Updated: 8:00 PM EDT Jun 26, 2021
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CITY HOME TO OUR NATIONAL ANTHEM A CITYUILT B BY PIONEERS AND INNOVATORS. WE’RE AN INDUSTRY FOUND A NEW ROUTE. A CITY SPARKY BED IN THE KNOWLES A CITY SERVEBYD HEROES. WHERE PEOPLE MARCHED TOWARDS EQUALITY. IF WE CONTINUE TO WATCH OUR CITIZENS DIE IN HIS STREE ATSND BE QUIET. WE’RE NEVER GOING TO HAVE A RESOLUTION. BUT OUR CITYAS H BEEN PLAGUED WITH PROBLSEM BLIGHT SEEN FOR BLOC POVKSERTY-STRICKEN COMMUNITIES WITH NO HOPEND A GUN VIOLENCE AT EPIDEMIC PROPORTIONS. ARE FOLLOWING SOME BREAKING NEWS FROM WEST BTIALMORE WHERE SIX PEOPLE WERE SHOT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY FUELING A FRACTURED RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN POLICE. I DON’T THI WNKE NEED MORE POLICE, BUT I DO THINK WE NEED MORE ABOUT LEADERS IN THE COMMUNY,IT BUT THE PILLARS OF COMMUNITY AND CULTURE HAVEOT N FOLLOWED A BRIGHT FUTURE LIES AHEAD LAWMAKERS ACTIVISTS FORGING CHANGE WITH BOLD IDEAS. I WANT THEM TO GET TOGETHERIT S DOWN AND AROUND TABLE AND WE CAN DO. TO MAKE A DIFFENER OUR CITY IS STILL A TYCI WITH PROMISE. ODGO EVENING EVERYONE. I’M JASON NEWTON DAN I’M KYRIE REID. WELCOME TO TSHI PROJECT COMMUNITY SPECIAL BUILDING A BETTER BALTIMORE. WE’RE HERE AT THE REGINALD F. LEWIS MUSEUM OF MARYLAND AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE IN ETH HEART OF DOWNTOWN BALTIMORE WHERE MANY OF THE CITY STRUGGLES DOCUMENTED IN CLEAR VIEW. FOR THE NEXT HO,UR WE’LL TACKLE SOME OF THE SYSTEMIC PROBLEMS FACING BALTIMORE, BUT WLLE’ ALSO CELEBRATE THE CITY’S SUCCESSES AND SPEAK WITH SOME OF THE CITY’S DIFFERENCE MAKERS WHO ARE DETERMINED TO BRING ABOUT POSITIVE AND LASNGTI CHANGE IN ILLUMINATE THE CHARM OF CHARM CITY. WELL, WEAN C’T HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT BALTIMORE. WITHOUT FIRST SPEAKING WITH THE MAYOR BRANDON SCOTT. THANKS FOR COMING BY I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. THANKS FOR HAVING ME MAN. BALTIMORE GUY LIKE ME, AND I’M CURIOUS JUST TO START OFF HERE YOUR FAVORITE MEMORYF O BEING IN BALTIMORE NOT AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, BUT JUST AS A BALTIMORE, WL,EL I THINK MY FAVORITE MEMORIEOFS FOR BALTIMORE FOR ME ARE REAYLL ABOUT LIKE SUMMER THINGS AND PRINCIPLES SO I WOULD THINK LIKE AFRAME OVER THE YEARS OR JUST REALLY BNGEI A YOUNG KID PLAYING IN BALTIMORE GOING TO THE PARK GOING TO DRU HILL PKAR POOL OR THE MANY TIMES THAT MERVO WE WERE ABLE TO WIN CITY CHAMPIONSHIPS AN PROVED OUT DOMINANCE TO THE OTHSER SOMEHOW SOMEHOW I EWKN IT IS KIDS RIGHT NOW. DO YOU THINK THEY HAVE THE SEAM OPPORTUNITY THAT YOU AND IID D TO DREAM ABOUT BALTIMORE. DO YOU FEEL LIKE OUR IMAGE IS HURTING THAT DREAM INTO THE FUTURE FOR A KID GROWINGP U RIGHT NOW? I THINK THAT OUR YOUNG PEOPLE AND AS YOU KNOW, I SPEND A LOT OF TIME TALNGKI TO THEM THEY HAVE BIGGER DREAMS THAN YOU AND I HAD JASON TO BE HONEST WHEN UYO TALK TO YOUNG PEOPLE IN OUR SCHOOLS THE STUDENTS WHAT THEY SAY IS THAT THEYAN WT TO PROVE THE WORLD WRONG ABOUT WHAT PEOPLE THINK THEY ARE AND WHAT THEY THINK THEY WANT FOR THEMSELVES THEY WANT. CITY TO BE BETTER AND I THINK I HAD OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO A TOWN HALL A FEW WEEKS AGO THAT WAS ORGANIZED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL THE THIRD GRADER HENDERSON HOPKINS IN EAST BAIMLTORE, RIGHT THE BEST TOWN HALL I EVER BEEN AT IN MY LIFE AND WHAT THOSE YOUNG PEOPLE WERE ASKING ME ABOUT WHERE THEY WEREN’T ASKING ME QUESTIONS ABTOU THEN THEY WEER ASKING ME QUESTIONS DIRECTLY ABOUT HOW WE CAN MAKE OUR CITY BETTER HOW WE CAN KEEP MORE PEOPLE ALIVE HOW MORE KIDSAN C GO TO SCHOOLS LIKE THE WONDERFUL SCHOOL THAT THEY GO TO HOW WE CAN IMPROVE POOLS AND REC CENTERS HOW WE CAN GET ADULTS AS THEY SAY TO STOP DUMPING TRASH EVERYWHERE. THAT’S WHAT OUR YOUNG PEOPLE ARE ABOUT AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE MANY THINGS GATRE THINGS THAT THEY DO EACH DAN EVERY DAY IT JUST COUNTERACTS THIS NARRATIVE THAT FKSOL PUT OUT ABOUT THEM AND I JTUS WISH WE TALKED ABOUT THE GREATNESS OFUR O YOUNG PEOPLE MORE A LIFELONG RESIDENTS A FATHER HERE. I KNOW THAT THERE’S GOOD, BUT I’LL BE STRAIGHT UP WITH YOU. IHI TNK THAT WE ARE WE RUN INTO A TIME WHERE THERE’S FRUSTRATION WITH ALL THE THINGS THAT THE YOUNG PEOPLE BROUGHT UP AND I’M CURIOUS OF WHATHAT W THE ANSWER IS. WHAT DO WE NEED TO TACKLE FIRST AS WE REBUILDND A GET BACK TO TO OUR TIME. WE,LL I THINK FOR ME JASON IT’S NOT GTINGET REBUILDING GETTING BACK TO OUR TIME RIGHT BECSEAU I THINK FOR ME WHEN I LOOK ATT, I I HAVE UNDERSTAND THAT BALTIMORE HAS BEEN THE WAY IT IS THE ENTIRETY OF MY LIFE AND WHAT WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND. IF WE CONTIENU TO OPERATE THE SAME WAY THAT WE DID THAT WHOLE TIME WE’RE GONNA GET THE SAME RESUSLT IF WE GO BACK TO THINGS THAT WE TRIED RIGHT THAT MADE PEOPLE FEEL GOOD. FOR EXAMPLE WHEN I WAS YOUNGER AND YOU WERE AT COLLEGE RIGHT I COULD JUST BE OUTSIDE AND THE POLICE COULD JUST SIT ME DOWN ON A CURB AND HANDCUFFS JTUS BECAUSE I WAS OUTSIDE ANDHA TT DIDN’T MAKE BALTIMORE SAFER. IN FACT WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT WHERE WE ARE TODAY THAT PART IN PART PLAYED TO WHERE WE ARE AS THE CITY BECAUSE WE HAVE PEOPLE'’ LIVES RUIN OVER OPEN CONTAINERS OR ORDERING WILL JUST BREATHING WHILE BLACK AND NOW THEY CAN’T PROVIDE FOR THEIR FAMILIESHA WT WE HAVE TO DO AND WHAT I AM CHARGING CITY GOVERNMENT TO DO UNDER MY LEADERSHIP IS BUILD A NEW CITY AND CITY GOVERNMTEN FROM THE GROUND UP. YOU CANNOT TAKE BALTIMORE TO A STURDY THE BEST VERSION OF ITSELF IF YOU’RE BUILDING THAT ON A FOUNDATIONHAT T IS CRACKED THAT IS ROTTEN THAT IS WRITTEN WITH RACISM THAT IS WRITTEN WITH POLICIES THAT DO NOT BELIEVE ALL BALTIMORE DESERVE THE SAME TREATMENT. SO THAT’S WHAT WE’RE DOING AND MULTIFACETED APPROACH THAT’S WHY WE’RE DOING THISNG LIKE REWORKING THE ENTIRE PROCUREMENT SYSTEM. THAT’S WHY WE BROUGHT IN THE SUPERSTAR TEAM THAT WE HAVE OF DEPUTY MAYORS AND AGENCIES DIRECTORS LIKE OUREW N DPW DIRECTOR JASON MITCHELL WHO'’ COMING FROM A CITY OAKLAND THAT WERE THROUGH