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Embracing Hopelessness

On Jan. 22, 2020, Miguel De La Torre, PhD, professor of Social Ethics and Latinx Studies at Iliff School of Theology in Denver, presented on the concept of hope as a uniquely Eurocentric phenomenon, and how and why he believes that hopelessness, as a state of mind, is actually a powerful method to inspire social-justice work. De La Torre shared stories and examples, from Cuernavaca, Mexico to New York City, to Auschwitz and beyond, to posit that the opposite of hope is desperation—and that this can be used as fuel towards organizing and action, rather than accepting the status quo.

Event recap: Abandon Hope

Full video and podcast recordings of the event are available below.

Additional resource:

Learn about the health equity issues affecting Coloradans at Collective Colorado, a publication of The Colorado Trust.