April 4th Revisited: Saving Lives, Building Dreams!
Wednesday, April 4, 2012, from 12 noon to 5 p.m. ET
The Carter Presidential Center, 453 Freedom Parkway NE, Atlanta
Since 1968, April 4th has been a day to mourn the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and reflect on his legacy. This year, Prevention Institute's UNITY initiative has partnered with the Martin Luther King III Institute for Social Justice & Human Rights to honor and advance Dr. King's vision of peace and non-violence. Together, we will launch a two-year initiative, Community Peace & Thriving Youth, on April 4th.
Join us for April 4th Revisited: Saving Lives, Building Dreams, a Townhall event on Wednesday, April 4, 2012, from 1 to 5 p.m. (EDT). Speakers include Martin Luther King III, UNITY Co-Chair/Prevention Institute Executive Director Larry Cohen, Dr. Howard Spivak, Violence Prevention Director at CDC, and more. Prevention Institute invites you to participate:
- Join us for this historic event at The Carter Center in Atlanta.
- Stay connected on Twitter: Follow @UNITYinitiative and @SavingLives12, and read the #savinglives12 conversation thread for real-time updates on April 4th. If you're attending in person or listening in to the teleconference, tweet with us using #savinglives12.
- 'Like' SavingLivesBuildingDreams on Facebook for the latest event news and updates.
- Listen to the pre-event telebriefing: Organized for national media, we invite you to listen in at 12 p.m. EST. This will feature invited mayors and members of Congress, and a response panel of national experts on preventing violence: 1-888-447-7153, pass code 227380#
This event will mark this as a day for building momentum for non-violence and peaceful communities. This new partnership between UNITY and The Martin Luther King III Institute builds on the intensive work and success of UNITY cities. Representatives of Denver, Houston, Minneapolis and Seattle will share their progress on April 4.
On the launch of this event, partners will put forth the challenges for all of us to turn Dr. King's vision of non-violence into reality, and improve the lives and opportunities for all youth, especially inner city youth. Despite overall reductions in levels of violent crime, violence among youth--especially youth of color--remains at epidemic levels. Homicide is the leading cause of death for African Americans, between the ages of 10 and 24, and it is the second-leading cause of death for Asians and Pacific Islanders, American Indians, and Latinos of the same age.
The Town Hall Meeting will provide the foundation for the launch of 2012 MLK/UNITY Urban Summer: Saving Lives and Building Dreams. The Urban Summer will hone in on the months when young people are particularly vulnerable, and build on the public health approach to preventing violence. Instead of simply 'treating' violence after the fact, one arrest at a time, this approach focuses on what causes violence: it engages youth to create new opportunities for participation, leadership and economic opportunity, and dismantles barriers to peaceful streets and connected neighbors. This initiative gives cities across the country concrete tools that will offer their young people opportunities instead of arrests. Youth in participating cities will be able to participate in job readiness, arts, music and physical activity programs.
Prevention Institute and UNITY look forward to collaborating with The Martin Luther King III Institute and other UNITY partners in building momentum for non-violence and in engaging young people and their communities. If you will be in the Atlanta area on April 4, space is limited.
Agenda for April 4th Revisited
1 to 2 p.m. Violence as Uncool & Unacceptable, on the role of popular culture and media in promoting peace. Panelists include Tyrese Gibson, musician and actor, and Mary-Pat Hector of Youth Move and Youth in Action.
2:05 to 3:05 p.m. Community Peace & Thriving Youth, a discussion among community leaders in UNITY cities working to prevent violence and expand opportunities for youth. Panelists include:
- Mariko Lockhart, Seattle Youth Violence Prevention Initiative
- Paul Lopez, Denver City Council
- Don Samuels, Minneapolis City Council
- Sheila Savannah, Houston Department of Health and Human Services
3:10 to 4:10 p.m. Violence as a Public Health Issue. Panelists include:
- UNITY Co-Chair Larry Cohen, Prevention Institute
- John Rich, Drexel School of Public Health
- Lauren Smith, Massachusetts Department of Public Health
- Howard Spivak, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
4:15 to 5 p.m. Saving Lives, Building Dreams: A Call to Action. Hear inspiring words by Martin Luther King III and Andrew Young, a close friend of Dr. King and former Atlanta mayor, member of Congress and ambassador to the United Nations.
UNITY is funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and in part by The Kresge Foundation.