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Saint Joseph's News |
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Mayoral Candidates and Researchers to Examine Philadelphia’s Epidemic of Violence PHILADELPHIA (February 12, 2007) -- Identifying the root causes of violence and developing clear strategies for reducing crime in Philadelphia looms as the biggest challenge for city officials, academic researchers, policy makers, and community leaders. The event will get under way at 6 p.m., in the Wolfington Teletorium, Mandeville Hall, 54th Street and City Avenue, on the Saint Joseph’s campus. In a presentation titled, “If you had ten minutes with the Mayor…,” a panel of researchers will offer their best recommendations for reducing and preventing violence in the city. Panelists include: Patrick Carr, assistant professor of sociology, Rutgers University; Scott Charles, trauma outreach coordinator and director of the Cradle to Grave program, Temple University Hospital’s Emergency and Critical Care Unit; Ralph Taylor, professor and chair, criminal justice department, Temple University, and John Rich, professor and chair, department of health management and policy, Drexel University, and a 2006 MacArthur Prize winner. In the keynote panel at 7 p.m., the announced Democratic candidates for mayor of Philadelphia will present their “Strategies for Reducing Violence in Philadelphia:” U.S. Rep. Robert Brady, state Rep. Dwight Evans, U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah, Michael Nutter, and Tom Knox. Moderator is John DiIulio, Jr., professor of political science, University of Pennsylvania, who was the first head of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatiives when it was established by President Bush in 2001. “With a record 406 homicides in 2006 and escalating violent crime looming as the major challenge for Philadelphia, and for cities throughout the nation, this symposium will bring together the researchers engaged in identifying the best practices and the mayoral candidates who have all identified reducing crime and ensuring public safety as a top priority of their campaign platforms,” said Maria Kefalas, Ph.D., assistant professor of sociology and director of the IVRP at Saint Joseph’s. “Through this forum, we hope to advance the dialogue with the goal of finding solutions to the increasing violence in our society.” Earlier in the week, on Monday, February 19, at 7 p.m., the University will hold a non-denominational prayer service in the Chapel of St. Joseph—Michael J. Smith, S.J. Memorial. Fathers George Bur and Richard Malloy will preside at the service, where 406 lighted candles will commemorate Philadelphia’s 406 homicide victims and their names will be read. Also speaking during the service will be Catherine Young, whose son Richard Johnson, a St. Joseph’s Prep graduate, was murdered in 2005 the summer before he was to attend Saint Joseph’s as a freshman. To register for “A Public Forum on Violence in Philadelphia,” go to http://www.sju.edu/IVRP/Forum07 or contact Megan Foley at the Institute for Violence Research and Prevention by calling 610-660-3097 or via email at mf424917@sju.edu. (Space is limited.) BACKGROUND: Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1851, Saint Joseph's University advances the professional and personal ambitions of men and women by providing a demanding, yet supportive, educational experience. One of only 142 schools with a Phi Beta Kappa chapter and AACSB business school accreditation, Saint Joseph's is home to 4,150 full-time undergraduates and 2,700 graduate, part-time and doctoral students. Steeped in the 450-year Jesuit tradition of scholarship and service, Saint Joseph's was recently named to the 2006 President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll with Distinction for General Community Service. The University strives to be recognized as the preeminent Catholic comprehensive university in the Northeast. Contact: Harriet K. Goodheart, Assistant Vice President of University Communications, 610-660-1532, or hgoodhea@sju.edu |