SIMILAR CHALLENGES ABLE TO DEAL WITH ILLEGAL DUMPING TO TGE THE TRASH AND THINGS PICKED UP ON TIME TO MAKE SURE THAT FKSOL ARE RECYCLING. THOSE THINGS ARE SYSTEMATIC AND ENTH WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT DEALING WITHHE T DISEASE KNOWN AS GUN VIOLENCE IT HAS TO BE A NOUNND A THE FUTURE APPROACH NOT EITHER OR SO SO MANY WE HEAR FROM PUNDITS AND OTHER FOLKS WHO SAY LIKE WELL, WHYON D’T WE JUST GO BACK TO LOCKING PEOEPL UP FOR EVERY LITTLE PETTY CRIME. WELL, WHY WOULD WE DO THAT WHEN WE KNOW THEY DIDN’T WORK IN THE FIRST PCELA RIGHT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE YEARS WHERE BALTIMORE HAD OUR LOWEST AMOUNTS OF HOMICIDES. WE WERE OUT THERE RESTING PEOPLE FOR EVERY LITTLE THINGIG RHT IF YOU COMPARE 2101 WHAT WE HAD 197 HOMICIDES TO 2003 WHEN WE HAD 278 THERE WAS FREQUENTLY LSES ARREST IN 2011 BECAUSE IN BALTIMORE WHEN YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT A VIOLENCE, IT’S NEVER BEEN ABOUT HOW MANY BUT WHO AND THAT’S WHY' ’VE CHARGED OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AND MY MAYOR’S OFFICE NEIGHBORHOOD SAFETY ENGAGEMENT AND DEVELOPING A GROU VPIOLENCE REDUCTION STRATEGY, WHICH WE’RE GOING TO FINALLY KICKFF O AND DO THE RIGHT WAY IN BALTIMORE AFTER FAILING TO DO IT TWICE WHAT PWE’RE GOING TO FOCUSN O THOSE MOST VIOLENT GROUPS BRINGING RESOURCES THE BED FOR INDIVIDUALS IN THE GROUPS WHO WANT TO CHAENG THEIR LIVES WE HAVE TO OLVEEV MORE WE REALLY REALLY BEEN THINKING FOR MANY YEARS THAT WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY THAT IT FALLS SOLELY ON THE SHOULDERS OF BPD THE POLICE COMMISSION IN THE MAYOR. WELL WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT YOU PULL BACK THAT VEIL A LITTLE BIT YOU CAN UNDERSTAND THAT ACTUALLY I’M A CONTROL OF ONE AGENCY THE POLICE DEPARENTMT. THE JAILS ARE RAN BY THE STATE. SO OF COURSE OBVIOUSLY ARE HANDLED EVEN BETWEEN THE STATE’S ATTORNEY TO JUDSGE AND THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE PAROLE AND PROBATION IS HANDLE BY THE STATE ALL OF THOSE THINGS AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER AND IT’S GONNA BE IMPORTANT AND WHAT WE’RE GOING TO DO IS HAVE OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE COORDINATING COUNCIL BE AN ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISM THROUGH LIKE THE LENS OF A CITY STAT SO TO SPEAK SO TTHA WHEN WE SEE INDIVIDUALS WHO SHOULD NOT BE ON THE SEETRTS OF BALTIMORE WE CAN GO BACK AND FIX AND SAY WHAT HAPPENED. WHY IS IT THAT THIS PERSON WHO WAS ON PAROLE AND PROBATION OR HOME MONITORING OR WHO WAS ARRESTED WITH A GUN THAT HE WASN’T SUPPOSED TO HAVE RELEASED TWO DAYS LATER ON THE STRTEE ONLY TO BE SHOTR O SHOOT SOMEONE. THAT’S THE TOUGH WORK THAT WE HAVE TOO, D BUT THIS IS ALL ROOTED AND PATIENCE. SO I THINK YOU’RE LOOKING FOR RE SIDENTS TO SAY WE’RE GOING TO GIVE IT A SHOT. TBU WHAT DO YOU SAY TO YOU KNOW, MISS JONES OF THE CORNER SSAY I’VE HAD IT I NEED YOU TO CHANGE IT TODAY. WHAT ARE THINGSHAT T A COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION AND HOWARD PARK OR PARK GUYS, WHOEVER WHAT CAN THEY DO TODAY TO BE A PARERTN WITH YOU SO THAT THE HEADLINE THAT I READ TOMORROW WON’T BE THE ONES I READ TODAY. YEAH. IT’S AND LISTEN, NO ONE'’ MORE IMPATIENT THAN ME AND WHEN YOU WHEN FOLKS SEE HOW I INTERACT WITH MY AG. HERE, THIS IS WHY I NOW MAKE THEM WALK AROUND WITH ME AT 9 O’CLOCK ALL NIGHT ON FRIDAY SOMETHING AS YOU KNOW THAT I’M ACCUSTOMED TO DOING SO THEY CAN SEE WHAT MY RESIDENCY SOY THE CAN NOW CAN UNDERSTAND AND FEEL THE PRESSEUR THAT THIS ISN’T THE ADMINISTRATIONS OF THE PAST THAT I WANT TO SEE NOT JUST BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE BUT THERE ARE THINGS THAT THEY CAN DO NOW. WE’RE ALWAYS WANTING TO PARTNER. THIS IS WHY WE’RE DOINGHINGS T FOR EXAMPLE, WE WERE DOWN IN BROOKLYN CURTIS BAY WORKING WITH THAT COMMUNITY THROUGH ONE OF OUR COMMUNITY POLICE AND PALACE BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY SO WE WANT TO WORK WITH COMMUNITIES EVERY DAY. WE NEED PEOPLE TO GIVE US INFORMATION. WE CAN’T DO THIS ALONE. IT’S IMPOSSIBLE. WE NEED THAT PARERTNSHIP AND WE’RE LOOKING TO PARTNER WITH NEIGHBORS, BUT WE ALSO I WILL ALSOE B LOOKING TO HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE JOBS THAT THEY GET PAID TO DO. ONE THING WE WILL HAVE TO DO IN THIS PART OF COVID IT DROVE SOME BUSINESS AWAY OUR CONVENTNIO CENTER GUN EMPTY GUYS, LIKE HOW HUTCHINSON WORNG TKIO GET THE ATTRACTIONS AND GET PEOPLE BACK. HO DOW WE END UP MAKING BALTIMORE ATTRACTIVE? HOW DO WE HOW DO WE TELL FOLKS? LISTEN? WE’RE OPEN FOR BUSINESS? YOU KNOW SURE LISTENO T HEADLINES, BUT WE’RE HEREO T BRING YOUR ORGANIZATIONS IN. YEAH, I THINK THAT WE’RE IN IT. I WAS FUNNY I WAS TALKING WITH ALAN AND VISIT BALTIMORE BOY EARLIER TODAY,ND A IT’S REALLY ABTOU UNDERSTANDING THAT WE CAN SHOW FOLKS THAT AND WHEN PEOPLE NTWA TO COME HERE, WE’RE GONNA BE HAVING THE CIAA BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT SOMETHING. I KNOW YOU’VE BEEN THROUGH IN YOUR LIFETIME AND KNOW HOW BIG OF A DEAL THAT IS WEAN C SHOW FOLKS THAT NOW BALTIMORE HAS THE LEADERSHIP THAT IS NEVER GOING TO SHY AWAY FROM THE ISSUES THAT WE HEAV BUT DOING SOMETHING THAT WE REAYLL AND IN BALTIMORE SINCE MAYOR SCHAEFER EMBARRASSED HIMSELF JUMPING IN THE WATER. WE’RE GONNA HAVE IT MAYOR WHO WILL POUND THIS CHEST AND SAY BALTIMORE IS GREAT. WE HAVELL T AHESE THINGS GOING ON. WE WANT PEOPLE TO COME HERE. WE’RE GONNA MAKE SURE THAT WE’RE HANDLING OUR ISSUES, BUT WE’RE GONNA TELL OUR OWN SRYTO AND WE’RE GNAON STOP ALLOWING TV STATNSIO CABLE NETWORKS OTHER FOLKS DICTATE OUR STORE. WE’RE GONNA TELL FOLKS EACH AND EVERY DAY THAT BALTIMORE IS A CITY. THEY SHOULD COME TO WE KNOW PEOPLE LOVE COMING TO BALTIMORE. I HEAR FMRO FOLKS ALL THE TIME, BUT WE HAVE TO TELL THAT STORY IN A WAY TO OWSH IS THE BEST OF BALTIMORE AND PUTS US IN A POSITION WHERE PEOPLE CAN RECOGNIZE HOW GREAT. AFTER THE BREAK MARYLAND STATE SENATOR, CORY MCCRAY WILL JOIN JASON AND THE MORAY TO TALK ABOUTHE T GROUNDBREAKING LEGISLATION ON POLICING PAST THIS YEAR DURING THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, BUT