In A Kind of Genius: Herb Sturz and Society’s Toughest Problems (PublicAffairs), Sam Roberts offers a window onto Herb Sturz’s extraordinary life’s work. Sturz began his long career in social entrepreneurship by reforming the bail system and founding the Vera Institute of Justice. He served as New York City’s deputy mayor for criminal justice under Ed Koch and then as chairman of the City Planning Commision. He moved on to establish affordable inner-city housing and programs for at-risk individuals. But Sturz has, to date, largely eschewed the public’s eye.
Roberts pays tribute to Sturz’s inspirational legacy of accomplishment. His initiatives have consistently provided solutions to our most challenging problems.
The Open Society Institute hosted a discussion of A Kind of Genius with the following panelists:
- Sam Roberts, urban affairs correspondent for the New York Times;
- Herb Sturz, senior adviser at the Open Society Institute, founding chairman of The After-School Corporation, and founding director of the Vera Institute of Justice;
- Christopher Stone, professor of the practice of criminal justice at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government.
Aryeh Neier, president of the Open Society Institute, introduced the event.
Read more
Voices
The Legacy of Herb Sturz: Solving Society’s Toughest Problems
Herb Sturz talks about his work on criminal justice, housing, and urban planning in New York City.
Homicide Reduction
Q&A: How One Colombian City Is Tackling Violent Crime
Palmira, Colombia, is one of the most violent cities in the world. But a prevention program focusing on youth has reduced crime significantly—and earned it an international peace prize. The city’s mayor on what’s working.
In Remembrance
Lani Guinier’s Overlooked Education Legacy
The late Lani Guinier thought deeply about the intersection between education and criminal justice. Her leadership at Open Society helped pave the way to colleges across the country offering higher education to the incarcerated.