Appalachian State University’s Reich College of Education presents “Flourishing Futures? Children, Families, and Communities in the Polycrisis”, a lecture by Joe Waters as part of the University Forum Speaker Series. Hosted by the college’s Child Advocacy Club, this free event will be held on Thursday, April 3, 2025, and is open to faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community members.
- Date: Thursday, April 3, 2025
- Time: 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
- Location: College of Education Building, Room 124
For disability accommodation, visit odr.appstate.edu.
Why attend
Waters, Co-Founder and CEO of the think tank Capita, will discuss the interconnected crises shaping our world — what some have termed the "polycrisis." From climate disruption and demographic shifts to the widespread loss of meaning among young people, these challenges push us to cultural, social, and ecological tipping points. In particular, families face mounting pressures, including the rising costs of housing, child care, and health care, wage stagnation, and increasing loneliness and anxiety—all contributing to a growing sense of insecurity. This insecurity is manifesting, in part, in a trend away from having children as birth rates plunge worldwide.
In this lecture, Waters will explore some of the major transformations of our time — social, demographic, cultural, technological, environmental, and economic — and their profound implications for families and our communities. He will argue that true leadership lies not just in solving immediate problems but in asking the right questions and cultivating a deeper understanding of underlying trends. Rather than presenting ready-made solutions, Waters will discuss how the audience can craft comprehensive, interdisciplinary approaches — bringing together business, civil society, and policymakers — to build a future where families and communities have every opportunity to flourish.
Questions? Please contact Rhonda Russell, faculty sponsor.
About the University Forum Lecture Series
The University Forum Lecture Series brings nationally prominent speakers to campus. Their views enliven campus dialogue on a variety of issues. Past speakers have included activist Gloria Steinem, conservationist Terry Tempest Williams, presidential historian Harold Holzer, CNN correspondent Peter Bergen and award-winning science journalist Carl Zimmer. Learn more at universityforum.appstate.edu.
Poster for event
