Racism in the “War on Drugs” – a ZOOM conversation

Please join us for a conversation about Racism in the “War on Drugs”.

Our presenters are:

Katharine Neill Harris, Ph.D., the Alfred C. Glassell, III, Fellow in Drug Policy at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy. Her current research focuses on the availability of drug treatment for at-risk populations, the opioid epidemic, and the legalization of medical and adult-use cannabis. She supports policy reforms that treat drug use as a public health issue, such as alternatives to incarceration for drug offenders, needle-exchange programs, safe-consumption sites, drug testing services, expanded access to medication-assisted treatments, and greater integration of substance use and mental health services with each other and with other areas of medical service.

Jay Jenkins, J.D., an attorney with Texas Criminal Justice Coalition, has been advancing adult and youth justice reforms in the Houston and larger Harris County region since 2014. He received his J.D. from Northwestern University School of Law in 2009, where he also advanced youth justice policy reform in Chicago. Upon graduation, Jay worked as a civil litigator for three years. His mission at TCJC is to work with local justice advocacy organizations and marginalized communities to promote best practices and innovations that will improve access to justice for all of Harris County.

Maggie Luna is the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health Peer Policy Fellow for the Texas Criminal Justice Coalition, having joined the organization in early 2020. In her role, she is focused on creating advocacy opportunities for system-impacted Texans. A graduate of the Smart Justice Speakers Bureau at Texas Southern University’s Thurgood Marshall School of Law, Maggie helps to coordinate the Statewide Leadership Council, which elevates the voices of system-impacted people in local and state policy reform join the team to talk about her personal experience with the criminal justice system. Maggie will talk about her personal experience with the criminal justice system.

This event is free, and donations are appreciated. To donate, please click here: https://www.centerhealingracism.org/donate/