FIRST BUILDING A BETTER BALTIMORE THROUGH THE CITY’S CHILDREN’S CABINET. IT'’ AN INITIATIVE BRINGING TOGETHER CITY AND STATE RESOURCES ALONG WHIT EXTERNAL PARTRSNE TO INCREASE INVESTMENT IN BALTIMORE’S UTYO HEY, WELCOME BACK MAYOR SCOTT STILL THWI US, BUT WE’RE ALSO JOINED BY MARYLAND STATE. SENATOR, CORY MCRAE. SETONAR. MCCRAY WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN GETTING THE STATE’S LANDMARK. POLICE REFORM BILL. THROUGH THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. THANKS COMING BY I AREPPCIATE THANK YOU JASON FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. YOU KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT THIS A LITTLE BIT BEFORE BUT I’M JUST CURIOUS AND FOR PEOPLEHO W MAY NOT HAVE SEEN THAT EPISODE. WHYAS W IT IMPORTANT NOW TO MAKE RESU YOU GOT THAT LEGISLATION THROUGH I THINK THAT AS WE SEEING WHAT THE INCENIDT WITH OCEAN CITY WE SEE ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT THIS SWA THE MOMENT. I’M GLAD THAT MERLIN COULD BE THAT LEADER BUT IN ORDER TO RESTORE TRUST AND NOT JUSTUT O URBAN JURISDICTIONS ROLL JURISDICTIONS JURISDICTIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE POLICE DEPARTMENTS THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO WORK WITH IN THAT. IT IS WORKINGAN HD IN HAND WITHOUT POLICE DEPARTMENTS WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT WORKING HAND, AND IEA MN THAT’S EVERY DAY FOR YOU WORKING WITH THE COMMISSIONER. TALK ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT BALANCE. WE WANT PEOPLE TO CALL 911 LIKE WE WANT TO BELIEVE IN THE POLICE FORCE, BUT THE SAME TIME WE’RE STILL LOOKING FOR THAT TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY. HOW DO YOU BALANCE THE SCALES AS YOU TALK TO CITIZENS? WELL, IT’S IT'’ ONE IN THE SAME WE CANNOT AND WE WILL NOT HAVE A SAFE BTIALMORE AND HAVE A POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT HAS A RELATIONSHIP THAT IT NEEDS WITH THE RESIDENTS OF BALTIMORE. IFE W DO NOT TOTALLY REFORM IT FOR US HERE IN BALTIMORE. WE’RE VERY GRATEFUL TO THE SENATOR AND EVERYONE IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY FOR PUSHING THE STATE ALONG. WE WE KNOW THAT WE’VE BEEN A LEADER HERE THROUGHOUT CONSENT DECREE AND MANY DIFFERENT REFORMS OF THAT FOLKS EVEN TALK ABOUT THE NATIONAL LEVEL. I CAN’T COUNT THE TIMES AS COLLEAGUES THAT I HAVE ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAVE TALKED TO US ABOUTOW H WE DID IT. WE NEED THAT BUT THIS IS ALSO WHY WE NEED THESE POLICIES IN PLACE SO THAT EVERYONE IN THE STATE IS IN THE LINE AND SO THAT NO FOLKS CAN UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS NOT ABOUT TTGEING A GREAT OFFICERS WHO WORK EACH AND EVERY DAY, BUT WHEN PEOPLE GO OVER THE LINE WHERE PEOPLE DON’T TREAT TREAT PEOPLE WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT WHERE PEOPLE MISUSE THAT POWER THAT THEY HAVE THERE HAS TO BE LEVELS OF ACCOUNBITALITY AND SYSTEMS OF TRANSPARENCY THERE AND THAT’S WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT HERE SONJA BECAUSE THIS IS AS THE SENATOR SAID A MOMTEN NOT JUST FOR BALTIMORE NOT JUST FOR THE STATE OF MARYLAND NOT FOR OUR COUNTRY, BUT REALLY THE WORLD TO UNDERSTAND THAT IF NEW SYSTEMS AREN’T BUILT. VALUE EVERYONE, ESPECIALLY YOUNG BLACK PEOPLE WNHE YOU TALK ABOUT THE INTERACTIONS WITH POCELI THEN WE’RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO SEE THE ISSUES THAWET HAVE IN THIS COUNTRY. SO IS THAT WHY I WAS IMPORTANT TO HAVE CIVILIAN REVIEW BOASRD TO MAKE SURE CIVILIANSAD H A VOICE AS A MAYOR SAYING TO MAKE RESU YOU HAD THAT RELATIONSHIP, BUT THAT’S VERY IMPORTANT. SO YOU THINK ABOUT THE CIVILIAN REVIEW BOARD YOU THINK ABOUT BODY CAMERAS? YOU TNKHI ABOUT THE USE OF FORCE THAT’S BEING USED ACRSOS LIKE THE MAYOR STATED THE COUNTRY FOR THE WORLD TO SEE YOU. THINK AUTBO JUST THE TRANSPARENCY AND REFERENCE TO THOSE FKSOL THAT ARE TAKING THESE HEINOUS ACTIONS WITHIN OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT. THESE ARE ALL NECESSARY REFORMS THAT I’M GLAD THAT OUR LEADERS AND THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES AND THE MARYLAND STEAT SENATE WAS ABLE TO PUT FORWARDND A GET PAST. BUT JASON WE SEE ACROSS THE COUNTRY AS THE MAYOR STATED. THIS IS BEING DISCUSSED. HOW DID YOU DO IT MARYLAND? THERE WILL BE SOME PEOPLE WHO WILL SAY THAT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR POLICE OFFICER TO DO THEIR JOB EFFECTIVELYF I WE KEEP ADDING WHAT SOMEBODY PERCEIVE AS HURDLES TO THEM. DO YOU FEEL DO YOU FEEL I I DON’T I DON’T JASON AND THIS IS WHY RIGHT? WE’RE NOT TALKING ABOUT NOT ALLOWING OUR POLICE OFFICERS TO BE ABLE TO GO OUT AND GET A LEGAL GUNS OFF PEOPLE AND STOP PELEOP FROM ROBBING PEOPLE, BUT WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IS MAKING SURE THAT WE DON’T GO THROUGH THINGS LIKE WE DID WITH THE GUN TCE TRAASK FORCE AND OTHERS AGAIN. WE DON’T HEAV PEOPLE DYING AND AND POLICE CUSTODY HERE IN BALTIMORE AND ACROSS THE STATE OF MARYLAND. THAT’S WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT. WE WILL SUPPORT OUR POLICE OFFICERS THROUGH REFORM TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAN DO THEIJOR B AND THEY IN A WAY, WE WILL STAND BY FOLKS WHO DO THINGS THE RIGHT WAY, BUT THIS IS ABOUT HOLDING PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE WHO DO THE WRONG. BUT ALSO BEING MORE TNSRAPARENT YOU THINK THIS WILL CHANGE SOME PERCEPTION IN COMMUNITIES. I KNOW FOR SOME FOLKS. THEY THERE’S REFUSAL TO CALL 1.91 MAYBE THEY JUST DON’T YOU KNOW THAT IT’S THE TRUST ELEMENT WILL THAT TRICKLE DOWN TO THEM? DO YOU FEEL I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT THIS DOES NOT WORK WITHOUT THE COMMUNITY? OKAY. SO WITHOUT THE COMMUNITY HAVING THAT LEVEL OF TRUST THAT AT ONE POINT IN TIME WAS THERE, I BELIEVE JASON AS WE WERE COMING UP YOU HAD OFFICE OF FRIENDLY YOU HAD ENGAGED IN THE SCHOOLS. YOU HAD PAL CENTERS YOUAD H A CERTAIN LEVEL OF ENGAGEMENT BECAUSE YOU KNEW THAT POLICE OFFICERS. FAMILY MEMBERS TYHE WERE YOUR FRIENDS. THEY WERE YOUR NEIGHBORS FROM THAT STANDPOINT AND WE NEED TO GET BACK TO ATTH CRUX BECAUSE