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: WELCOME TO "STATE CIRCLE".

JUST AHEAD TONIGHT WE'LL LEARN ABOUT MARYLAND'S ROLE IN A BATTLE OF THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR AND HOW MARYLAND CAME TO BE KNOWN AS THE OLD LION'S STATE.

OPTIMISM IN THE AIR AS LEADERS IN TECHNOLOGY AND INVESTING GATHERED FOR DC'S START UP AND TECH WEEK.

NANCY YAMADA WAS THERE.

>> IF YOU LOOK AT A.O.L.

IN THE EARLY DAYS WE BUILT AN INTEGRATED INTERNET IT WASN'T JUST ACCESS, IT WAS A PIECE OF SOFTWARE.

WE LOOKED AT IT AS THE DISK WE SENT OUT.

>> A FORMER SENIOR EXECUTIVE WITH A.O.L.

AND A FOUNDER CHAIRMAN AND C.E.O.

OF MONUMENTAL SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT WHICH OWNS THE WASHINGTON CAPITALS AND WIZARDS AND MYSTICS WAS THE MAN OF THE HOUR SPEAKING AT THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY BLOOMBERG CENTER HE TOLD INVESTORS AND INDUSTRY LEADERS THAT THE DMV IS THE HUB OF INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP.

>> WE HAVE ALL THE SOUP TO CONTINUE TO MAKE THE AMERICAN ECONOMY THE MOST IMPORTANT MOST POWERFUL IN THE WORLD.

AND IT'S REALLY WE ALL THINK OF OURSELVES AS BEING IN THIS DC OVERLAY WHICH IS FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THEN OUR OWN COMMUNITIES.

AND BUT REALLY WHAT DRIVES IT IS OUR UNIVERSITIES.

WE HAVE THE BEST UNIVERSITIES WITH JOHNS HOSPITAL KINS WITH GEORGETOWN, WITH GW AND THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA THE LIST GOES ON AND ON.

>> FOR THOSE IN THE SPACE OF TRYING TO START A COMPANY AND NAVIGATE THE PIPELINE OF INNOVATION... >> THAT WORK REQUIRES A LOT OF COURAGE.

>> MYRA NORTON IS THE HEAD OF TECHNOLOGY START UP IN ECOSYSTEM ACCELERATION FOR JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY.

>> OUR ENTIRE MISSION IS HOW DO WE TAKE THESE GREAT IDEAS AND INNOVATIONS THAT ARE BEING INCUBATED INSIDE UNIVERSITIES SETTING AND GET THEM TO MARKET, GET THEM TO IMPACT PEOPLE'S LIVES.

>> AMONG THE MOST INNOVATIVE PROJECTS AT JOHNS HOPKINS... >> WE'VE HAD MANY IN THE LAST SCIENCES REALM.

GREAT EXAMPLE IS THRIVE EARLY DETECTION AN EARLY DETECTION SCREENING FOR CANCER.

THAT WAS SOLD TO EXACT SCIENCES IT IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF AN IDEA THAT STARTED IN THE LAB AND WAS BUILT INSIDE THE UNIVERSITY INCUBATED AND SPUN OUT INTO A START-UP THAT GREW AND DEVELOPED THAT PRODUCT AND IS NOW PART OF A LARGER COMPANY.

THAT IS NOW TAKING THIS IDEA TO MARKET.

>> WITH THE WEALTH OF INNOVATIVE IDEAS THAT PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO BRING TO MARKET, IT BEGS THE QUESTION: WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BE SUCCESSFUL AND GET INVESTORS TO TAKE NOTICE?

>> ENTREPRENEURSHIP IS TOUGH.

IT IS A HARD ROAD TO -- A HARD ROAD TO CLIMB AND I THINK IT IS A LITTLE BIT OF FORTITUDE AND A LITTLE BIT OF LUCK.

>> DAVID HALL IS WITH REF LUGHTS RISE OF THE REST FUND AN EARLY STAGE VENTURE CAPITAL FUND BASED IN DC.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN FINDING IS FINDING THESE PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR BIG CORPORATIONS WITH A WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE AND KEEP SAYING I COULD DO THIS BETTER I KNOW HOW TO SERVE THIS PRODUCT OR BUILD THE PRODUCT THEY HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR IN MIDDLE MANAGEMENT FOR AN INSURANCE COMPANY I HAVE A PRODUCT THAT CAN BE MORE SUCCESSFUL IF IT'S EXTRACTED FROM THE BIG COMPANY MENTALITY AND THEY BREAK OFF AND HANG THEIR SHINGLE AND MAKE AN AWESOME START UP.

YOU CAN FIND THAT OPPORTUNITY ANYWHERE.

YOU FIND THE RIGHT FOUNDER AT THE RIGHT TIME WITH THE RIGHT SPARK.

>> THOSE THAT TYPICALLY MAKE IT WHO ARE SUCCESSFUL, ARE THOSE WHO UNDERSTAND THE MARKET THEY ARE GOING AFTER.

