A Conversation with Heather McGhee
In celebration of a 100-year commitment to equality for all, The Connection hosted a conversation with Heather McGhee, author of New York Times Bestseller The Sum of Us, at Summit High School in partnership with the Summit Interfaith Council AntiRacism Committee.
A renowned expert on the American economy, Heather McGhee is one of the most brilliant and influential thinkers exploring inequality today. Both her viral TED talk and her instant New York Times Bestseller The Sum of Us reveal the devastating true cost of racism—not just for people of color, but for everyone. Deeply stirring, intelligent, and compassionate, McGhee’s talks offer an actionable roadmap during one of the most critical—and most troubled—periods in history.
McGhee was introduced by Julie Lanzone, Chairwoman of The Connection Board of Trustees, to the crowd of 250 attendees before sharing with the audience about her background in economy, what she learned about racism from looking at the data, and what led her to delve into the root of our most complicated issues off the spreadsheet.
Heather McGhee shared stories of hope and solidarity that she encountered on a road trip across America for her Podcast, also titled The Sum of Us, before sitting down for a Q & A session with co-moderators Jayne Graepel, former Associate Executive Director of The Connection, and Michelle Fielder, member and facilitator for the AntiRacism Committee. Attendees were encouraged to submit their questions ahead of time and the co-moderators led a conversation where McGhee spoke about the racism she discovered in our politics and policymaking, how addressing those issues would benefit us all, and what we could do as individuals to help.
“Since the moment The Connection opened as the YWCA of Summit, our foundation has been built upon values which foster diversity and inclusion. The choice to be fully integrated—and anti-racist—was made deliberately, and without reservation,” says Wendy Graeb, Executive Director of The Connection.
“We look to all we have in common to help move us forward; the strong respect for one another, the need to speak up at injustice, the desire to make space for all voices, and the commitment to listen and learn. We are grateful to be part of a community filled with individuals and organizations that focus resources to make collective change.”
As Heather McGhee writes in The Sum of Us, “a functioning society rests on a web of mutuality–a willingness among all involved to share enough with one another to accomplish what no one person can do alone.” Visittheconnectiononline.org for ways to continue in this work.
This program was supported in part by a grant from the New Jersey Council for the Humanities, a state partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
The Connection is a non-profit, human service organization providing a variety of programs and activities open to everyone in the community regardless of physical ability or economic circumstance. It has been serving the greater-Summit area for 100 years. To find out more about its programs, or help the organization help others by making a donation, visit TheConnectionOnline.org.