THEY HAVEN’T CHANGED THAT MUCH, BUT YOU’RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT IN ORDER TO GET WREHE WE NEED TO BE. THE COMMUNITY IS A PART OF THIS EQUATION ANDE W NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE’RE TAKING BAD GUYS OFF THE STREET WITH THE COMMUNITY IS HELPING US DO JUST JASON I WOULD JUST ADD INTO THAT TO THAT. WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND ALSO THAT THIS IS ABOUT WORK THAT SPEAKER JONES RIGHT A BLACK WOMAN WHO HAVE SEEN THIS HAPPEN FOR MUCH OF OUR LIFETIME AND ATWH LITTLE DATA AND SENATE PRESIDENT DID HERE THIS IS ABOUT HAVING THE COURAGEO T DO WORK THAT IS NECESSARYO T DO NOW THAT YOU ARE NOT GOING TO SEE THE FULL BENEFITS OF BECAUSE WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THIS BIG SYSTEMS CHANGE CULTURAL CHANGING WORK, WE’RE NOT GOING TO BE ELECTED WHEN TTHA DAY COMES WHERE EVERYONE FEELS LIKE WE’VE GOT TO THAT POINT, BUT YOU HAVE TO HAVE A STARTING POINT AND LIKE WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER THE PERSON WHO’S PUTNGTI THOSE FOUNDATIONAL BUILDING BLOCKS. IT’S JUST ASMP IORTANT AS THE PERSON WHO PUTS THE NICE FANCY THING AT THE TOP OF THE BUDIILNG AND THIS HIS WORK THAT HAS TO BE DONE, BUT IT WLIL NOT HAPPEN OVERNIGHT BECAUSE WE'R’ TALKING ABOUT ISSUES THAT EXISTED LONGER THAN THREE OF US HAVE BEEN ALIVE. YEAH SENATOR. THANK YOU FOR TIME. APPRECIATE JASON. THANK YOU,IR S. STRAIGHT AHEAD BUILDING A BETTER BALTIMORE THROUGH CIVIC ENGAGEMENT FOUR KEY PLAYERS, AND THEY’RE PUSHED TO GET THE COMMUNITY INVOLVED. BUT FIRST WE SPOTLIGHT THAT’S INDAYA FAMILY FOUNDATION THROUGH FOOD GIVEAYSWA NEIGHBORHOOD CLEANUPS AND OTHER PROGRAMS THIS GRPOU OF ACTIVISTS IS ADVANCING BALTIMORE THROUGH SELF-IMPROVEMENT AND COMMUNITY SERVICE. HERE MEET NICOLE HANSEN MUNDELL THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF OUT FOR JUSTICE THE ORGANIZATION FOCUSES ON ENGAGING EDUCATING AND EMPOWERING THOSE WITH CRIMIN.AL GUARDS TO RE-ENTER INTO SOCIETY FOR MORE TNHA A DECADE NOW. NICOLE HAS WORKED TO REFORM LOLCA AND STATEWIDE RE-TRYEN POLICIES ORCHESTRATED VOTER REGISTRATION OPPORTUNIESTI FOR RETURNING CITIZENS AND SP EARHEADED A RE-ENTRY HEALTH NEEDS ASSESSMENT RESEARCH PROJECT. SHE SAYS HER PASSION FOR RE-ENTRY WORK COMES FROM HER OWN LIFE EXPERIENCE. AND NICOLE IS HERE WITH US TONIGHT. SHE’S JOINED BY RYAN TURNER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY LAW AND ACTION WHI WCHORKS WITH BALTIMORE YOUTH TO LEAD EFFECTIVE POSITIVE CHANGE FOR THEIR SCHOOLS AND NEIGHBORHOODS DARREN ROGERS FOUNDER OF IM A MENTALITY AND ALFONSO MAYO FONDO OF MENTORING MENTORS BOTH LEAD YOHUT MENTORSHIP PROGRAMS IN BALTIMORE CITY. THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU FOR FOR BEING HERE WITH US. WE SO APPRECIATE IT. COOL. I WANT TO START WITH YOU YOU HAVE MADE RE-ENTRY YOUR LIFE’S WORK. WAS THAT SO IMPORTANT TO YOU? RE-ERYNT IS NOT OYNL IMPORTANT TO ME BUT ENSURING THAT WE HAVE ADEQUATE POLICIES THAT SUPPORT THATS I IMPORTANT TO ME RIGHT ENSURING THAT THEY ARE LAWS AND POLICIES THAT IMPACTS INDIVIDUSAL WITH CRIMINAL RECORDS LIFE IS SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN IMPORTANT TO ME SINCE MY ENGAGEMENT WITH THE CRIMINAL LEG. SOMETHING RIGHT? I AM A FORMERLY INCARCERATED WOMAN AND BECAUSE OF THEAYS W IN WHICH I HAD ENGAGED WITH THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM. IT REALLY OPENED MY EYES TO THE GROWTH UNJUST WAYSN I WHICH THE SYEMST CONTINUOUSLY CYCLES INDIVIDUALS THROUGH OUR PRISONS IN JAILS. IT IT IS ALARMING AT THE WAYS IN WHH THICE SYSTEMS. SYSTEMS SOCIAL SERVICES SYSTEM CPS SYSTEM CHILD SUPPORT SYSTEM LAL OF THESE SYSTEMS HAVE LAWS AND POLICIES THAT DO NOT CONSIDER SPECIFICALLY BROWN AND BLACK WENOM RIGHT AND HOW WE HAVE TO NAMAGE CHILDREN JOBS. YOU KWNO NOT JUST JOBS, BUT CAREERS THE STIAGM FOR BLACK AND BROWN WOMEN AND GIRLS CYCLING IN DAN OUT OF THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM IS A STIGMA TTHA YOU CONSTANTLY HAVE TO ANSWER TO RIGHT AND SO IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR ME THAT I USED MY POLICY EXPERTISE COUPLED WITH MY DIRECT EXPERICEEN TO COME OUT AND TO DO MY VERY BEST EVERY DAY TOOR F THAT INDIVIDUALS BOTH MEN AND WOMEN HAVE A FAIR A FAIR OPPORTUNITY TO REBLDUI THEIR LIVES AND THEN HELP TO REBUILD. SOMEONE ELSE’S LIFE. WELL, RN,YA TELL ME ABOUT YOUR ORGANIZATION COMMUNITY LAWND A ACTION AND WHAT ALL YOU ARE DOING TO BUILD A BETTER BALTIMORE. THAT’S THAT’S THE DISCUSSION WE’RE HAVING TODAY IS HOW ARE WE MAKING BALTIMORE BETTER YET? THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION COMMUNITY LAW IN ACTION REALLY WORKS TO SEND TTHO E VOICES .OF YOUNG PEOPLE REALLY PUTTING EMTH AT THE HELM OF MAKING DECISIONS FOR THEMSELVES AND FOR THEIR COMMUNIESTI AT THIS MOMENT. WE HEAV DEVELOPED A PROGRAM THAT PIPELINES YOUNG PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM, AND WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT SYSTEMS JUST A SECOND AGO BY PROVIDING YNGOU FOLKS REALLY IN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE SAFE PASSAGE INTO YOUNG ADULTHOOD AND WITH THAT. REALLY IMPORTANT TO US IS THAT THEY’RE CONNECTED TO VERY REAL OPPORTUNITIES. SO WHILE WE ARE CENTERING TIRHE VOICES WHILE WE ARE AMPLIFYING THEIR VOICES AND ALLOWING THEM TO BE OR GIVEN SPACEOR F THEM RATHER TO BE ADVOCATES WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITIES. WE WANT TO CONNECT THEM TO COLLEGE AND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES. AND SO WE TAKE THIS APPROHAC AND REALLY LIFTING UP YOUNG FOLKS BY PROVIDING THEM SEAF PASSAGE INTO YOUNG ADULT HOOD BY PROVIDING COLLEGE AND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES AS WELL AS CENTERING THEIR VOICES AND ALLOWING THEM TO REALLY HAVE THEIR VOICES. IS IN THE SPACES CHANGING THE POLICI,ES YOU KNOW THAT NICOLE WAS JTUS TALKING ABOUT. YEAH. YEAH, DARREN AND MAYO YOU BOTH FOCUS ON MENTORING. WERE YOU? YOUNG MEN WHO HAD MENTORS YOURSELF ANDAS H THAT SHAPED HOW YOU’VE DECIDED TO RUN YOUR PROGRAMS AND JUST HOW IMPORTANT YOU THINK IT IS THAT YOUNG MEN HAVE MENTORS. YES, SOO S I BELIEVE THAT I’M OFFERING