United Way of Pierce County is thrilled to announce that Matthew Desmond—renowned sociologist, MacArthur “Genius” Grant recipient, and author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City—will headline this year’s From Poverty to Possibilities summit.
Join us on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, from 8:30 am to noon at Hotel Murano in downtown Tacoma, for Pierce County’s premier community summit focused on breaking down barriers to economic equity.
Now in its ninth year, From Poverty to Possibilities (P2P) brings together hundreds of community leaders, service providers, advocates, and residents. It’s more than a gathering—it’s a catalyst for real change.
This Year’s Theme: The Urgency of Now… Mobilizing Community Power
How do we move beyond imagining a more just, resilient, and equitable community—and actively create it?
Together, we’ll explore:
• How to harness the power of our collective voices and experiences
• What must change to address poverty at its roots
• How to build resilience so every person has the opportunity to thrive
Expect thought-provoking discussions, inspiring local success stories, and actionable next steps. It’s a safe space for honest dialogue—one that forges new relationships and sparks lasting systems change.
Thanks to our generous sponsors, tickets are just $25, with scholarships available to ensure everyone can participate. Space is limited, so advance registration is required.
Event Details
When: Tuesday, November 18, 2025 | 8:30 am – 12:30 pm
Where: Hotel Murano | 1320 Broadway, Tacoma, WA
Cost: $25 | Scholarships available
SPEAKER
Matthew Desmond is the Maurice P. During Professor of Sociology at Princeton University as well as the Founding Director and Principal Investigator of The Eviction Lab. He is the author of five books: Poverty, by America (2023), Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City (2016), The Racial Order (with Mustafa Emirbayer, 2015), On the Fireline: Living and Dying with WIldland Firefighters (2007), and Race in America (with Mustafa Emirbayer, 2015). Desmond is a Contributing Writer for The New York Times Magazine, and his writing has appeared in The New Yorker and The Washington Post, among many other publications.
In 2015, Desmond was awarded a MacArthur Foundation Fellowship for “revealing the impact of eviction on the lives of the urban poor and its role in perpetuating racial and economic inequality.” He received the 2018 Stowe Prize for Writing to Advance Social Justice, awarded by the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center to authors whose work shines a light on critical social issues. In 2016, Desmond was named one of the Politico 50, one of "fifty people across the country who are most influencing the national political debate."
In 2018, Desmond’s Eviction Lab at Princeton University published the first-ever dataset of more than 80 million American eviction records. The Lab is currently pursuing nearly a dozen lines of inquiry analyzing this groundbreaking dataset that will help scholars, policymakers, and advocates better understand eviction, housing insecurity, and poverty.
For questions or cancellations, please contact
poverty2possibilities@uwpc.org or 253-272-4263
Intro Video
Representative Derek Kilmer
Representative Marilyn Strickland
Speaker & Presenter Bios
Post Event Survey
Event Pictures
Thank you to this year’s sponsors,
