THIS PROGRAM IS MADE BY MPT TO ENRICH THE DIVERSE COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT OUR STATE AND IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR MEMBERS.

THANK YOU.

CONNECTING MARYLANDERS TO THEIR GOVERNMENT, THIS IS "STATE CIRCLE".

>> Jeff: HELLO AND WELCOME TO "STATE CIRCLE".

MARYLAND LEADERS JOINED IN THE UNANIMOUS CONDEMNATION OF THE HAMAS ATTACKS ON ISRAELI CIVILIANS.

THE GOVERNOR'S MANSION WAS ILLUMINATED BY BLUE LIGHTS AS GOVERNOR GOVERNOR WROTE ON SOCIAL MEDIA THAT WE STAND IN SOLIDARITY AS WE PRAY FOR PEACE AND HEALING.

CHRIS VAN HOLLANDE SAID I CONDEMN THE ABHORRENT ATTACKS AGAINST INNOCENT CIVILIANS LAUNCHED BY HAMAS AND OTHER TERRORIST GROUPS AND STAND IN STRONG SOLIDARITY WITH THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL AS THEY DEFEND THEMSELVES.

THERE'S NEVER ANY JUSTIFICATION FOR TERRORISM.

WE WILL HAVE ANALYSIS OF THE ATTACK AND THE RESPONSE TO IT ON "DIRECT CONNECTION" MONDAY EVENING.

NOW N. MARYLAND NEWS, TWO STATE COLLEGES HAVE SEEN MULTIPLE SHOT ON CAMPUS IN JUST THE LAST 10 DAYS.

9,000 REWARD WAS OFFERED FOR INFORMATION ON TWO INDIVIDUALS SOUGHT IN CONNECTION WITH THE WOUNDING OF FOUR STUDENTS AND ONE OTHER PERSON ON THE CAMPUS OF MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY.

THE PRESIDENT DAVID WILSON TOLD STUDENTS HE WOULD BOOST SECURITY WITH THOUSANDS OF FEET OF EXPANDED FENCING TO NEARLY FULLY ESPECIALLY CLOSE THE CAMPUS.

>> WE'RE DOING THIS AND LET ME BE CLEAR -- NOT TO KEEP OUT OUR NEIGHBORS AND OUR COMMUNITY AT LARGE.

WE ARE DOING IT TO KEEP OUT THE BAD ACTORS.

WE DO NOT WANT BAD ACTORS IN OUR FAMILY DISRUPTING OUR CORE VALUES.

>> Jeff: MEANTIME ON TUESDAY BOWIE STATE UNIVERSITY RELEASED A STATEMENT CANCELING CLASSES FOR THE WEEK AFTER TWO NONSTUDENTS WERE WOUNDED IN AN ON CAMPUS SHOOTING LAST WEEKEND.

THE SCHOOL MADE COUNSELORS AVAILABLE.

POLICE SAY THE TWO CASES ARE UNRELATED.

AMONG THE DOCTORS WHO RUSHED TO TREAT THE MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY SHOOTING VICTIMS IS A SURGEON WHO HIMSELFS WITH A TEENAGE SHOOTING VICTIM.

WE SPOKE WITH JOHNS HOPKINS TRAUMA SURGEON Dr. JOSEPH SAKRAN.

DOCTOR THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

IT WAS A RANDOM BULLET I UNDERSTAND ALMOST 30 YEARS AGO THAT SET YOUR LIFE ON IGHTS CURRENT COURSE.

WHAT HAPPENED?

I READ IT WAS A HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL GAME?

>> YEAH, THANKS SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

YOU KNOW, LOOK AS YOU'RE ELUDING TO I COME TO THE CONVERSATION AS NOT JUST A TRAUMA SURGEON BUT ALSO A A SURVIVOR.

I WAS 17 YEARS OLD.

IT WAS AFTER A HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL GAME WHERE I WAS HANGING OUT WITH FRIENDS THE WAY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TYPICALLY DO.

AND A FIGHT BROKE OUT THAT WE HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH AND A GUY PULLED OUT A GUN.

AND STARTED FIRING INTO THE CROWD.

AND AT THAT POINT I GOT HIT WITH A RANDOM BULLET THAT RUN PURCHASED MY WINDPIPE AND ENDED UP IN MY SHOULDER.

AND YEAH.