>> THAT WAS THE VENTURE CAPITAL FIRM PARTNERS MESSAGE TO AUDIENCE MEMBERS LEARNING WHAT IT MEANS TO BE INVESTMENT READY.

>> WHETHER IT'S SUPPORT FOCUSING ON YOUR PITCH OR BUILDING YOUR TEAM, OR THINKING ABOUT HOW DO YOU NAVIGATE YOUR GO TO MARKET STRATEGY, HOW DO YOU BUILD THE TECHNOLOGY, THAT IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT.

BUT I DO THINK THE POWER OF LOCAL ASSETS THE POWER OF THIS CITY IS THAT THERE ARE ESO'S, ENTREPRENEUR SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS POSITIONED TO SUPPORT EARLY STAGE FOUNDERS BEFORE THEY GET IN FRONT OF CAPITALISTS FOR EXAMPLE.

>> HE SAYS THOSE WHO EMBRACE A SENSE OF PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN ACADEMIA, THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR HAVE THE POWER TO CHANGE THE WORLD.

>> THIS CONVICTION THAT WE'RE RIGHT AND NOT HAVING HUMILITY WE CAN HAVE MULTIPLE RIGHT ANSWERS AND THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO DEMONIZE THIS ANSWER VERSUS THAT ANSWER.

AND THAT UNIVERSITIES AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND BUSINESS LEADERSHIP THEY ALL HAVE TO BRING TOGETHER THEIR VIEWPOINTS, THEIR MARKETPLACES, WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH.

AND I'M HOPING THAT MAYBE THIS IS THE DAWN OF THAT NEXT DAY.

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

>> Jeff: NOW, AS THE NATION PREPARES FOR THE AMERICA 250 CELEBRATION NEXT YEAR WE FOCUS ON THE BATTLE OF BROOKLYN.

IT WAS A TURNING POINT IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR AND FOUGHT WITH A LARGE CONTRIBUTION FROM MARYLANDERS.

WE TALKED ABOUT IT WITH TOM MOORE PROFESSOR AT YORK COLLEGE AT THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK.

>> THE BATTLE OF BROOKLYN IS INTERESTING BECAUSE THAT'S MARYLAND'S ROLE IN THE WAR.

MOST OF MARYLAND'S ROLE IN THE WAR RIGHT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE WAR WAS THIS BATTLE NEWSPAPER NEW YORK IN BROOKLYN AND NOT JUST THE FIRST BATTLE OF THE WAR BUT THE BIGGEST ONE.

AND TO CUT TO THE CHASE, WASHINGTON HAD TO RETREAT HE HAD TO COME UP WITH A PLAN FOR A STRATEGIC RETREAT.

OR THE ALTERNATIVE FIGHTING TO THE LAST MAN MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE END OF REVOLUTION.

MARYLAND TROOPS HEADED UP THERE, THE MARYLAND 400, DUG IN AND FOUGHT THE BRITISH AT A SPOT IN BROOKLYN CALLED THE OLD STONE HOUSE.

ATTACKING, COUNTERATTACKING.

I READ IN ONE ACCOUNT OF IT THE BRITISH WERE STUNNED THE AMERICANS WOULD COME BACK AND ATTACK AGAIN AND COUNTERATTACK AGAIN BECAUSE THE BRITISH HAD MORE MEN, MORE WEAPONS, AND THIS GAVE WASHINGTON SOME TIME TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS HE GOING TO DO.

BECAUSE HE KNEW THAT HE WAS OUTFLANKED AND I GOT A MARYLAND STATE ARCHIVES QUOTE MORELLE GANT EXPLANATION.

THEY CALLED TO DO A COMPLETE DISASTER FOR GENERAL GEORGE WASHINGTON.

THE ARCHIVE SAYS WASHINGTON'S MEN WERE QUICKLY, LIKE A DAY-AND-A-HALF BATTLE ONE-DAY BATTLE, TWO DAYS THEY WERE OUTFLANKED SOME SOLDIERS WERE SWIMMING AWAY THROUGH A CREEK, CALLED THE CANAL NOW, AND THEY WERE UNDER FIRE THE WHOLE TIME.

IT WAS A PRETTY MAJOR DISASTER.

MARYLANDERS WERE NEAR AT THAT TIME CREEK AT AN OLD DUTCH FARMHOUSE DOING THAT COUNTERATTACKING AND THE BRITISH IN THAT ONE SECTION OF A BOOK THAT STANDS OUT IN MY MEMORY WERE STUNNED THESE AMERICANS THESE COLONELLISTS WERE THAT BRAVE.

WASHINGTON HAD FIVE OR 6,000 MEN IN BROOKLYN READY.

THE BRITISH HAD AROUND 20,000.

SO THAT IS FOUR TO ONE RATIO.

AND THE IDEA IS THAT WITH THIS ATTACK AND COUNTERATTACK, WASHINGTON HAD TIME TO THINK.

AND COME UP WITH A STRATEGIC RETREAT.

