I want to thank all of the students and community members who have participated in Divided Baltimore’s community forum. You have contributed to very lively discussions, and all of us are learning a great deal about the city in which we live and work.

Now, as we move past the half-way point in the course, I want to share with you the scheduled speakers for future community forums:

10/26 – “How does the media report manifestations of segregation?” will include Adam Marton of the Baltimore Sun and A. Adar Ayira from Associated Black Charities.

11/2 – For “Democracy, Public Policy, and Government: What is the Role of Government in solving the problem of segregation?” we have:

*Dr. Leena Wen, City of Baltimore’s public health commissioner;

*Victoria Schultz, UB Law and Sara Pratt, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Programs, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development – Federal Housing Policy: From Barrier to Benefit in Baltimore

*Martha McKenna, partner in the Democratic political media-consulting firm McKenna Pihlaja and Antonio Hayes, House of Delegates – “Politics On The Streets of Baltimore”
11/9 – We have a special treat this evening on the role of culture and the arts and social entrepreneurship. Derick Ebert—Baltimore’s poet laureate and UB Divided Baltimore student–will read some his work in partnership with Kenneth Morrison of Dew More. Shelia Gaskins will talk about Artpartheid, and UB faculty member JC Weiss will address social entrepreneurship.

11/16 – “What is the role of churches and community leaders?” will feature Rev. Kevin Slayton from New Waverly United Methodist Church – “A History of Blind Faith”, A. Adar Ayira from Associated Black Charities – “Playing Your Position”, and Dayvon Love from Leaders of the Beautiful Struggle.

Starting then, we will begin to focus on community development and imagining the future of Baltimore with the following:

On 11/23 we have Wes Moore and JC Faulk.

On 11/30 we have the Opportunities Collaborative team with Scot T. Spencer, Annie E. Casey Foundation, and Bill Cole, Baltimore Development Corporation; along with a report on the Morgan State University research study with Maurice Taylor.

We conclude on 12/7 with “Imagining One Baltimore” with Michael Cryor, executive director of OneBaltimore.

Starting on 12/7 and continuing on 12/14 students enrolled in the course will present their own visions of the future.

And then we will try to determine how to improve the course for another semester…..

I hope to see you at as many community forums as possible, but remember that you can always catch the video stream at a later time.