SO THAT WAS KIND OF YOU KNOW, A MOMENT IN TIME WHERE AT 17 I THINK MOST OF US WE HAVE NO IDEA YOU KNOW THAT WE'RE MORTAL AND WE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT WE WANT TO DO IN LIFE.

IT WAS A PIVOTAL POINT IN MY EARLY TEENAGE YEARS SO TO SPEAK.

>> Jeff: WHAT A STORY.

AND CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND GOING INTO MEDICINE BUT THERE'S LOTS OF DOCTORS WHO NEVER SEE A TRAUMA PATIENT.

YOU CHOSE THAT FIELD SPECIFICALLY.

>> YEAH, I MEAN LOOK I WAS INSPIRED BY THE SECOND CHANCE THAT I WAS GIVEN.

IT INSPIRED ME TO INITIALLY GO INTO MEDICINE.

AND THEN TO BECOME A TRAUMA SURGEON BECAUSE I FRANKLY, FELT THAT IF I COULD GIVE OTHER PEOPLE THE SAME SECOND CHANCE THAT I WAS GIVEN, THEN THAT WOULD BE YOU KNOW THE MOST GRATIFYING WAY TO KIND OF BE ABLE TO REALLY LIVE OUT THIS SECOND OPPORTUNITY THAT I'VE GIVEN OF LIFE.

>> Jeff: AND THIS HAS BECOME A CALLING FOR YOU IN A COUPLE OF WAYS.

NOT JUST SAVING LIVES WHICH WOULD BE PLENTY.

BUT ALSO AS A GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION ADVOCATE.

I READ YOU WERE JUST DELIVERING REMARKS IN RAW CHEST -- ROCHESTER IN THE LAST WEEK.

TELL ME ABOUT THAT WHAT WAS THE GROUP AND WHAT WAS YOUR MESSAGE?

>> LET ME JUST FIRST SAY THAT THE REASON I HAVE GONE WHAT I CALL DOING THE WORK BEYOND THE BEDSIDE, BEYOND SIMPLY THE FOUR WALLS OF THE TRAUMA CENTER OR THE OPERATING ROOM IS BECAUSE FANGLY THIS FIGHT HOW GOOD I THINK I AM AS A TRAUMA SURGEON DESPITE HOW GREAT OUR TRAUMA CENTER IS IF SOMEONE IS SHOT IN THE HEAD THERE'S LITTLE I CAN DO 0 BRING THEM BACK TO BASELINE.

THE BEST WAY TO PROVIDE THAT TYPE OF MEDICAL TREATMENT IS PREVENTION.

AND THAT'S HOW WE TACKLE WHAT I CONSIDER IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PUBLIC HEALTH PROBLEMS OF MODERN TIMES.

SO I GO AROUND THE COUNTRY TALKING ABOUT THIS ISSUE REALLY TRYING TO TALK ABOUT YOU KNOW, WHAT WE ARE FACING, WHAT ARE THE SOLUTIONS, AND HOW DO WE TACKLE THIS.

I WAS SPEAKING TO PRIMARILY IN THIS CASE, HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER.

AND IT WAS WONDERFUL.

EVERY TIME I DO THIS, I LEARN SO MUCH FROM THE AUDIENCE AND ALSO WE'RE ABLE TO ENGAGE IN DIALOGUE THAT ALLOWS US TO MOVE AWAY FROM THE RHETORIC WE OFTEN HEAR AND MOVE TOWARDS DATA DRIVEN SOLUTIONS THAT ALLOW US TO KIND OF EMBED RESPONSIBLE GUN OWNERSHIP ACROSS THIS COUNTRY.

>> Jeff: GIVE ME SPECIFIC DATA DRIVEN SOLUTIONS?

WHAT DO YOU ADVOCATE FOR?

>> SO WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THIS FROM A PUBLIC HEALTH PERSPECTIVE ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS TO REALIZE IS THERE IS NO ONE SOLUTION.

I THINK PEOPLE OFTEN THEY ARE LIKE WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU WOULD DO?

THE COMPLEXITY OF IT REQUIRES US TO APPROACH THIS IN A WAY THAT IS MULTIFACETED.

THAT IS WHY, YOU KNOW, AND WE'VE BEEN PUSHING FOR YOU AVARIETY OF THINGS.

AS AN EXAMPLE, EXPANSION OF THE BRADY BACKGROUND CHECK.

