Racism as a Public Safety Crisis

In the year since George Floyd’s murder, America has grappled with the impacts of persistent, systemic racism on every aspect of public safety—from policing to sentencing and incarceration to reentry to violence prevention. Journalists, policymakers, and academics alike are asking what it means to create safe and secure communities, both in Chicago and nationwide. Though communities of color have long been disproportionately impacted by systemic racism, the past year of protests sparked by police killings, and the spotlight on inequity shown by the unequal outcomes of a pandemic, has elevated the conversation into more sustained mainstream focus.

With the one-year anniversary of George Floyd’s murder approaching, join the UChicago Urban Network for a panel conversation featuring former Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Julián Castro and UChicago scholars. This panel will explore how we can better understand systemic failings and create comprehensive policy to work toward lasting change for cities across the country.

Participants include:
Julián Castro
Former presidential candidate and HUD secretary

Franklin Cosey-Gay
Executive Director, Chicago Center for Youth Violence Prevention, Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy and Practice

Sharon Fairley
Professor from Practice, University of Chicago Law School

Moderator:
Juana Summers
NPR national political reporter covering race and justice