Cynicism has become the default lens through which many people view American life. According to Pew research, our trust in institutions is steadily eroding and being replaced by a hardened belief that our systems are broken and most government promises, empty lies. As Thanksgiving approaches, Cambridge Forum speaks with Rev. Andre K. Bennett, Steve Starring Grant and Emmanuel Maduneme, who have all forged strategies to navigate the stresses of everyday existence. Their experiences offer pragmatic suggestions, and optimistic ideas about how meaning can be reclaimed in a cynical age.
Rev. Andre K. Bennett serves as Pastor of Youth & Young Adults at Zion Baptist Church in Lynn, MA, and also ministers for First Baptist Church of North Oxford. A community leader and justice advocate.
Great is the Author of MAILMAN, a memoir that chronicles his year as a rural letter carrier after losing his highly paid job as a marketing executive. Working for the post office saved his life, he says.
Maduneme is an Assistant Professor of Mass Media at Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. A native of Nigeria, he holds a M.A. in Strategic Communication from the University of South Florida, and a Ph.D. in Communication & Media Studies from the University of Oregon.