AND IN FULL DISCLOSURE I'M CHAIR OF THE BOARD FOR BRADY UNITED AND THE CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER.

BUT WE KNOW THAT THE BRADY BILL HAS PREVENTED MILLIONS OF FIREARMS BEING POSSESSED BY INDIVIDUALS THAT WE ALL AGREE SHOULDN'T POSSESS THEM.

EXPANSION OF THAT TO CLOSE THE LOOPHOLES THAT EXIST IS SO CRITICAL, RIGHT?

WE NEED TO DO THINGS LIKEN SURE THAT WE ARE HAVING IMPLEMENTATION OF EXTREME RISK PROTECTION ORDERS ACROSS STATES IN AMERICA.

RIGHT NOW, YOU KNOW WE HAVE A CERTAIN NUMBER OF STATES OF COURSE THAT HAVE PASSED EXTREME PROTECTION ORDERS KNOWN AS RED FLAG LAWS.

HAVING THE LAW AND BEING ABLE TO IMPLEMENT IT ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS N FACT, YOU KNOW, AS MANY PROBABLY KNOW IN THE BIPARTISAN SAFER COMMUNITIES ACT, THE FIRST PIECE OF FEDERAL LEGISLATION THAT PASSED IN NEARLY 30 YEARS, THERE IS FEDERAL FUNDING THAT CAN BE DIRECTED TOWARDS STATES IN HELPING IN THAT PROCESS.

THOSE ARE JUST A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES.

AS A HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL WE CONTINUE TO PUSH FOR FUNDING FOR RESEARCH IN ORDER TO CONTINUE TO ALLOW US TO DEVELOP DATA DRIVEN RESEARCH.

AND WE ALSO RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE AND THE VALUE OF COMMUNITY VIOLENCE INTERVENTION PROGRAMS AND MAKING SURE THAT WE FUND THOSE PROGRAMS TO REALLY TACKLING ALL ASPECTS OF THIS PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE.

>> Jeff: WHAT DO YOU SEE IN THE EMERGENCY ROOMS THE OPERATING ROOMS AT THE HOPKINS HOSPITALS?

WE KNOW THAT THE NUMBER OF HOMICIDES IN BALTIMORE CITY IS DOWN THIS YEAR WHICH IS GREAT NEWS.

ARE YOU SEEING THAT REFLECTED IN THE NUMBER OF SHOOTING VICTIMS COMING IN?

>> WE'LL HAVE TO SEE HOW THINGS PLAY OUT AT THE END OF THE YEAR.

HERE IS WHAT I'LL TELL YOU.

YOU KNOW, AS A NATION WE OFTEN TALK ABOUT YOU KNOW, MASS SHOOTINGS THAT GETS A LOT OF MEDIA ATTENTION.

THE REALITY IS THAT IN CITIES LIKE BALTIMORE AND PHILADELPHIA AND CHICAGO, WE HAVE YOUNG BROWN AND BLACK MEN THAT ARE BEING SLAUGHTERED ON OUR STREETS.

AND WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO BE ABLE TO TELL THOSE STORIES TO FIGURE OUT THE SOLUTIONS THAT ARE NECESSARY TO HELP REDUCE THE VIOLENCE THAT WE'RE SEEING THE RECIDIVISM THAT WE SEE.

AND SO YOU KNOW, AS SOMEONE WHO IS A TRAUMA SURGEON TAKING CARE OF THESE PATIENTS EVERYDAY IN BALTIMORE THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE BEING INJURED AND OR KILLED.

AND IT'S ABSOLUTELY HEART WRENCHING TO HAVE TO CONTINUE TO GO AND EXPLAIN TO A MOM OR DAD THAT THEIR CHILD THAT LEFT THAT MORNING IS NEVER COMING HOME AGAIN.

IT'S THE WORST PART OF MY JOB.

AND YOU THOUGH, WE, OF COURSE, DO IT BECAUSE IT'S PART OF OUR PROFESSIONAL OBLIGATION AND DUTY.

BUT I CAN'T ACCEPT THAT AS A STATUS QUO WHY WE CONTINUE TO PUSH BEYOND THE BEDSIDE TO MAKE COMMUNITIES SAFER.