SOMETHING THAT I DIDN’T NECESSARILY HAVE. SO WHAT I AM MENTALITY SEEKS TO DO IS TO INCREASE THE CAPACITY OF YOUNG MEN TO BE ABLE TO MANAGE LEADERSHIP ROLES THROUGH TEACHING CLASSES ON LEADERSHIP SKILLS CONFLICT RESOLUTION ANGER MANAGEMENT FINANCIAL LITERYAC HEALTH AND WELLNESS PROFESSIONALISM AND BEGIN AS PUBLIC SPEAKING. SO OUR GOAL IS TO YOU KNOW, SHARPEN THE TOOLS OF YOGUN MEN TO BECOME MORE VISIBLE. WE DON’T THINK THAT YOU KNOW, THE AVERAGE EVERYDAY YOUNG PERSON THAT’S WALKING UP AND DOWN THE STREET OR IT’S YOU KNOW, WALKING BACK AND FORTH THROUGH SCHOOL HAS THE OPPORTUNITIES TO BE ABLE TO SIT IN THE SEATS THAT WERE SITTING IN SO WE SEE OURSELVES AS LUCKY BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I BELIEVE THAT EACH DAN EVERY ONE OF US HAD SOME STRATEGIC HELP OR STRATEGIC MENTORS, BUT I WOULDN’T SAY THAT I HAD THE TWO RELIGIONHE T TOOLS I NEEDDE TO EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY WALK INTO THE SPACE TTHA I OPERATE IN TO TODAY. NOW. DID YOU HAVE A MENTOR GROWING UP? YEAH, WE’LL HAVE TO AGREE WHIT DARREN. I DIDN’T HEAV THIS AND SO INITIALLY MY GOAL WAS WELL, HOW DO WE CREATE A SPACE WHERE YOUNG MEN SPECIFICALLY THEY’RE SERVED BY SOMNEEO THAT YOU KNOW EXPERICEEN WHAT THEY ARE EXPERIENCING RIGHT,UT B WAS ABLE TO OVERCOME AND SO YOU KNOW WHEN I GRADUATED FROM STEVENSON UNIVERSITY MY GOAL WAS WELL, HOW DO I GIVE BACK OR HOW DO I CHANGE THE DYNAMICS IN MY COMMUNITY? IAD H SOMETHING VERY SIMILAR TO A MENTOR BUT THEY CAME IN A FORM OF COACHES. TEACHERS AND IT TAUGHT ME THAT THESE INDIVIDUALS THEY DIDN’T STAY LONG. AND SO WHAT MENTOR AND MTOENRS DO NOW IS WE TEACH YOUTH THE IMPORTANCE OF LONG-TERM RELATIONSHIP BUILDING BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY COINNSISTENCIES WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY THAT IS LIKE ONCE THEY FORM A POSITIVE RELATIONSHI ATP SOME POINT. THEY KNOW THAT IT WON’T LAST AND SOOR F US IT’S LIKE NO IT WILL LAST BECAUSE WE’RE GONNA TEACH YOU HOW TO MAKE IT WORK SPECIFICALLY FOR YOUNG BOYSND A YOUNG MEN. THEY USUALLY, YOU KNOW, TWOO T THREE YEARS AT TOPS. THEY’LL EXCEL A TNDHEN THEY SO THAT CAME OUTF O MY OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE BY YOU KNOW BNGEI ABANDONED BY MY MOM NOT REALLY HAVING MY DAD BEING ABANDONED BY COACHES ONCE I WAS DONE, YOU KNOW MY COMPLETION WITH PLAYING SPORTS, AND I SAID I WANT TO END THAT RIGHT? I WANT TO CREATE A CYCLE WHERE YOU’RE ALWAYS GONNA HAVE A SUPPORT GROUP. AND SO NOW WE DO THAT DO WHATE W CONSIDER SOCIALMO ETIONAL LEARNING, BUT ALSO NEARHE T PIER DEVELOPMENT. SO YEAH, WE ARE SO GRATEFUL FOR ALL THE WORK THAYOT U ALL DO. THANK YOU FOR SHARING. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. WE APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU, JASON. NEXT UP TWO K CEYOMMUNITY ACTIVISTSN O BRIDGING THE LEGISLATIVE DIVIDE WE SPEAK WITH ERICA BRIDGFORD AND AARON MABEN WHEN WE COME BACK, BUT FIRST WE SHINE A LIGHT ON THE BLACK RUNNING ORGANIZATION KNOWN AS BRO, THE GROUP ORGANIZES EDUCATES AND CONDITIONS THE BLACK COMMUNITY USING RUNNING AS A PRACTICAL DEMONSTRATN IOOF UNITY. WHEN MY HDOO NOT ON MY BCKLO ENOUGH IS ENOUGH SHOOTING GOT TO OPST SHOOTING GOTTA STOP TONIGHT. WE TO SHOWCASE THE COMMUNITY LEADERS. DOING THE WKOR TO BUILD A BETTER BALTIMORE THAT INCLUDES SAFE STREETS BALTIMORE. IT’S A COMMUNITY RESPONSE TEAM FOCUDSE ON CRIME PREVENTION. THE ORGANIZATION LAUNCHED A CITYWIDE CAMPAIGN TO MAKE 2021 THE SAFEST SUMMER IN BALTIMORE HISTORY THE DEATH OF GEOERG FLOYD LAST YEAR BROUGHT ABOUT SUSTAIN CALLS FOR RACIAL QUALITY FLOYD’S DEATH ALSO SPARK CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOW LOCAL AUTHORITIES SHOULD RESPOND TO EMERGENCIES IN THEIR OWN COMMUNITY. JOIN US NOW IS BALTIMORE CEASEFIRE CO-FOUNDER ERICA BRIDGEFORD AND AUTHOR AND ACTIVIST AARON MAYBIN BOTH HELPED TO DRAFT THE COMMUNITY-BASED EMERGENCY RESPONSE ACT JUST REINTRODUCED BY CONGRESS ON JUNE 14 THAT BILL WILL HELP PROVIDE FORHE T DISPATCH OF PROFESSIONALS TRAINED AND MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CRISSI RESPONSE AND MEDIATION INSTEAD OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND MARYLAND US SENATOR, CHRIS VAN HOLLEN CO-SPONSORED THAT BILL. THANK YOU BOTH FOR COMING BY GOOD T SOEE I WANT TO BUILD THE PERFECT ACTIVISTS BEFORE WE GET TO THAT BILL BECAUSE I THINK IT’S YOUR ACTIVISM THAT GOT US THITOS POINT IF YOU HAD THE RECIPE TOGETRHE TO WHAT GOT YOU THIS POINT? WHAT MAKES AOOD G ACTIVIST? SO FOR ME I CEOM FROM A LEGACY OF ACTIVISM. MY DAD WAS A BLACK PANTHER. I’M NAMED AFTER A PANTHER. MY MIDDLE NAME IS ANGELA AFTER ANLAGE DAVIS. SO MY ENTIRE LIFE I WAS SURROUNDED BY PEOPLE WHO TALKED TO ME ABOUT MY RESPONSIBILITY IN TH WORLDE THAT IF THERE’S SOMETHING RIGHT IN YOUR ENVIRONMENTHT AT YOU THINK IS WRONG. YOU CAN’T JUST COMPLAIN ABOUT IT AND SAY WHAT THEY SHOULD DO. YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT YOU ARE THEY AND SOWHAT CAN YOU VEGI WHAT CANOU Y DO AND AND PEOPLE REALLY BEING SUPPORTED AND UNDERSTANDINGOW H IMPORTANT THEIR VOICE IS AND GIVEN THE TOOLSO T THEN MOVE FORWARD WITH IMPLEMENTING NOT JUST THIS IS WH I TATHINK NEEDS TO BE DONE. BUTOW H DO I REALLY WORK TOGETHER COLBOLARATIVELY WITH OTHER PEOPLE TO INSPIRE AND MOTIVATE THEM FOR US TO GET THAT WO RK DONE. WAS IT ESSENTIAL TO REBUILD IN BALTIMORE? I MEAN WHAT BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE IT’S THE PERFECT FIT WHEN I WATCH ETH WORK THAT YOU DO WHETHER ’T'S CREATING THIS NEW BUILDING THAT YOU’RE DOING NOW OR DOING YOUR ARACTIT VISM. WHY DOES THE CITY NEED THAT? THINK THE CITY NEEDS IT BECAUSE I THINK THE ONE THING THAT WE HAVE EVIDENCE OF OVER HISTORY AND TIME IS THAT NOBODY’S COMING TO SAVE US? YOU KNOW WHAT? I MEAN, SO PEOPLE CAN TALK ABOUT TH E ISSUES IN THIS CITY ALL DAY. THEY CAN TALK ABOUT THE DISPARITIES THEY CAN TALK ABOUT THE LACK OF FUNDING THE LACK OF RESOURCES THE LACK OF RELATIONSHIP BUILDING BUT A LOT OF TIMESHE WN I THROW A QUESTION BACK AT THEM, WELL, WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO CHANGE THAT? ALL OF THE SUDDEN THEY HAVE A LOT LESS TO SAY AND I THINK THAT