What: The Johns Hopkins Urban Health Institute and the Office of the Provost will co-host the Third Annual Symposium on the Social Determinants on Health on April 28, 2014. This year’s topic, Squandered Resources: Incarceration—Its Consequences, Costs and Alternatives, will feature speakers ranging from ex-offenders to community workers to academic policy experts. Conversation will center on tackling recidivism, criminal justice issues, health disparities, and solutions to these problems. The current wave of prisoner releases has sparked dialogue and controversy at state and nation levels, putting incarceration high on the list of pressing current issues.

Who: The event is open to the public and is expected to draw as many as 500 guests, a diverse audience of all ages and backgrounds from across the city.

High profile panelists at the event will include:• Congressman Elijah Cummings, Maryland’s 7th District• James Garbarino, Loyola University Chicago, who coined phrase “toxic environment”• Brother Ellsworth Johnson-Bey, Fraternal Order of X-Offenders• Kathryn Edin, JHU, co-author of the acclaimed book “Doing the Best I Can: Fatherhood in the Inner City”• Joe Jones, President and CEO of Center for Urban Families

Other notable guests will include:• Robert Blum, Director, Johns Hopkins Urban Health Institute• Robert Lieberman, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, JHU• Marshall “Eddie” Conway, released last month after 44 years in prison on murder charges, brought during the 1970’s wave of Black Panther arrests.

When: Monday April 28th, 2014, from 8:30 AM to 6:30 PMPress Statements will be given at 10:30 AM, 12:00 PM, and 2:30 PM, but press is free to come throughout the day

Where: Turner Auditorium in the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, 720 Rutland Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland 21205

Visuals/Presentations:• Performances by Dew More, the spoken-word group• “Graffiti” wall open to postings from the audience (large, will run down hallway)• Evening Performance by Baltimore Youth Initiative String trio, Fusion• Art Exhibit by Baltimore United Viewfinders, a youth-driven organization housed at MICA Place that uses the arts to explore definitions of self and place• Autographed books from several panelists speaking at the event• Roundtable discussions among people of all ages and backgrounds• Speaker PowerPoint presentations and materials

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The Urban Health Institute is the starting point for forging true University and community partnerships in health care, education and community planning, with all partners working to change the trajectory for the children, youth and families of East Baltimore.

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