>> Jeff: I WONDER SOMETIMES WHEN WE IN THE MEDIA REPORT THAT SOMEBODY WAS SHOT AND HAS NONLIFE-THREATENING INJURIES, IF WE'RE SORT OF UNDER STATING IT AND BRUSHING ASIDE WHAT IS OFTEN EVEN IF SOMEBODY SURVIVES IS OFTEN A LIFELONG DISABILITY.

>> YEAH.

IT'S SUCH A GREAT POINT.

NOT ONLY CAN IT BE A LIFELONG DISABILITY PHYSICALLY, BUT THERE CAN BE EMOTIONAL AND MENTAL HEALTH PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PSYCHOSOCIAL ISSUES THAT ARE RELATED TO THAT TRAUMATIC EVENT.

THINK ABOUT THIS... WE KNOW THAT IN CERTAIN COMMUNITIES ABOUT 40% AT TIMES, RIGHT, OF PATIENTS THAT ARE NONFATALLY INJURED WILL BE BACK WITHIN FIVE YEARS WITH ANOTHER GUN RELATED INJURY.

OR MAYBE EVEN DEATH.

SO THOSE INDIVIDUALS AND THOSE PATIENTS THAT ARE COMING THROUGH OUR TRAUMA CENTERS, THAT ARE NONFATALLY INJURED WE LOOK AT THAT AS A POTENTIAL TO OPPORTUNITY TO INTERVENE THAT IS WHY AT JOHNS HOPKINS MEDICINE WE FOCUS ON REALLY BUILDING A ROBUST HOSPITAL BASED VIOLENCE INTERVENTION PROGRAM THAT ALLOWS US TO TACKLE THIS REVOLVING DOOR OF VIOLENCE THAT WE OFTEN SEE.

>> Jeff: A LITTLE BIT OF GOOD NEWS, THE EXPERTISE YOU'VE BUILT UP, I DON'T WANT TO CALL THIS A SILVER LINING BUT WE OVER AT TRAUMA RECENTLY AND YOU MAY HAVE THE SAME THING WHERE ARMY DOCTORS COME IN FOR TRAINING BECAUSE THEY CAN SEE THE EQUIVALENT OF BATTLEFIELD INJURIES ON A REGULAR BASIS.

BUT IN BALTIMORE I MEAN YOU'RE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE BEST EMS AND THE BEST TRAUMA CARE AND SAVE LIVES.

>> YEAH.

I'M REALLY PROUD OF WHAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO IN BALTIMORE.

AS IT RELATES TO DELIVERING LIFE-SAVING CARE.

I MEAN, IT'S NOT ALSO JUST ABOUT THE TRAUMA SURGEON BUT IT'S ABOUT THE MULTIDISCIPLINARY GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS.

THE NURSES, THE ANESTHESIA FOLKS THE EMERGENCY MEDICINE FOLKS ALL OF US COMING TOGETHER, RIGHT, TO BE ABLE TO MAKE ONE DECISION AFTER THE OTHER TO SAVE SOMEONE'S LIFE.

AND YOU KNOW, WE TRAIN FOR THIS.

WE DEVELOP THE SKILLS TO BE ABLE TO DO IT AND DO IT IN A WAY THAT PROVIDES EARLY ACCESS TO LIFE-SAVING CARE.

I THINK THAT, OF COURSE, IS IMPORTANT BUT WE CANNOT LOSE SIGHT OF THE FACT THAT THERE ARE SOME INJURIES THAT ARE SIMPLY NON-SURVIVABLE THAT ARE BEYOND OUR ABILITY DESPITE HOW GOOD WE WE THINK WE ARE.

THAT IS WHY DOING THAT WORK WITHIN THE TRAUMA CENTER IS CRITICAL BUT DOING THE WORK, RIGHT, BEYOND THE TRAUMA CENTER WHETHER IT'S PUSHING FOR PROGRAMMATIC SOLUTIONS OR SPEAK WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS IT IS JUST AS CRITICAL.

PREVENTION IS THE KEY.

AND THIS IS NOT THE FIRST PUBLIC HEALTH PROBLEM WE FACE AS A NATION.

YOU THINK ABOUT CAR CRASHES AND FATALITIES IN THE 60s AND 70s.

WE DIDN'T GET RID OF CARS WE CAME UP WITH SEATBELTS AND AIRBAGS AND THOSE ARE THE THINGS WE HAVE TO DO TO MOVE AWAY FROM TRYING TO FOCUS ON CHANGING HUMAN BEHAVIOR WHICH WE KNOW IS NOT COST-EFFECTIVE AND DEVELOPING A SYSTEM THAT MAKES IT LESS LIKELY FOR PEOPLE TO BE INJURED.