THAT KIND OF IS AN EMBLEMATIC OF THE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AT THE END OF THE DAY. YOU HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE WEIGHING IN BUT NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE WILLING TO ROLL UP. EVEN GET THEIR HANDS DIRTY AND WHEN IT COMES TO OUR CITY, YOU KNOW THE CHANGES THAT WE WANT TO SEE TAKE PLACE ARODUN US ARE OUR RESPONSIBILITY. YOU KNOW, IT’SOT N JUST OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO ELECT PEOEPL TO YOU KNOW, DO WHAT’S BEST AND THINK THAT THAT’S THE END OF THE JOB PTAR OF GETTING THOSE CHANGES IS GOING INTO DIFFERENT THEATERS. I THINK I THINK YOU WORKED ON THE STREET LEVEL YOU WORKED IN THE CITY HALL LEVEL AND THEN YOU DECIDE IT WITH THIS ACT THAT’S BEING REINTRODUCED NOW THAT YOU TOOK IT A STEP FURTHER AND I’M CURIOUS OF WHATHE T EMOTION WAS LIKE FOR YOU. DDI YOU WALK IN NOT KNOWING WHAT TO EECXPT DID YOU GO IN? I’M NOT AEPCCTING. NO, WHERE’S THE IDEA COME FROM TH AT THIS IS WHAT YOU’RE GOING TO CHAMPION. SO FOR ME LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY IS SOMETNGHI THAT IS NOT NEW TO ME. SO I WAS INVOLVED IN GETTING MARYLAND’S DEATH PENALTV PEEL SO THINGS THAT HAVE IMPACTED MY LIFE PSOERNALLY. I UNDERSTAND THAT WORK NEEDS TO BE DONE ON A GRASS LEVEL. IT ALSO NEEDS TO BE DONE AT A POLICY LEVEL BECAUSET THA IS HOW WE GET SYSTEMIC CHANGE. RIGHT, YOU CAN GET CULTURAL SHIFTS AND CHANGE FROM A GRASSROOTS LEVEL, BUT IF YOU REALLY WANT TO SEE HOW DOES IT IMPACT EVERYBODY. IT’S OFTEN GOING TO BE IN THE LAWS AND THEN THE POLICY THAT’S IMPORTANT. IT HAS TO BE SUPPORTED BY POLICY WALK ME THROUGH THISND A SAY HYPOTHETICALLY THERE’S UNCLE WILLIAM. HE’S AAR W VET. WE KNOW THAT HE’S YOU KNOW HAD SOME ISSUES SINCE HE’S COME HOME SOMEEON CALLS 911 BECAUSE THEY DON’T KNOW UNCLE WILLIAM THE WAY THAT WE KNOW HIM TYPICALLY LAW ENFORCEMENT WILL SHOW UP AND HANDLE THIS SITUATION IN LAW ENFORCEMENT TYPE WAY WHATEVER WAY EYTH FIT HOW DOES THIS BILL CHANGE THE RESPONSE NOW TO WHAT HE MAY BE GOING THROUGH? WELL, I THINK WHAT WE’RE REALLY LOOKING AT FIRST AND FOREMOST IS A REIMAGINING OF HOW 9-1-1 OPERATES PERIOD OKAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, I MEAN, AND THAT’S SOMETHING THAT REGARDLESS OF WHAT WE’RE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH WITH BILL. I THINK THAT WE HAVE GOTTEN THROUGH WHEN YOU SEE THE MAYOR MEETING WITH COMSTAT AND SEEING ALL RIGHT, WHAT ARE SOME ALTERNATIVES THAWET CAN GIVE AS RFA AS WHAT OUR RESPONSES ARE TO CERTAIN ISSUES WITHINUR O COMMUNITY THAT WE KNOW WE NEED TRAINING PROFESSIONALS IN ORDER TO HANDLE. SO, I THINK THAT WHAT SCARES MOST PEOPLE IS THIS IDEA OF WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU KNOW THE VET OR SOMEBODY THAT IS IS DEALING WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES OR SOMEBODY THAT'’ IN THE COMMUNITY DISPUTE IS IS NOW STARING DNOW THAT JUST IS QUALIFIED AS A HEALTH THERAPIES AND MAYBE THE SITUATION COULD BE DANGEROUS. WE’RE NOT SAYING THAT THERE’S NOT NEED EVER FOR POLICE TO BE PRESENT. BUT WE’RE SAYING THE PEOPLE THAT NEED TOE B THE POINT PERSON ON THAT CALL IS A TRAINED PROFESSIONAL THATAN C THEN ASSESS THE SITUATION DETERMINE WHAT THE NEEDS ARE OF THE INDIVIALDU AND THEN IF SOMETHING HAPPENS THAT THEY THAT MAKES EMTH UNSAFE OR MAKES THEM FEEL KELI THEY NEED TO HAVE SOMEBODY STEP IN TNHE YOU HAVE LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT IS THERE TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT EVERYBODY IS SAFE. WE’RE NOT LEANING ON LAW ENFORCEMENT TO BE A MENTAL HEALTH THERAPIST TO B AE SOCIAL WORKER TO BE SOMEBODY THAT IS TRAINED TO COME INTO THESE SITUATIONS AND ACTUALLY BRING SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEM . IS THAT ASKING TOO MUCH OUTF O A POLICE OFFICER? ABSOLUTELY. ABSOLUTELY AND IHI TNK THAT THAT NUANCE IS LOST IN THE DISCUSSION AND I THINK THAT THAT WAS ONE OF OUR PRIMARY REASONS FOR JUMPING ON TO CONSULT WITH THIS BILL IN THE FSTIR PLACE, YOU KNOW, WNHE IN THE AFTERMATH OF OF GEORGE FLOYD’S MURDER BREONNA AND THE THE GLOBAL SHOWING OF SUPPORT FOR A CHANGE IN THE WAY THATE W POLICE IN OUR COMMUNITIES. THIS CALL FOR DUNEFDING POLICE WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS REAYLL POLARIZING. YOU KNOW, I’M SOMEBODY THAT ACALTULY DOES BELIEVE THAT’S SOMETHING THAT WEEED N TO BE WORKING TOWARDS IN THE FUTURE. BUT THE WAY THAT IT’S WORDED DOESN’T NECESSARILY LEAVE SPACE FOR A NUANCED CONVERSATION AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, THERE’S CERTAIN PEOPLE THAT WOULD NEVER BE IN SUPPORT OF THAT BECAUSE THEY CAN’TET G PAST THIS IDEA OF TAKING FDSUN AWAY FROM OUR POLICE DEPARTMTEN AND INVESTING THEM INTO COMMUNITY-BASED SO LUTIONS, AND I JUST WANT TO ADD TO THAT ESPECIALLY IN A PLACE LIKE BALTIMORE. ALREADY FEEL THE PRESSURE OF THERE NOT BEING ENOUGH OFFICERS IN THEIR DISTRICT, RIGHT SO OUR OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT IS SORELY UNDERSTAFFED FOR OUR STREETS RITGH FOR WHAT OFFICES ACTUALLY NEEDND A SO HEARING THINGS THAT SOUND. RISING TO THEM IT DEHUMANIZES THEIR EXPERIENCE, RHTIG BECAUSE THEY ARE PEOPLE SOCIALIZEHE T SAME WAYE W ARE AND SO ABSOLUTELY IF WE PUT TOO MUCH ON EMTH TO SHOW UP AND BE AND DO EVERYTHING AND ERYVE SITUATION. THEY ONLY CAN OFFER WHAT THEY LIVED EXPERIENCE AS AN INDIVIDUAL HUMAN ALLOWS THEM TO OF FER IN THAT SITUATION AND THINK ABOUT ALL SOOW H WILL HELP THEM TO SEE TRAINED PROFESSIONALS. FIRSTHAD DE-ESCALATE THESE SITUATIONS IN FRONT OF THEM ON A DAILY BASIS. IT’LL CHANGE PCEERNT. I MEAN IT WILL CHANGE THEIR PERSPECTIVELY UYO IN THEIR MIND OVER TIME CHANGE THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF OUT CERTAIN SITUATIONS NEED TO BE DE-ESCALATED RIGHT AND WHO TO EVEN CALL RIGHT? SOF I A MEDIATOR SHOWS UP AND DE-ESCALATES THE SITUATION IF A SOCIAL WORKER SHOWS UP AND PO INTS THE PERSON TO ALL OF THE RESOURCES THEY NEED BECAUSE THEY CAN SEE THE ROOT CAUSSE OF WHY THE PERSON IS ACTING OUT THIS WAY, RIGHT? WHATEVER IT IS, THEN WHEN THE MORE THAT HAPPENS WHEN PEOPLE GET IN A SITUATION, THEY WON’T ONLY TNKHI LET ME CALL THE POLICE OR