In December 2017, CHRGJ Faculty Director and Co-Chair Philip Alston visited the United States in his official capacity as UN Special Rapporteur. Against the backdrop of this visit, the Center for Human Rights and Global Justice launched a year-long programming series to explore some of the most salient and distinctive elements of American poverty, and their multiple and intersecting impacts on human rights.

Through events ranging from lectures and panel discussions to expert roundtables and consultations held throughout the 2017-2018 academic year, CHRGJ aims to foster dialogue on a broad range of topics and examine whether human rights law, institutions, and discourse can enhance our understanding of poverty in the United States and contribute toward finding solutions.