This week, the Labs@Light City will host a series of innovation convenings focused on health, education, art, the environment, food, and the maker movement.
Tomorrow, EduLab kicks off with Karen Webber, director of OSI-Baltimore’s Education and Youth Development program moderating a panel on “Restorative Practices in Schools.” The panelists include Atman and Ali Smith, of Holistic Life Foundation, an OSI grantee, and Rhonda Richetta, Principal of City Springs Elementary/Middle School. With funding from OSI, City Springs implemented restorative practices in 2007 resulting in a tremendous transformation in school climate and a significant reduction in school suspensions. 2017 Community Fellow, Jackie Bello, who expanded her afterschool programming work with Dent Education to develop “Bet on Baltimore,” will be the emcee for EduLab.
Sean Dove, CEO of the Campaign for Black Male Achievement (CBMA) – a program he helped develop in 2008 while working for Open Society Foundations – will take part in a panel called, “Where Do We Go From Here? Building Communities & Schools for Black Boys’ Success.”
Also participating in EduLab, 2014 OSI Community Fellow, Shawn Burnett, who founded Walks of ART to use art as a positive influence on youth in the Southern Park Heights community, will present findings from the recent Casey Foundation Report on Reshaping Workforce Development in Baltimore. Burnett helped lead the project.
Two OSI Advisory Board members will participate in Wednesday’s Social Lab. Joe Jones, CEO of the Center for Urban Families and OSI Advisory Board Vice Chair, will share his experience as a leader on the ground in Baltimore in a discussion entitled, “Radical Oneness,” and Veronica Cool, founder and CEO of Cool and Associates will participate in a panel called, “Culture Takeover: Women Won’t Be Silent Any Longer.”
On Thursday, as part of the HealthLab, Scott Nolen, director of Open Society Institute’s Addiction and Health Equity program, will discuss innovations in opioid addiction in a talk entitled, “A Safer and Healthier Baltimore: The Role of Safe Consumption,” In addition, OSI and our grantee, Baltimore Harm Reduction Coalition, will set up a “Safe Shape” pop-up exhibit that models a drug consumption room, or a safe injection facility in the form of a pavilion
Also on Thursday, 2017 OSI Community Fellow, Ausar Daniels, who started the Greater Mondawmin Empowerment Project will participate in GreenLab’s panel about how urban farming is good for business, the environment, and the economy.
And finally, at Friday’s ArtLab, Wide Angle Youth Media, a project founded by 2001 OSI Community Fellow, Gin Ferrara, will present screenings and host a discussion entitled, “Stories for Change: Reenvisioning Baltimore through Youth Media.”
All Labs@LightCity events will take place at The IMET Columbus Center, 700 East Pratt Street Pier 5 at the Inner Harbor.
OSI-Baltimore Advisory Board member Jamie MacDonald is Chairperson of Labs at Light City.