>> Jeff: TO BE HONEST, IT'S HARD TO BE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THIS.

I'VE BEEN AROUND MARYLAND AND BALTIMORE POLITICS FOR A LONGTIME.

I REMEMBER MAYOR SCHAEFER, GOVERNOR SCHAEFER ADVOCATED FOR A BAN ON SATURDAY NIGHT SPECIALS AND THAT WAS GOING TO FIX EVERYTHING.

AND SO MANY OTHER LAWS WE JUST BANNED GHOST GUNS AND, YET, IN THE NEWS JUST IN THE LAST WEEK, RECORD NUMBERS OF HANDGUNS BEING SEIZED IN SCHOOLS AND AT AIRPORTS.

DO YOU SEE A REASON FOR OPTIMISM ANYWHERE?

>> YEAH, I MEAN LISTEN IT'S EASY I THINK NOT TO BE OPTIMISTIC.

BUT HERE'S WHAT I WOULD SAY IS THINK ABOUT WHERE OUR COUNTRY IS RIGHT NOW COMPARED TO WHERE WE WERE A DECADE AGO.

IT IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.

MOST GOVERNING IN AMERICA HAPPENS THE THE LOCAL AND STATE LEVEL.

YOU KNOW WE'VE HAD OVER 550 PIECES OF COMMON SENSE GUN LEGISLATION THAT HAVE PASSED IN CITIES AND STATES ACROSS AMERICA.

NOW, OF COURSE, RIGHT, LIKE WE WANT TO SEE STUFF AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL BECAUSE WE LIVE RIGHT IN THE COUNTRY WHERE YOU ARE ABLE TO EASILY CROSS BORDERS.

AND WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE BIPARTISAN SAFER COMMUNITIES ACT WAS IMPORTANT.

BUT I THINK OUR COUNTRY HAS CHANGED AND THAT CULTURAL SHIFT THE SOCIAL NORM CHANGE WE'RE STARTING TO SEE IS IT HAPPENING FAST ENOUGH?

NO.

BUT I'M OPTIMISTIC THAT ESPECIALLY THE NEXT GENERATION WILL REFUSE TO CONTINUE THE STATUS QUO WE'RE SEEING.

AND I THINK THE OTHER PIECE SO CRITICAL IS THIS IS GOING TO REQUIRE ALL OF US IN ORDER TO TACKLE WHAT I CONSIDER A UNIQUELY AMERICAN PROBLEM.

IT CAN'T JUST BE THE HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS.

IT REQUIRES US, GUN OWNERS, POLICYMAKERS, BUSINESSES HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO BETTER.

>> >> Jeff: DOCTOR JOSEPH SAKRAN OF JOHNS HOPKINS MEDICINE.

SIR WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

>> Jeff: NOW THE SUPREME COURT AFFIRMATIVE ACTION'S RULING CAUSED CONCERN ON MANY CAMPUSES NANCY PELOSNANCY PELOSISY AMATZO.

>> THE LAWSUIT AGAINST THE NAVEL ACADEMY IS BOTH NECESSARY AND PREDICTABLE.

>> KENNETH MARCUS, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BRANDEIS CENTER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS UNDER LAW SAYS THE SUPREME COURT MUST CLARIFY IF MILITARY INSTITUTIONS LIKE THE NAVEL ACADEMY ARE ALLOWED TO USE RACE AS A METRIC TO DETERMINE ADMISSIONS A LAWSUIT FILED IN MARYLAND'S U.S. DISTRICT COURT BY A GROUP CALLED STUDENTS FOR FAIR ADMISSIONS CONTENDS AFFIRMATIVE ACTIONS POLICIES IN ADMISSIONS ARE UNFAIR, UNNECESSARY AND UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

>> THE ALLEGATION IS THAT STUDENTS WHO ARE OF CERTAIN RACIAL MINORITIES NEED NOT ACHIEVE THE SAME SCORES ON THEIR STANDARDIZED EXAMS OR IN OTHER ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN ORDER TO BE SELECTED.

IN OTHER WORDS THE NOTION THAT THE NAVEL ACADEMY IS NOT TREATING PEOPLE THE SAME REGARDLESS OF RACE.

