In his seminal 1962 book The Other America, Michael Harrington exposed the prevalence of poverty amidst America’s affluence, and was influential in inspiring that decade’s War on Poverty. The Michael Harrington Center for Democratic Values and Social Change was formed at Queens College to honor his lifelong commitment to creating a just society. A distinguished professor of political science, Harrington taught at QC from 1972 until his death in 1989.

Carrying on his legacy of activism and education, the Harrington Center promotes public discourse about social issues, advocates for social change, and partners with others to build a more equitable society. As an outreach-oriented social science institute, the center sponsors community dialogues, conferences, colloquia, and workshops. Its research covers such topics as public health, educational equity, drug policy, conflict resolution, and poverty.