Agenda

Location: AEI Dining Room

Location: Auditorium

Location: Auditorium

Economist James Heckman proposes a post racial strategy for improving young people’s acquisition of skills, rooted in an understanding of the importance of healthy families.  

• • James Heckman, Professor, University of Chicago

Location: Auditorium

Ian Rowe joins James Heckman for a conversation about Heckman’s research on soft and hard skill acquisition. The pair discusses how a focus on strengthening families can build skills for the next generation, promoting equality of opportunity.

• • James Heckman, Professor, University of Chicago
  • Ian Rowe, Senior Fellow, American Enterprise Institute

Location: Auditorium

• • Ian Rowe, Senior Fellow, American Enterprise Institute

Location: Auditorium

What factors enable people to escape poverty? In her groundbreaking book, The Two Parent Privilege, economist Melissa Kearney argues that family structure contributes enormously to people’s socioeconomic mobility. In her keynote address at Old Parkland 2025, Kearney will address how closing the “marriage gap” could enable left-behind communities to thrive.

• • Melissa Kearney, Professor, University of Maryland

Location: Auditorium

• • Melissa Kearney, Professor, University of Maryland
  • Ian Rowe, Senior Fellow, American Enterprise Institute

Location: Auditorium

In exploring solutions to place-based poverty, some have proposed simply moving families to more functional communities. Policies such as housing vouchers have seen limited success, pointing toward at least one solution to improving disadvantaged folks’ shot at the American Dream. Benjamin Goldman, Kevin Corinth, and Harry Holzer explore the merits of such proposals, and what components contribute to the maintenance of flourishing communities in the first place.

• • Kevin Corinth, Senior Fellow, American Enterprise Institute
  • Benjamin Goldman, Assistant Professor of Economics, Cornell University
  • Harry J. Holzer, Professor, Georgetown University

Location: Auditorium

What if crime isn’t purely a function of poverty? Raphael Mangual presents a new theory for what he thinks causes crime. Following his brief presentation, Mangual will be joined on-stage by Rajiv Sethi and Glenn Loury to diagnose crime’s causes and forge new solutions that protect public order while upholding civil rights

• • Glenn Loury, Merton P. Stoltz Professor of the Social Sciences, Brown University
  • Rafael Mangual, Nick Ohnell Fellow, Manhattan Institute
  • Rajiv Sethi, Professor of Economics, Barnard College, Columbia University

Location: Auditorium

At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2022, American students were, on average, over half a year behind in reading and a third a year behind in math. The effects of learning loss still linger with us, threatening the socioeconomic futures of a generation of learners – with minority students disproportionately affected. But this generation need not be the “Lost Generation.” During this session, Eric Hanushek, Nat Malkus and Macke Raymond will discuss the effects of learning loss and explore potential solutions.

• • Eric Hanushek, Senior Fellow, Hoover Institution
  • Nat Malkus, Senior Fellow, American Enterprise Institute
  • Macke Raymond, Director, Program on K-12 Education, Hoover Institution

Location: Auditorium

Location: Auditorium

Rob Henderson argues that many beliefs held in vogue by our elite class — “Defund the Police,” for example – are “luxury beliefs,” or status symbols, instead of thoughtful policy opinions. In this session, Henderson and Ian Rowe discuss the negative effect luxury beliefs have had on black advancement. 

• • Rob Henderson, Senior Fellow, Manhattan Institute
  • Ian Rowe, Senior Fellow, American Enterprise Institute

Location: Auditorium

In 2024, a record number of minority voters cast their votes for Donald Trump, including nearly a third of black men. What caused this shift? What does the Republican Party’s gains among minority voters portend for the future of American politics? 

• • Wilfred Reilly, Associate Professor, Kentucky State University
  • Patrick Ruffini, Founder, Echelon Insights
  • Ruy Teixeira, Senior Fellow, American Enterprise Institute

Location: Auditorium

• • Howard Husock, Senior Fellow, American Enterprise Institute

Location: Roof

Location: Auditorium

AEI President Robert Doar joins Brookings Institution President Cecilia Elena Rouse to review the various topics explored throughout the duration of the conference, exploring how social mobility might be promoted today and in the future.

• • Robert Doar, President, American Enterprise Institute
  • Cecilia Rouse, President, Brookings Institution

Location: Dining Room

Location: Roof