From 1999 to 2016, records show, Jackson County logged nearly 174,000 evictions – an average of about 42 per business day. Alarmingly, the leading predictor was race. Analysis by activist Tara Raghuveer revealed a disproportionate impact on African-Americans.

The findings parallel those of sociologist Matthew Desmond, who embedded himself in two poor neighborhoods in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for his Pulitzer Prize-winning book Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City. Raghuveer’s research, conducted under his guidance, was cited in the book.

Raghuveer, a native Kansas Citian and graduate of Harvard College, presents her findings and then joins a panel discussion of the issues surrounding eviction in the Kansas City area. KCPT-Kansas City PBS’ Nick Haines moderates the town hall event, which will be recorded by KCPT for later broadcast.

Co-presented by the Black Community Fund and KCPT-Kansas City PBS. The event is the first in a series focusing on eviction and other housing issues in Kansas City.