Previous VitalVoices 2021-2022
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.
Voting Justice Matters
August 31st, from 7:30pm-9pmDr. Suzanne Pritzker of the University of Houston will speak on the history of voting rights issues in the United States and why this discussion matters now. Joining her on the panel will be Dr. Liza Lane of UHD’s Social Work Program, Dr. Elizabeth Gilmore of UHD’s Criminal Justice Department and Dr. Diane Miller of UHD’s Urban Education Department. Dr. Pritzker began her professional career as a policy advisor for the Virginia Secretary of Education and as an analyst for the Virginia General Assembly. With a front-line view of the policy-making process, she developed a passion for educating and empowering vulnerable populations to participate in – and influence – public policy development and implementation. Her scholarship investigates how young people become civically involved and practice interventions to increase their empowerment and their engagement. Her research has focused on the impacts of interventions such as community-based participatory research, in the form of Photovoice, and service-learning on youth’s civic engagement.
Reducing Deadly Force Usage in Police Work
October 27th, from 5:30pm-7pmWe hear much about the deadly use of force by police officers. But what are the facts behind the headlines? There’s certainly no denying what we see in the media. But, what is the whole story? What other options are available to police? Why aren’t they being employed? Or, are they? Dr. David Klinger, Professor of Criminology & Criminal Justice at the University of Missouri-St. Louis has studied extensively on this subject. He has published scholarly manuscripts that address arrest practices, the use of force, how features of communities affect the actions of patrol officers, and terrorism. He has conducted three federally funded research projects dealing with the use of force by police officers; two on officer-involved shootings and one on police special weapons and tactics (SWAT) teams. He is frequently sought after by the media for his analysis on policing. His book, Into the Kill Zone: A Cop’s Eye View of Deadly Force, was published by Jossey-Bass in 2004.
The Chapters of My Life
February 9th, from 5:30pm-7pm
Speaker: David Garlock
David Garlock is a criminal justice reform advocate. He grew up in a very dysfunctional family. Familial trauma intensified with sexual and physical abuse, then murder and years in prison. His story is unique and allows for deep conversation about the “criminal legal system”, abuse, special populations, reentry, and restorative justice. In prison he met Bryan Stevenson of the Equal Justice Initiative who helped he and others make parole and reenter society. After 13 1/2 years he was released. Join us to hear this amazing story of resilience and the power of redemption.
Psychological Long COVID: Tackling the Silent Epidemic of Childhood Trauma and Grief
February 15th, from 6:30pm-8pm
Speaker: Dr. Julie Kaplow
The pandemic has led to a silent epidemic of grief, or "psychological long COVID", among youth exposed to pandemic-related losses. In fact, over 25,000 Texas youth have experienced the death of a parent or caregiver due to COVID, with the majority of these losses occurring among Black and Hispanic families. Many of these families were already facing health disparities, racial traumas, and higher death rates prior to the pandemic, making them even more vulnerable to mental and behavioral health issues. This presentation will provide an overview of how trauma and grief can impact children and adolescents over time and what parents, educators, and other adults can do to support youth who have experienced trauma and bereavement.
Modern Day Slavery: Social Work and the Caste System in India
February 25th, from 11am-12:30pm
Speaker: Dr. Solomon
Dr. Solomon is an Assistant Professor of Social Work and Coordinator of Field Education at Madras Christian College, India and Visiting Scholar at the University of Michigan, School of Social Work. He has 2 decades of experience in training social work students including international social work students during through the field experience with tribal communities. . He has pioneered Field Action Programs in the department of Social Work and has a wide experience in working with Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs). Dr. Solomon continues to work towards Inclusion, Social Justice and empowerment of vulnerable communities and to make Social Work education relevant in our time.
A Superintendent Roundtable
March 1st, from 5:30pm-7:00pm
Speakers: Roundtable Format
Join us to hear superintendents from five Houston area school districts speak on the factors, trends, and other forces outside the classroom that decision makers and thought leaders wrestle with as they shape educational policy and practice. The superintendents will discuss the issues facing education, specifically in relation to the field of teaching and associated educational positions that support the classroom. Through this event, we hope to provide our students with a larger perspective of the intricacies involved in creating quality schools that meet the distinct needs of our community.
Engaging Families and Communities in the Education Process
March 7th, from 5:30pm-7:00pm
Speakers: Dr. Ruth Lopez & Dr. Rhoda Freelon
Dr. Ruth Lopez and Dr. Rhoda Freelon of the University of Houston will speak on Engaging
Families and Community Members in the Education Process Dr. Ruth M. Lopez and Dr.
Rhoda Freelon focus on issues relevant to engaging families and communities in the
education process.
They draw from their research focused on family and youth engagement. They also share
their approaches to teaching education leadership courses that aim to prepare educators
to develop a strong sense of community in their schools and districts in a way that
honors the assets of their students and families, particularly those from groups who
have historically been disenfranchised in education. This approach to family engagement
is critical in a time of intersecting societal crises—namely the COVID-19 pandemic,
which has disproportionally impacted communities of color, and amid heightened instances
of racial injustice. They argue these events and other inequities impact the local
issues and everyday practices of educational leaders in communities, schools, and
districts. As a result, educators and other providers should consider these issues
to be able to fully engage minoritized families and communities.
Tackling the Silent Epidemic of Childhood Trauma and Grief: What Social Workers and Criminal Justice Professionals Need to Know
April 12th, from 1:00pm-2:30pmSpeaker: Dr. Julie Kaplow
Dr. Julie Kaplow returns to speak on how bereavement, which she describes as the silent epidemic manifests in juvenile justice youth. She will speak to specific data/information regarding this population. The pandemic has led to a silent epidemic of grief, or "psychological long COVID", among youth exposed to pandemic-related losses. In fact, over 25,000 Texas youth have experienced the death of a parent or caregiver due to COVID, with the majority of these losses occurring among Black and Hispanic families. Many of these families were already facing health disparities, racial traumas, and higher death rates prior to the pandemic, making them even more vulnerable to mental and behavioral health issues. This presentation will provide an overview of how trauma and grief can impact children and adolescents over time and what social workers and law enforcement officers can do to support youth who have experienced trauma and bereavement.
For further information contact Steven Villano, director of the Center for Public Service and Community Research at villanos@uhd.edu.