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Join Harvard Kennedy School’s John Della Volpe in conversation with Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÒÅÆstudents as they explore how the voting power of young adults could shape the election that will define our future.

At 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 19, an Open VISIONS Forum (OVF) Espresso Series lecture titled “How Will Gen Z Vote? Taking the Pulse of Today’s Youth” will take place in the Dolan School of Business Event Hall. Tickets are available for Quick Members, students, and the general public at .

This event is Fairfield’s 2024 Annual Student Forum and will feature John Della Volpe, director of polling at the Harvard Kennedy School Institute of Politics. As a leading expert on youth opinion and political engagement, Della Volpe will explore the motivations, concerns, and trends shaping how Generation Z approaches voting and politics. He will dive into key issues like social justice, climate change, and economic inequality, offering insights into what this dynamic generation values and how their political engagement could shape the future.

Three students will share the stage with Della Volpe for a conversation following his remarks: FUSA President Andrew Mejia-Hernandez ’25, politics and international studies double-major Grace Rosella Lannigan ’25, and Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÒÅÆBellarmine’s Amauri Rodriguez FB’25. Philip Eliasoph, PhD, special assistant to the president for arts and culture, will moderate the discussion.

“The Sept 19 Student Forum program with national polling expert Della Volpe kicks off a semester of thoughtful, civil, student-focused conversations about the choices they can make in charting their destinies in American life," said Dr. Eliasoph, who is a professor of art history and visual culture, and founding director of the Open VISIONS Forum series. "Appreciating the unique role of the modern university as a neutral testing ground for the ‘marketplace of ideas,’  we welcome our community audience to share with our faculty and students by engaging in critical dialogues for enlightenment and educational clarity.” 

Prior to the OVF lecture event, more than 30 students will join with assistant professor of politics Aaron Weinstein, PhD, to participate in a afternoon workshop to discuss civic engagement with Della Volpe. Nicholas Kapoor M’18, associate director of the Center for Academic Excellence will also be on hand, as will members of the local League of Women Voters, who will staff a (nonpartisan) voter-registration information table.

John Della Volpe has led the Harvard Kennedy School’s polling initiatives on understanding American youth since 2000. His best-selling book, Fight: How Gen Z is Channeling Their Fear and Passion to Save America, has been called "the definitive account of America's next great generation," and "a great read with a tremendous amount of learning for anyone in the business of marketing, selling, or otherwise engaging with the most exciting generation in decades."

“How Will Gen Z Vote? Taking the Pulse of Today’s Youth” is presented in collaboration with the Frederickson Family Innovation Lab, the Office of Student Engagement, and the Department of Politics at Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÒÅÆ.

The Quick Center thanks Cohen & Wolf, P.C., and StagsVote for serving as sponsors of this Open VISIONS Forum event. Tickets are now on sale on quickcenter.com for $20 ($10 for Quick Members) and $5 for Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÒÅÆ students. For more information, contact the Quick Center Box Office at 203-254-4010, Monday through Friday, from 12 to 5 p.m.

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