vitalvoices 2015-2016
The vitalvoices Speaker Series serves as a forum to bring scholars and practitioners alike to speak to students, faculty, alumni and community partners at UHD's College of Public Service. It is our hope that those we invite to speak will share, from the heart, their professional experiences, their knowledge, and how the work they do impacts society as a whole. We like to feature people whose work is interdisciplinary and touches upon the fields social work, criminal justice and urban education.
If a vitalvoices session was recorded, the titles below will link directly to its recorded presentation on our YouTube channel. Please enjoy.
Journey of Hope... from Violence to Healing
October 12th, 2015 from 1:10 - 2:30 p.m. at the Robertson Auditorium (A350)
The Journey of Hope... From Violence to Healing is an organization that is lead by
murder victim family members that conduct public education speaking tours and addresses
alternatives tot he death penalty.
The Story That Changed Texas Justice
November 18th, 2015 from 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. at the Robertson Auditorium (A350)
Presented by Pulitzer Prize Winner Lisa Falkenberg
Houston Chronicle columnist Lisa Falkenberg explains how a series of powerful columns on one man's wrongful conviction helped free him from death row, ban Texas' archaic grand jury system and won the 2015 Pulitzer Prize in commentary. Come learn how to harness great stories to influence opinions and achieve a social change.
Lisa Falkenberg will also be receiving the Person of the Year Award from the Program in Social Work.
Not in Our Backyard: A Conversation With Local Experts About Combating Modern-Day Slavery
in Houston
January 27th, 2016 from 1:00 - 2:30 p.m. at the Robertson Auditorium (A350)
- Cheryl Briggs, CEO, Mission at Serenity Ranch and Human Trafficking Survivor
- Minal Davis, Special Advisor to the Mayor on Human Trafficking
- Ed Gallagher, Assistant U.S. Attorney
- Dan Harris, Captain, Houston Police Department Vice Unit
- Constance Rossiter, Director of Trafficked Persons Assistance Program, YMCA International
This event features dialogue between local experts about human trafficking in Houston. Topics will include the scope of the problem, the strategies local and federal lawn enforcement partners are taking to address the problem, and the important ways that police, prosecutors, and victim service providers work together to restore victims' lives and bring traffickers to justice. The panel will also discuss the unique needs of human trafficking survivors and the services available in Houston for them, as well as to explain what we can do as community members to stop this crime from occurring in our city.
Understanding Autism
Through Student's Eyes
April 20th, 2016 from 1:00 - 2:30 p.m. at the Robertson Auditorium (A350)
Presented by Dr. Kristien Zenkov
What do students think are the purposes of school?
Why do youth go to -- and stay -- in school?
What do they believe helps them to succeed in School and what gets in the way of this success?
Founded in 2004, the "Through Students' Eyes" (TSE) project works with high school and middle school youth to address these questions through photographs and written reflections.
The Restorative Justice: Strenthening Our Communities
For further information contact Steven Villano, director of the Center for Public Service and Community Research at villanos@uhd.edu.