Robert D. Putnam’s insights into income inequality and the perceived collapse of America’s civic, social, associational and political life, will help drive the 2016 Winter Institute theme: Community wellness.
St. Cloud State’s Winter Institute will focus on community wellness, using a social critic of national stature to drive conversations.
Best-selling author, presidential consultant and Harvard social scientist Robert D. Putnam will keynote the Feb. 10-11 economics and business-conditions summit at St. Cloud’s Best Western Kelly Inn and St. Cloud State’s Atwood Memorial Center.
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In its 54th year, the annual conference has featured award-winning economists, nationally known policy makers and scholars from other nations, among other experts.
Putnam’s 2015 book, “Our Kids: The American Dream in Crisis,” argues that America’s growing income equality is deeply affecting families, neighborhoods and schools. In his 2000 book ”Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community,” Putnam documents a massive membership decline in traditional civic, social and fraternal organizations. That loss of social capital, he says, threatens America’s democratic institutions.
Putnam’s 9 a.m. Feb. 11 address in Atwood Memorial Center is free and open to the public. Also open to the public is the 5 p.m. Feb. 10 Economic Outlook at the Kelly Inn, featuring Laura Kalambokidis, state economist; King Banaian, economist and School of Public Affairs dean; and Neal Young, director of economic analysis at the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. The reception and entertainment that follows is ticketed. All other events are limited to conference participants.
Winter Institute is managed, with support from community sponsors, by these St. Cloud State entities: Center for Economic Education, Department of Economics and the School of Public Affairs.
Parking is $1.50 per hour in the 4th Avenue Parking Ramp.
For general inquires or to sponsor the Winter Institute, email Cynthia Fitzthum at [email protected].
For registration questions, email Charlotte Kastanek at [email protected].
