The evening of February 25th will be a unique experience at historic Grand Stafford Theater. Poverty, Inc. is an acclaimed documentary about the Western approach to international development and its mixed results. Discussing the roots of poverty, this documentary is based on over 200 interviews from 20 different countries to build awareness on profiting contractors and organizations. The film will highlight this multi-billion dollar poverty industry to segue into a community forum afterwards. This event will be led by a panel of Texas A&M leaders of various backgrounds; The Norman Borlaug Foundation, The Center for New Ventures and Entrepreneurship at Mays Business School, and Mosbacher Institute for Trade, Economics and Public Policy at the Bush School of Government and Public Service.
Daniela Silva, the initiator and moderator of the event, is a graduate student in the College of Agriculture. Silva states, “I hope that this film will provide some insight into development work and force people to question the status quo.” She hopes for people in attendance to consider the realm of charities and social entrepreneurship through a scope that questions why poverty exists.
The evening will begin with good conversation and food to kick start a sense of community at the Stafford. Supported by the innovative developers of AdventGX, the Stafford will transform into a vibrant center for community engagement. Communications Director Joan Quintana explains, “Events like these provide opportunity for intellectual engagement and are great for building community and enhancing quality of life.”