Dr. John Della Volpe is the Director of Polling at the Harvard Kennedy School of Politics and was labelled by Time Magazine as “the GOAT (Greatest of All Time) political researcher when it comes to understanding youth in politics.” His recent book, “The Fight: How Gen Z Is Channeling Their Fear & Passion to Save America,” explores the events that shaped Generation Z (those born from the late 1990s to early 2000s): September 11, the war on terror, Hurricane Katrina, the 2008 financial crisis, the opioid epidemic, mass school shootings, climate change, and racial injustice. The political whiplash between the 2008 election of Barack Obama, the first black president, followed by Donald Trump’s presidency from 2017 to 2021, has shaped the thinking of Gen Z. Rather than buckle under the tremendous weight of a myriad of critical challenges, they have organized around the issues that America has left unsolved, from gun control to racial and environmental justice and economic inequality. They have become more politically engaged than their elders and are showing a unique willingness to disrupt the status quo. Della Volpe uncovers the forces shaping Zoomers’ lives and what they care most about as he explores the provocative issues that will affect your grandchildren’s lives and generations to come. LEARN MORE