LET ME CALL MY HOMEBOYS A HANDLE THIS SITUATION. THE’'LL GO. OH I HAVE THESE OPTIONS I CAN CALL THE THERAPIST I CAN. ARE THE SOCIAL WORK RESOURCES I CAN CALL THE MEDIATION CENTER I CAN CALL RIGHTO S IN THEIR DAILY LIFE, THEY’LL KNOW THAT WHEN I HAVE A SITUATION THEY’RE IN BALTIMORE. THEY’RELL A OF THESE PLACES TTHA GIVE ME WHAT I NEED INER ORD FOR US TO REALLY BE PROUD OF WHAT WE’VE DONE. WE HAVE TO ACTUALLY SEE THIS GROUP THIS BILL PASS THROUGH THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE WHICH IS A VERY BAD A VERY LONG UPHILL BATTLE THAT WE KNOW THAT WE’RE IN FOR B,UT YOU KNOW, I APPRECIATE THE THANKS, BUT I ALSO HAVE TO THANK YOU BECAUSE GUYS WERE THE FIRST ONES TO ACTUALLY BNGRI US ON TO DISCUSS THIS BEFORE THE BILL WAS EVEN CREATED IN THE FIRST PLACE, YOU KNOW IN ORDER FOR US TO HAVE THOSE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES. WE NEED PEOPLE TO BE COURAGEOUS ENOUGH TO START THE CONVERSATION AND YOU’VE ALWAYS BEEN YOU KWNO ON THE FRONT LINES WITH US FROM THE STANDPOINT OF BEING ABLE TO MAKE SURE THATE W CAN BRING OUR GRIEVANCES TO A PLATFORM AND AND HAVE IT DISCUSSED IN THIS MANNER. SO I DEFINITYEL WTAN TO THANK YOU THERE. MAYBE ERICFORD. THANK YOU BOTH. COMING UP WE HEAR FROM THE VOICES OF BLACK WOMEN LEANGDI THE CHARGE TO BUILD A BETTER BALTIMORE, BUT FIRST WE CONTINUE TO SHOWCASE BALTIMO'R’S DIFFERENCE MAKERS LIKE DEONTE HARRIS THEFL N ALL-PRO KICK RETURNER WHO PLAYSOR F THE NEW ORLEANS SAINTS RETURN TO HIS EAST BALTIMORE ROOTS THIS YEAR TO HAND OUT SCHOOL SCHOOL SUPPLIES TO LOCAL STUDENTS .SO THAT I DON’T KNOW THERE IS THE HELPOLE H BRITNEY YOUNG’S LOVE FOR SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY ENGINEERING AND MATH START INED HIGH SCHOOL AT BALTIMORE POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE. I HAD A TEACHER MY BLACK T-SHIRT WHO BELIEVED IN ME AND I WAS LIKE AN EVIL GENIUS MET SCIENTIST, SO I MAY EXPLOSIONS. I MADE THINGS BLOW UP YEARS LATER HER FRUSTRATION AFTER THE FRTER HER FRUSTRATION AFTER THE EDDIE GRAY UPRISING IN 2015 AND CHILDHOOD MEMORIES OF WATCHING DIRT BIKE RIDSER AND DRUID HILL PARK SPARKED AN IDEA. HER PROGRAM B360 FOCUSES ON RECRUITING DIRTIK BE RIDERS INTO SAFE SPACES AND TEACHING THEM TO FIX SPIKES ABOUT HOW THEY WORK AND SO MUCH MORE PEOPLE KNOW HOW TO FIX THEIR BIKES. THEY KNOW HOW MAINTAIN THEMND A MY WORLD WHEN YOU POP A FIST OF WILLIE, TT'H’S A PHYSICAL EQUATION, YOU KNOW, SO IT WAS REALLY ABOUT HOW TO COMBINE BOTH WORLDS AT ONE TIME TO SHOW PEOPLE THAT YES. YOU’RE SMART. YOU HAVE A SKILL SET YOUR TALE NTED PULL IT IN A LITTLE BIT. AND FROM THERE, IT’LL BE EASIER FOR HIM TO LET IT OUT IN THE BIKE START MOVGIN EXPERIENCE WRITERS ARE THE TEACHSER SHOWING YOUNGSTERS THE MECHANICS A DIRSVEION PROGRAM WITH THE STATE’S ATTORNEY’S OFFEIC GIVES NON-VIOLENT OFFENDERS A CHANCE TO TRAIN WITH B360 AND EVENTUALLY BECOME INSTRUCTOR’S, YOU KNOW IS KEEPING A YNGOU GUYS A LOT OF PEOPLE PERIOD OFF THE STREETS OUT OF TROUBLE. IT’S GIVING THEM SOMETHING TO DO SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO WHAT I REALLY LOVED WAS BNGEI ABLE TO GIVE THAT VOICE TO SO MANY PEOPLE SO MANY. YOU FOR ADUS LTBECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES WE NEVER HEAR THAT NARRATIVE TTHA YOU CAN GROW UP IN BALTIMORE BE SUCCESSFUL A PARTNERSHIP NOW WITH THE B&O RAILROAD MUSEUM PROVIDES THE WRITING SPACE AND BRITTANY THOMAS’S A SUMMER CAMP LAUNCHING THIS YEAR IS JUST THE BEGINNING. WE ALL WTAN WAS BASKETBALL BALTIMORE AND WE ALL WANT TO SEE NOT NOW CHANGED BUT IN THE FUTURE AND I THINK WE’RE BUILDING THAT TOGETHER AND I CAN CONFIDENTLY SAY, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY IN LIKE 10 YEARS OR LESS, YOU KNOW, Y’ALL WON’T SEE ME. WE’RE GROOMING THE NEXT GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO WILL LEAD MY ORGANIZATION .AND SO BRITTANY JOINSS U NOW WITH TONY LAWSON EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE BORG AND SIERRA DAELNI FOUNDER OF THE YOUNG KISNG LEADERSHIP ACADEMY. THANK YOU ALL LADIES FOR BEING WITH USRITT BANY. I WTAN TO START WITH YOU. YOUR ORGANIZATION HAS GOTTEN SO MUCH ATTENTION LATELY, AND I KNOW YOU’VE BEEN WORKING REALLY HARD FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS. WHAT IS IT ABOUT B360 THAT DREW YOU TO THE DIRT BIKE COMMUNITY. WHY WAS THAT SO IMPORTANT TO YOU? THU? AT’S A GOOD QUESTION. THANK YOU. I ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE I’M BORN RAISED AND NEVER EVEN BALTIMORE. SO WE’RE JUST THAT THAT I WANTED TO SEE NOT ONLY DIRT BIKE CULTURE, BUT BLACK PEOPLE BLACK TALENT BLACK GENIUS AND THEN WHAT I REMEMBER BEING A KID FROM HERE WAS MY VOICE WASN’T HEARD AND MY TALENT WAS A RECOGNIZED SO I WANTED TO BE AN ADVOCATE FOR MEOR PEOPLE JUST LIKE ME I WANTED TO JUST SHOW BUT IT’S POSSIBLE TO DO THINGS RIGHT WAY TRANS PEOPLE TRANSITION PEOPLE OUT OF TRAFFIC AND REALLY JUST GROW THE BEST OF BALTIMORE FOR US. YOU KNOW, THE MORE I’VEEEN B HEARING ABOUT YOUR STORY THE MORE I’VE BEEN WONDERING BECAUSE I HAVEN’T HEARD YOU MENTIONED THIS JUST YET,UT B DID YOU HAVE ANY PERSONAL INTERESTS IN DIRT BIKE RIDING BEFORE YOU STARTED ALL OF THIS? I HAVEN’T HEARD YOU ANSWER THAT QUESTION BEFORE WHOO, WHEN I WAS YOUNGER LIKE A LOT OF KIDS I TRIED BUT I DOOT N LIKE THE FALL. OH, YEAH IF I FOLLOW HIM LIKE I’LL BE MESSED UP. SO I TRIED WHEN I WAS REALLY A COUPLE TIMES. I’VE KNOWN HAD COUSINS THAT RIDE THAT KIND OF STUFF. BUT FOR ME, I WAS MORE LIKE BUILDING OUT A SCIENCE GUY. I WANTED TO MAKE EXPLOSIONS. I WANTED TO SEE THINGS BLOW UP. I BLEW OFF MY EYEBROWS WHEN I WAS IN FIRST GRADE. YES. IAS W CONSIDERED LIKE A BAD KID, JUST BECAUSE PEOPLE COULDN’T SEE I WAS ACTUALLY REAYLL REALLY SMART AND REALLY BORED IN SCHOOL, BUT DTIR BIKE RIDING. I’M AN ENTHUSIAST I SUPPORT IT LIKE ANY SPORT AND I WANT TO SEE IT OUT OF TRAFFIC AND TO SAFE SPACE IN THE PROGRAMMING, BUT BRITNYTA IS NOT A RIDER. YEAH. ONLY TELL ME ABOUT THE BEE ORG AND WHAT IT’S ALL ABOUT AND WHAT? DREW YOU TO THE IDEA OF THE STARTING THIS ORGANIZATION? YES, SO THE BUOY IS ALL ABOUT HELPGIN THE YOUTH REAYLL REALIZE THEIR GOD-GIVEN TALENT IS SURROUNDING THEM WITH