Andrew Yang '96, Founder of Humanity Forward and Former 2020 Presidential Candidate

DISCUSSION WITH ALEX WAGNER '99, CO-HOST AND EXECUTIVE PRODUCER OF THE CIRCUS

“Yang didn't just make history -- he unquestionably put a sizable dent in the future as well.” - CNN, February 12, 2020

On the heels of what is considered to be the most important election of our lifetime, the Brown Club in NY is thrilled present a conversation between two alums who have been right in the midst of it all: former 2020 presidential candidate Andrew Yang '96 and Alex Wagner '99, co-host and executive producer of The Circus, the Showtime series about the election. Learn more about Andrew's newest venture, Humanity Forward, and get an insider point of view as these two Brown alumni friends catch up, unpack the election, and offer their insight into these turbulent times.

Andrew Yang '96 is an entrepreneur, author, philanthropist, and former 2020 presidential candidate. Initially dubbed a "longer than long shot" candidate by The New York Times in 2018, Andrew became a top-tier contender for the presidency, raising nearly $40 million in grassroots funding. With a vision to rewrite the rules of the United States economy through a “Freedom Dividend” of $1,000 a month for every American adult, Andrew became one of the most exciting stories in the 2020 race. Andrew's nationwide support, known as the “Yang Gang,” propelled him to seven Democratic primary debates, outlasting six senators, four governors, three members of congress, two mayors, and one secretary.

Andrew then founded Humanity Forward, an organization built to realize the vision and ideas of his presidential campaign. Through both advocacy and action, Humanity Forward’s vision is to foster a human-centered America that measures each person for their intrinsic value, not their economic value. Prior to running for office, Andrew founded Venture for America, a non-profit that created thousands of jobs in Detroit, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, and other cities throughout the country. In his best-selling book, The War on Normal People, he explains the mounting job-loss crisis due to automation, making the case for Universal Basic Income. Andrew was named a Presidential Ambassador of Entrepreneurship by the White House under the Obama administration and a Champion of Change for his work with Venture for America.

Alex Wagner '99 is a co-host and executive producer of Showtime’s “The Circus,” a weekly documentary chronicling American politics. She is also a contributing writer at The Atlantic, and the author of Futureface, a critically-acclaimed memoir about identity and immigration. Wagner is a former special correspondent with CBS News and co-host of CBS This Morning: Saturday. Prior to this, she was the host of the Emmy-nominated NOW with Alex Wagner on MSNBC. She was a reporter with the Huffington Post, where she covered innovation and the American economy, and also served as the White House Correspondent for AOL’s Politics Daily. Earlier, Wagner was the executive director of Not on Our Watch, a grant-making and advocacy non-profit created to stop mass atrocities. Before that, she spent four years as the editor-in-chief of The Fader magazine, covering music and culture around the world.

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Questions? Email: patti.galluzzi@brownnyc.org