Faculty and students alike will be able to share their opinions while learning more about poverty  both historically and currently as the Ready for the World campaign sponsors the "Photography, Poverty and Politics in the South and Abroad" lecture series at the Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy. 

These events kick off Feb. 4, and will continue on Feb. 11. The photography, along with the discussions focus around the South and how the culture has been shaped by the poverty and the families who deal with poverty on a daily basis.

From 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. on Feb. 4, the Baker Center will jump start the summit with a panel discussion titled "Poverty and the Politics of Outreach and Engagement. At 7 p.m. the East Tennessee History Center will lead a community book discussion on "Let Us Now Praise Famous Men." 

The summit will conclude on Feb. 11 at 7 p.m. at the Baker Center with an illustrated lecture and exhibit by UT professor Baldwin Lee, "Photography, Poverty and Culture in the South." Lee took an illustrated journey through poverty in the South, which will be displayed in the Baker Center Rotunda. 

An accompanying photography exhibit will include Lee's photography and Walker Evans' photographs from his work "Let Us Now Praise Famous Men." This exhibit will be on display until March 31.

The series has come out of the Fortune Magazine assignment given to author James Agee and photographer Walker Evans. Their adventure through the South captured the essence of the 1930s here in the South. The events this month and throughout the semester will showcase that work.

These events will take place in a variety of venues and will include several different UT associations. All the events are free and open to the public.