>> THE LAWSUIT COMES MONTHS AFTER THE SUPREME COURT REJECTED AFFIRMATIVE ACTION AT COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES.

DECLARING THAT RACE CONSCIOUS ADMISSIONS AT HARVARD AND UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA WERE UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

>> THE ONLY QUESTION REMAINING FOR THE COURT IS WHETHER THE SECURITY OF THE UNITED STATES FROM FORBE INVASION OR MILITARY THREATS IS SUFFICIENT TO JUSTIFY A DIFFERENT APPROACH TO ADMISSIONS IN THE SERVICE ACADEMIES THAN FOR OUR COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES.

I THINK THEIR ANSWER WILL BE THAT THOSE CONSIDERATIONS DO NOT REQUIRE A DIFFERENT ANSWER.

THE RULES TO PROHIBIT THE USE OF RACE BASED AFFIRMATIVE ACTION IS A SETBACK.

>> A POLICY AND RESEARCH ANALYST WITH THE ECONOMIC POLICY INSTITUTE.

>> WE'RE HAVING TO COPE WITH THIS NEW NORMAL WHERE PEOPLE ARE SAYING LIKE RACE SHOULDN'T BE A FACTOR THE WAY IT HAS BEEN IN THE PAST.

DESPITE THE INEQUITIES AND DISPARITIES THAT EXIST.

AND I THINK THAT WE WHEN LOOK AT THE DATA AND LOOK AT ACHIEVEMENT GAPS, WHEN WE LOOK AT INCOME GAPS, WE SEE THAT EVEN IF YOU KNOW, UNDER CIVIL RIGHTS LAW WE'RE ALL CREATED EQUAL UNDER THE LAW, WE STILL IS SEE THE DISPARITIES BECAUSE OF CONSCIOUS POLICY DECISIONS.

>> MYAH BELIEVES ENDING AFFIRMATIVE ACTION WILL HAVE DEVASTATING CONSEQUENCES.

>> THE INSTITUTIONS WILL STRUGGLE TO HAVE DIVERSE STUDENT BODIES.

>> MARCUS CONTENDS THE SUPREME COURT MADE IT CLEAR... >> THAT THE RATIONALE FOR ANTI-DISCRIME LAW IS TO INSURE EQUAL TREATMENT TO PREVENT GHOSTAL DECISION MAKING BASED ON RACIAL STEREOTYPES AND MAKE SURE PEOPLE ARE NOT TREATED BETTER OR WORSE BASED ON THEIR RACE OR ETHNICITY.

>> I'M NANCY AMATZO FOR "STATE CIRCLE".

>> Jeff: THE STATE'S NEWEST CABINET AGENCY IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS, THE DEPARTMENT OF SERVICE AND CIVIC INNOVATION IS TAKING APPLICATIONS FOR THE GOVERNOR'S SERVICE YEAR PROGRAM.

WE SPOKE RECENTLY WITH SECRETARY PAUL MONTIERO.

>> Mr. SECRETARY THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

LET'S START WITH THE NUTS AND BOLTS ON THIS.

YOU WILL BE HIRING SEVERAL HUNDRED HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

YES, WE'VE OPENED THE APPLICATION PORTAL TO BUILD THE FIRST COHORT OF THE MARYLAND CORE SERVICE YEAR OPTION.

IT WILL NUMBER 250 SLOTS.

AND MANY OF THEM ON THE SERVICE SIDE WILL BE PEOPLE WHO FINISHED HIGH SCHOOL RECENTLY.

ON THE MARYLAND CORPS SIDE THEY CAN BE ADULTS OF ANY AGE.

>> Jeff: WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THOSE TWO PROGRAMS?

>> THE DIFFERENCE WILL BE AGE.

SERVICE YEAR OPTION IS TARGETING THOSE WHO FINISHED THEIR K-12 CAREER WHETHER DIPLOMA, GED, CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION AND ARE STILL TRYING TO FIND THEIR FIT.

MAYBE EMPLOYED BUT UNDER EMPLOYED OR STILL AT HOME FIGURING OUT THEIR NEXT MOVE WHETHER COLLEGE IS THEM OR THE WORKFORCE.

AND THE MARYLAND CORPS IS OPEN TO ADULTS OF ANY AGE.

>> Jeff: IS THERE AN AGE CUTOFF ON THE RECENT GRADUATE PROGRAM?