LOVE AND GIVING THEMHE T SUPPORT THAT THEY NEED TO THRIVE IN THIS WORLD. AND SO WHAT REALLY STARTED ME ON THIS PATH TO YOU KNOW FOUND IN THE ORGANIZATION IS I TELL A STORY OF A YOUNG LADY WHO WANTED TO BE AN ACTRESS AND SHE ULTIMATELY SDAI THAT NOBODY IN BALTIMORE EVER MES ITAK AND MY HEART WAS BROKEN. MYEA HRT WAS BROKEN FORER H BECAUSE SHE FELT SO DEFEATED JUST BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF HER ENVIRONMENT AND YOU KNOW, JUST BEING IN A HARD CITY. SO THAT IS REALLY WHAT GAVE ME THE DRIVE TO START THE ORGANIZATION. DO YOU FEEL LIKE A LOT? OF THE YNGOU PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY THAT YOU WKOR WITH HAVE THAT SAME STORY. DO THEY MAKE THOSE SAME COMMENTS TO YOU? SOME DO YES AND WHAT I THINK IS ATTH THEY HAVE TROLEUB WITH SEEING BEYOND THEIR YOUW, KNO THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS AND THEIR COMMUNITIESND A IN THE THE THEIR THEY HAVE TROUBLE SEEING BEYOND TO WHAT SUCCESS REALLY COULD OKLO LIKE FOR THEM. SO THAT’S WHAT WE REALLY FOCUSED ON WE FOCUS ON BUILDING UP THOSE SOCIAL SKILLS A LOT OF SOCIAL EMOTIONAL. LEARNING STEM ENRICHMENT BECAUSE I JUST LIKE BRITTANY LOVE SCNCIEE. WE’RE ALL WE BOTH HAVE US DONE BACKGROU.ND I’M JUST MAKING SURE THAT OUR STUDENTSRE A PREPARED FOR COLLEGE AND CAREERS ANDOU Y KNOW THE WORLD BEYOND THAT’S THEM BACKGROUND. I GUESS WAS IGNITED PARTLY WHEN YO EURYEBROWS. OUTAB AS A YOUNG WOMAN AND A LOT OF YOUR PROGRAM FOCUSES ON YOUNG MEN TELL ME ABOUT WHAT WENT INTO THAT DECISION. YOU TO CHOOSE TO MENTOR YOUNG NME ALMOST MOSTLY YOUNG MEN. YES. WELL TTHA DATED BACK TO MY TEIM AT THE CLASSROOM TEACHER WHERE I SAW THAT CURRICULUM A TEACHERS. HOW ADMINISTRATSOR WERE INTERACTING WITH STUDENTS HOW THEY ARE PERCEIVED IN THE COMMUNITY. SO JUST WATCHING THEM LEAVE SCHOOL THE PERCEPTIONS IN MIAED OF YOUNG BLACKEN M AND WHEN I SAW MY STUDENTS AND I SAW HOW BRILLIANT THEY WERE HOW LONGVI WERE IT BROKE MY HEART? AND I KNEW THA IT IMMEDIATELY HAD TO DO SOMETHING. WHEN I METY M HUSBAND AT THE TIME, HE WAS A YOUTH MINISTER. HE’S AN ORDAINED PASTOR NOW, BUT WE KIND OF CAME TOGETHER AND I’M LIKE O,KAY INSTRUCTIONALLY CURRICULUMS ARE NOT DESIGNED FOR BLACK MESAL AND HE KIND OF YOU KNOW ADDREEDSS IT FROM THIS SPIRITUAL LENS IN WHICH THERE WAS A HUGE NEED AND HONESTLY, FOR US TO BE IN BALTIMORE AND TO VEHA SOME SENSE OF SANITY IT WAS NEEDED FOR US TO CREATE THIS ORGANIZATION. YOU KNOW I HAVE I THINK I HAVE A TWO-PART QUESTNIO AND THIS THIS COULD BE DIRECTED AT ALL THREE OF YOU. I’LL LETOU Y TAKE TAKE YOUR TURN BUT YOU KNOW, I WAS THINKING ABOUT THE FACT THAT YOU KNOW, THERE ARE A LOT OF BLACK WOMEN LIKE YOURSELVES LEADING GRASSROOTS COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS AND ULTIMATELY A LOT OF YOUR GOALS IN EACH OF YOUR ORGANIZATIONSS I TO ULTIMATELY LEAD TO LEGISLATIVE CHANGE TO POLICY CHANGE TALK ABOUT THE GAP IN THAT AND THE STRUGGLE THAT YOU ALL HAVE ENCOUNTERED. IN THAT PROCESS BRITTANY WE CAN START WITH YOU KNOW, I THINK YOU KNOW ON THE SCIENTISTS ALL OF US. BASICALLY WERE A YOU KNOW, THE DATA IS I THINK OUTSTANDING OF HOW MUCH BLACK LIGHT ORGANIZATIONS DON’T GET AS OPPOSED TO NON BLACKLIGHT AND THEN YOU ADD BEING A BLACK WOMAN. IT’S I WOULD SAY IT’S A LITTLE BI T HURTFUL, YOU KNOW, WE CAN DO AMAZING WORK ALL THE TIME. ONE THING I CAN YSA QUANTIFY IS HOW I WORK TRANSITIONS INTO DALLAS AND SINCE SEDAV INSTEAD OF INCARCERATION, SO WE WORK WITH 36 DIRT BIKE RIDERS AND COUNNGTI WHICH MEANS WE’VE SAVED 1.3 MILLION DOLLARS OF LESS PEOPLE GOING TO JAIL, BUT WE AS BLACK-LED FOUNDERSND A BLACK-LED ORGANIZATIONS AND CEOS CAN’T EVENAY S THAT WE PAY OURSELVES, YOU KNOW, SO WE REALLY DIG INTO THNUE TS AND BOLTS. WE DO AMAZINGOR WK WE FIX PROBLEMS WE SOLVE CHALLENGES AND THAT’S THE ROLE OF A BLACK WOMAN BUT WE ALSO GET BURNED OUT. I’M EXHAUSTEDND A I REALLY WOULD LOVE TO SEE AND NEED IT'’ NOT EVEN LOVE AS A NECESSITY OF PEOPLE ACTUALLY POURING MONEY INTO US NOT TO FOUNDATIONS BUT TO PEOPLE LIKE SIERRA TONY MYSELF AND SO MANYTHER O BLACK WOMEN WHO ARE DOING WORK EVERY DAY. YEAH, AND FOR ME, I THINK IT’S JUST CONTINUING TO HIT THE GROUND ADVOCATING FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE HELPING THEM TO YOU KNOW, HELPING PEOPLE TO REALLY UNDERSTAND LIKE THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE SUCCESSFUL. THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO YOU KNOW DEVICES AND TECHNOLOGY. WE FIND OURSELVES LIKE ADVOCATING SO HARD JUST TO GET A LAPTOP FOR OUR WHEREE W KNOW THAT THE DIGITAL EQUITY DIVIDE AND THE CITY IS AMANGZI AND THAT, YOU KNOW,OT N EVERY CHILD NOT EVERY FAMILY EVERY HOUSEHOLD HAS ACCESS TO INTERNET NOT ACCESS TO LAPTOPS ANDHI TNGS LIKE THAT. SO BEING ABLE TO JUST TELL THE STORY OF WHATVE EN LEVELING THE PLAYING FIELDAN C DO BY JUST GIVING OUR YOUTH THE OPPORTUNITY THE RESOURCES AND THE EDUCATION, YOU KNOW GETTING THAT WORD OUT THERE AND ITSELF IS DRAINING AS A BLACK WOMAN,UT B WE KNOW THAT THE WORKAS H TO BE DONE. SO IT’S ALWAYS GREAT TO SURROUND MYSELF WITH YOU KNOW, OTHER BLACK FOUNDSER AND CEOS AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS BECAUSE THEY GET IT AND WE CAN LEAN ON THEM TO HPEL KEEP FIGHTINGS THI FIGHT BRITTANY TONY SARAH. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOUO D YOU DO SUCH FANTASTIC WORK AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. THANK YOU. WE’LL BE BACK WITH SOME FINAL THOUGHTS. BUT FIRST WE SPOTLIGHT ANOTHER ORGANIZAONTI MAKING A DIFFERENCE PCSOR F PEOPLE MARYLAND THE EAST BALTIMORE BASED. NONPROFIT IS WORKING TO ELIMINATEHE T DIGITAL DIVIDE BY PROVIDING THOUSANDS OF REFURBISHED DEVICES FREE OF CHARGE TO LOW-INCOME FAMILIES. WELL OVER THE PAST HR.OU WE HOPE YOU’VE BEEN ENLIGHTENED BY SOME OF THE DIFFERENCE MAKERS AND INITIATIVES IN PLACE TO BUILD A BETTER BALTIMORE. WE ALSO HOPE YOU’RE INSPIRED TO DO YOUR PTAR TO BRING ABOUT POSITIVE CHANGE IN OUR CITY. WE WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO PARTICIPATED IN THIS PROJECT COMMUNITY SPECIAL. WE ALSO WANT TO EXPERIENCE OUR APPRECI. STATION TO THE REGINALD F LEWIS MUSEUM FOR HOSTING US YOU FOR WATCHING. GOOD NIGHT