s parents, Kazue Fukada Hawkins and Julian Neil Hawkins, whose lives were changed as a result of World War II and the Korean War.
The fund's purpose is "to bring to Earlham speakers or performers who are survivors of prejudice or whose particular message or performance addresses issues of societal injustice; who celebrate the indomitable spirit of those who advocate for fairness and justice; or who overcame such experiences to address them in broader society. Prejudice areas included in the series are race, religion, sexual orientation/gender status, and disability."
“We are so grateful for the generosity of the Hawkins family and the opportunity to celebrate the legacy of Neil’s parents through this exciting new lecture series,” Kim Tanner, vice president of institutional advancement, said in the release. “Julian and Kazue’s story is an inspiration to us all and a reminder of the triumph of the human spirit during times of great conflict in our world’s history.”
The planned annual event will focus on bringing prominent speakers and change-makers to Earlham's campus to address the important topics of modern day, especially issues focused on diversity, innovation, social justice and overcoming adversity.
Van Jones is a television journalist and an attorney
“Van Jones has long been recognized as a force for good in the fight for equality and social justice,” Earlham President Anne Houtman said in the release. “We are thrilled to have him join us in the launch of our Presidential Lecture Series and learn from his journey as a voice for change in a nation divided.”
Although he is more widely known for providing election night analysis on CNN, Jones is also an attorney and social entrepreneur and has founded the REFORM Alliance, Color of Change and the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights. He was a part of President Barack Obama's White House Administration as the Green Jobs Advisor in 2009, where he oversaw an $80 billion investment in clean energy jobs.
He has hosted and co-hosted the CNN shows Crossfire, The Messy Truth, The Van Jones Show, and The Redemption Project with Van Jones. His New York Times bestselling titles include “The Green Collar Economy,” “Rebuild the Dream,” and “Beyond the Messy Truth."
How to get tickets for Van Jones' lecture at Earlham College
Free tickets can be reserved on Earlham College’s Eventbrite page and are on a first-come, first-served basis.
Evan Weaver is a news and sports reporter at The Palladium-Item. Contact him at 260-564-0196 or email at eweaver@richmond.gannett.com or eweaver@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Richmond Palladium-Item: CNN host Van Jones coming to Earlham College tonight