>> THEY HAVE TO HAVE FINISHED HIGH SCHOOL IN THE LAST THREE YEARS.

SO THAT'S THE SORT OF HARD STATUTORY BAR.

>> Jeff: WHAT WILL EVERYBODY BE DOING ONCE YOU'VE SELECTED THE FIRST COHORT?

>> EVERYONE WILL BE SERVING THE STATE IN SOME WAY.

AND IF YOU KNOW BETTER THAN MOST THE GOVERNOR MADE SERVICE A HALLMARK OF HIS ADMINISTRATION.

AND WHAT WE'RE WORKING TO DO IS EXPAND THE APPIER TOUR WHEN IT COMES TO WHAT SERVICE LOOKS LIKE ACROSS THE STATE.

AND SO INDIVIDUALS COULD BE SERVING IN A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION.

THEY COULD BE SERVING IN A FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATION.

A PUBLIC AGENCY.

THE VACANCY ISSUES ACROSS STATE GOVERNMENT AND MANY OF OUR COUNTY GOVERNMENTS.

THEY COULD BE WORKING IN A CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

SO THE RANGE OF PLACES INDIVIDUALS COULD SERVE ARE VERY WIDE AND DIVERSE.

WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE FOLKS BE GIVEN A MENU OF PLACES AND WAYS THEY CAN SERVE.

BECAUSE HERE ARE MANY WAYS TO GIVE BACK TO THE STATE AND WE'RE EXCITED TO BUILD PATHWAYS FOR THEM TO DO THAT.

>> Jeff: WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON THE POWER OF SERVICE?

THE GOVERNOR TALKS ABOUT IT A LOT.

TALKS ABOUT HIS LIFE BEING PROOF OF THE POWER OF SERVICE.

HOW DO YOU INTERPRET THAT?

WHAT DOES HE MEAN?

WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THE IMPORTANCE OF SERVICE?

>> TWO THINGS: I COME TO THIS WORK AS SOMEONE WHO BENEFITED FROM OTHERS WHO WERE SERVING.

THE SOCIAL SAFETY NET BEFORE I KNEW WHAT IT WAS IT WAS A REALITY TO ME AND MY FAMILY HELP FROM FAITH BASED ORGANIZATIONS, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS WHEN I WAS GROWING UP IN THE SUBURBS OF PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY.

BUT AS A STUDENT OF HISTORY, LOOKINGAT THE WAYS THAT SERVICE THROUGHOUT HISTORY HAS BEEN A MECHANISM TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER, BUILDUP COMMUNITIES, STRENGTHEN SOCIETIES, AND SO THIS PROGRAM VERY MUCH MEETS THE MOMENT OF THE CHALLENGE OF SENIOR ISOLATION, THE CHALLENGE OF ECONOMIC SEGREGATION, THE CHALLENGE OF POLARIZATION ACROSS OUR SOCIETY.

AND YOU KNOW, SOMEONE ONCE SAID IT'S HARD TO HATE UP CLOSE.

BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER TO SERVE THE STATE IN SOME WAY BECAUSE WE'RE HAVING FOLKS SERVE AS COHORTS AS SMALL AS TWO OR THREE PEOPLE AND LARGER COHORTS IN LARGER ORGANIZATIONS.

BY SERVING TOGETHER WE GET TO THE HUMANITY OF ONE ANOTHER.

AND THAT'S VERY MUCH A GOAL OF THE PROGRAM.

>> Jeff: I SHOULD POINT OUT YOUR PERSONAL BACK STORY, INVOLVES THE PEACE CORPS.

YOUR GRANDPARENTS YOU KNOW, TALK ABOUT THAT AS MUCH AS YOU WANT.

BUT IS THIS PROGRAM A LITTLE BIT OF LIKE A DOMESTIC PEACE CORPS?

>> YOU ARE RIGHT MY GRANDFATHER WAS A PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEER IN THE LATE 1960s.

HE WAS SENT TO AN ISLAND IN MICRO INDONESIA AND WHEN HE WAS SERVING THERE, ONE OF THE THINGS HE DID WAS HELPING TO BE AN ADMINISTRATOR IN A SCHOOL AND THAT IS WHERE HE MET MY GRANDMOTHER.

