Great Problems, Great Minds Seminar Series: The MacArthur Foundation’s Commitment to Equity in Chicago

Join the Department of Social Sciences for this Great Problems, Great Minds seminar series event featuring guest speaker Tara Magner, the director of the Chicago Commitment at the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. Prior to taking this role in January 2016, Tara served as a program officer in United States programs focusing on migration, policy research, and other program areas. Tara joined MacArthur in 2012 after two stints with Senator Patrick Leahy on the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary (2001–2006 and 2009–2012). Her issue responsibilities included immigration, refugee protection, human rights, national security matters, Freedom of Information Act, and government secrecy. After the 2008 election, Tara was a member of former U.S. President Barack Obama’s Transition Policy Working Group on Immigration. Tara has published articles with MIT Press, the International Journal of Refugee Law, and the Georgetown Immigration Law Journal. Tara received her undergraduate degree at Wesleyan University and her law degree at Georgetown Law. This event will take place on Friday, September 9, from 3:15–4:30 p.m. in room 104 of the John T. Rettaliata Engineering Center. This event is open to the public.

Tara Magner, the director of the Chicago Commitment at the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, will describe the grantmaking and other activities through which MacArthur works to advance racial equity and build a more inclusive Chicago. With a focus on people, places, and partnerships, the Chicago Commitment supports Vital Communities by investing in community economic development; efforts to decrease gun violence through Civic Partnerships; a vibrant arts sector through Culture, Equity, and the Arts; and initiatives to Advance Leadership across all of these areas.