Virtual Community: The Common Read

“The Common Read is one of the many ways we build community at Harris. Our goal is to create an environment that is inclusive and respectful of differing opinions and where challenging popular discourse and thinking critically is strongly encouraged. The Common Read is a shared experience that forms our commitment to learn, grow, and question during our time here at Harris.” — Michelle Hoereth, Director of Diversity & Inclusion

As students begin reading What the Eyes Don’t See by Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha for this year’s Common Read, we reached out to two students who participated in last year’s Common Read (Dylan Jacovo, MPP Class of 2021, and Mohamed Ali, MPP Class of 2021) to tell us about their experience.

Tell me a bit about yourself. What brought you to Harris to study public policy?

Mohamed Ali: I originally came to the U.S. with my family as a refugee from Sudan in 2001. I lived in predominantly low-income communities and attended underfunded inner-city public schools in Nashville, TN. I wanted to improve the conditions that I was all too familiar with, so I studied political science and sociology at the University of Tennessee. There, I gained the tools and academic language to scrutinize and describe the things I always knew to be true: that it was wrong how my community struggled to live; that my classroom size in public school was too large and our average ACT scores too low; and that my parents shouldn’t have had to leave their lives and families behind to ensure my siblings and I could get a decent education and live safe lives. I decided on policy school because I wanted to address these issues.   

Dylan Jacovo: I was born and raised in Phoenix, AZ. As a student of low-income public schools, I experienced the ramifications of misguided policies that created limited resources. And with family members who struggled with addiction, I also witnessed incarceration and criminalization championed over rehabilitation. Fortunately, I was blessed to receive support from a diverse community who connected me with the resources to attend college. As a first generation student at University of Arizona, I studied Political Science and Spanish with hopes of gaining skills that would allow me to give back to my community. While at U of A, I worked and interned with local criminal justice efforts, two U.S. Senate Offices, and in public schools throughout Tucson. Upon graduating, I quickly recognized addressing the issues I faced required a mastery of data. Harris offered a unique approach, and I knew the MPP program would help me reach these goals.

What were some key takeaways from the Common Read last year?

Mohamed Ali: It’s common to feel overwhelmed by all the work needed to impart positive change in the world. It can seem daunting. Reading Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson provided an inspiring example of how one man transformed the lives of many men unjustly imprisoned. The book exposes how racism continues to operate in insidious ways to oppress, control, disenfranchise, and kill Black and brown people. It forces us to step back and reconsider our conceptions of crime and its root causes, and to humanize the individuals we have allowed to be caged.

Dylan Jacovo: Having interned with a public defender and after taking many criminal Justice and constitutional law courses in Tucson, I felt I had a decent grasp on the injustices within our criminal justice system. Yet, this book directly outlines how policies, stereotypes, and biases continue to marginalize and oppress people of color. Participating in Common Read discussions with UChicago law professor Craig Futterman and other activists showed me that there was much more to unpack surrounding anti-racism and developing a more just criminal justice system.

What do you look forward to most about this year’s Common Read?

Mohamed Ali: What the Eyes Don’t See centers on the institutional failure and structural negligence that resulted in the Flint water crisis. I am excited for discussions around issues of just resource allocation and environmental racism.

Dylan Jacovo: What the Eyes Don't See is an incredible book that demonstrates where failed democracy and misguided policies can completely endanger a community. Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha embodies unique and important perspectives that should provide valuable insights on both policy and governance.