SO THEY WERE BOTH WORKING IN THE SCHOOL AND WHEN HIS TERM FINISHED HE BROUGHT HER BACK TO THE UNITED STATES.

AND HE WENT BACK TO HIS HOMETOWN IN DOWN STATE ILLINOIS.

BUT THIS WAS 1971 AND THE CHALLENGE OF RACE RELATIONS IN THE SMALL TOWN MADE IT DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO STAY.

AND HIS BROTHER WAS AN OFFICER IN THE COAST GUARD IN SILVER SPRING IN 1971.

ENCOURAGED HIM TO COME TO MONTGOMERY COUNTY AS A PLACE A BIT MORE WELCOMING OF DIVERSE FAMILIES.

SO THEY CAME HERE IN 1971 AND NEVER LEFT.

SO SERVICE BROUGHT MY GRANDPARENTS TOGETHER AND AGAIN, I BENEFITED FROM OTHERS WHO SERVED AS I GREW UP HERE.

I USED TO BE THE DIRECTOR OF A PROGRAM CALLED VISTA, VOLUNTEERS AND SERVICE TO AMERICA CREATED AT THE SAME TIME AS THE PEACE CORPS VERY MUCH AS THE DOMESTIC COUNTERPART TO THE PEACE CORPS.

AND A WONDERFUL PROGRAM THEN AND NOW.

OUR PROGRAM IS SIMPLY TRYING TO BE A COMPLIMENT TO THE EXISTING STREAMS OF SERVICE AMERI CORE IS UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF SERVICE AND CIVIC INNOVATION, HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE SERVING IN AMERI CORE AND WE ARE GOING TO KEEP BUILDING ON THAT THE PATHWAYS WE'RE LAUNCHING THE SERVICE YEAR OPTION AND MARYLAND CORPS WILL BE HARMONIZED WITH THE EXISTING SERVICE STREAMS.

>> Jeff: THIS IS A PAID OPPORTUNITY.

WHAT IS THE PAID GOING TO BE, THE LENGTH OF COMMITMENT THAT SORT OF THING?

>> YES, SO IT IS COMPENSATED.

ENABLING LEGISLATION SETS A FLOOR THE STATE MINIMUM WAGE $15.

SLIGHTLY HIGHER IN CERTAIN COUNTIES MIGHT HAVE A HIGHER MINIMUM WAGE.

BUT $15 AN HOUR.

BUT CONSISTENT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.

THE TERM OF SERVICE IS GOING TO BE IF THIS INAUGURAL PILOT YEAR, APPROXIMATELY NINE MONTHS.

WE'LL GET INTO ALIGNMENT WITH THE ACADEMIC YEAR IN THE FUTURE YEARS.

BUT BECAUSE THE SERVE ACT WAS NOT SIGNED INTO LAW UNTIL THE END OF APRIL WE'RE MOVING TO LAUNCH QUICKLY AND GET THE FIRST COHORT GOING.

IF INDIVIDUALS COMPLETE THE SERVICE TERM WITH US, THEY EARN A $6,000 COMPLETION AWARD.

IF THEY ARE GOING ON TO COLLEGE, THAT $6,000 IN A MARYLAND 529 ACCOUNT TOWARD THEIR TUITION COSTS.

GOING TO COMMUNITY COLLEGE THAT MIGHT BE A YEAR TUITION RIGHT THERE.

GOING INTO THE WORKFORCE AFTER THE TERM OF SERVICE WITH US THEY CAN TAKE IT AS A CASH STIPEND TO HELP THEM GET THEIR FIRST APARTMENT OR THE USED TO CAR TO GET TO THEIR JOB.

WE'RE CREATING A PATHWAY MOVING PEOPLE FROM BEING UNSURE WHAT THEY ARE DOING TO GIVE THEM A TERM OF SERVICE AND DISCERN WHERE THEY FIT SO THAT AT THE END OF THE TERM THEY ARE MOVING INTO THE NEXT MOVE.

>> Jeff: THANKS TO SECRETARY MONTERO.

YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION... AND YOU CAN FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA AT MPT NEWS.

WE'RE BACK MONDAY WITH "DIRECT CONNECTION".

AND YOUR CHANCE TO ASK THE EXPERTS THAT IS MONDAY EVENING LIVE AT 7:00 P.M. NOW FOR ALL OF US AT MPT THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

AND WE'LL SEE YOU BACK HERE ON MONDAY.