AND HISTORIAN MILITARY HISTORIANS SAY YOU STUDY STRATEGIC RETREATS ALL THE TIME.

WASHINGTON GOT HIS MEN OUT OF THERE AND ALMOST EVERY SINGLE BIT OF HIS WEAPONS OUT OF THERE WITHOUT MAJOR LOSS.

AND THAT IS SEEN AS AN AMAZING DECISION A GREAT DECISION TO MAKE.

AND THE LAST PART THAT HISTORY OF US WILL KNOW IS BECAUSE THE MARYLAND 400 STOOD THEIR POSITION AND DID THIS HEROIC FIGHTING THAT IS WHERE WE GOT THE OLD LINE STATE NOT THE MASON DIXON LINE THEY HELD THE LINE AND 256 OF THEM MORE OR LESS WERE KILLED OR WOUNDED OR MISSING.

SO A TERRIBLE LOSS.

>> Jeff: WHY DID THEY TAKE SUCH HEAVY LOSSES?

>> AT THIS DUTCH FARMHOUSE, THE BRITISH HAD CANNONS, THEY HAD SUPERIOR NUMBERS AND THE ATTACK AND COUNTERATTACK OF EACH SIDE CONTINUED TO THE POINT WHERE THE BRITISH COULDN'T BELIEVE IT WAS HAPPENING BECAUSE THEY KNEW THE AMERICANS KNEW THEY WERE GOING TO LOSE AND THE BRITISH COULD SEE IT.

THAT'S WHY SO MANY OF THE MARYLAND 400 DIED THAT FAMOUS NUMBER 256 MAKES YOU FLINCH A LITTLE BIT.

BECAUSE THE UNIT WAS MOSTLY GONE.

IT WAS THAT COUNTER ATTACKING THAT CAUSED THE BRITISH TO REACT LIKE WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE I CANNOT BELIEVE THEY ARE DOING IT.

>> Jeff: AND THE MARYLAND TROOPS WERE MAYBE DIVERSE GROUP.

>> YEAH, I'VE BEEN TALKING TO HISTORIANS GETTING READY FOR THE MARYLAND 250, U.S.A.

250, THE 250TH OF THE SIGNING OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE IN JULY OF 2026 AND THE BATTLE OCCURRED IN AUGUST.

VERY CLOSE TO THE SIGNING OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.

AND THE HISTORIANS ARE LOOKING AT THE FACT THAT SOLDIERS WOULD STICK AROUND LONGER AND FIGHT FOR GENERAL WASHINGTON LONGER IF THEY KNEW THEIR CHILDREN AND THEIR WIVES WERE NEARBY.

REGULAR ENLISTED MEN WEREN'T MAKING ENOUGH MONEY TO SEND HOME AND HELP OUT KEEP THE FARM RUNNING.

SOLDIERS STUCK AROUND LONGER IF THEY HAD THEIR FAMILY NEARBY.

AND THEN THE ISSUE OF FREED BLACKS AND ALSO THE ENSLAVED AND HOW THEY WERE ALSO PRESENT IF NOT FIGHTING AND PULLING THE TRIGGER THEY WERE AS PART OF THIS PROJECT OF THE MARYLAND STATE ARCHIVES CALLED FINDING THE MARYLAND 400 PART OF THE PROJECT COMING OUT IN BOOK FORM THIS SUMMER THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN ROLE IS PRETTY MAJOR.

AND I HAVE A FEW SPECIFICS FOR YOU.

AND IT'S CONNECTED TO SOMETHING HAPPENING IN ANNAPOLISTIES SUMMER.

A NEW STATUE IS GOING UP TO COMMEMORATE THOMAS CARNEY.

HE WAS KNOWN FOR BEING FROM THE EASTERN SHORE OF MARYLAND AND ONE HISTORY JOURNAL SAYS THAT HE ENLISTED AS A PRIVATE AND PROMOTED TO CORPORAL AND THAT WAS EXTROOPLY RARE AND ONE OF HIS CLAIM TO FAME WAS HE WENT OUT ON A BATTLEFIELD AND GRABBED HIS WOUNDED CAPTAIN ALSO A MARYLANDER, AND THIS WAS NOT AT THE BATTLE OF BROOKLYN IT WAS LATER IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR.

CARRIED HIM TO SAFETY.

AND THE CAPTAIN RECOVERED BECAME A GENERAL AND FOR MARYLAND HISTORY BUFFS HE WAS PERRY BENSON THEY REMAINED CLOSE TOM MASS CARNEY AND PERRY BENSON.

THAT IS ONE STORY PROBABLY THE MOST FAMOUS AFRICAN-AMERICAN SOLDIER IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR, THOMAS CARNEY.

ANOTHER MARYLANDER AND I LOVE THE PATTERN HERE, ALSO FROM THE EASTERN SHORE, A GENTLEMAN NAMED JAMES ROBINSON.

ROBINSON AS I SAID, BORN FROM THE EASTERN SHORE HE WAS BORN INTO SLAVERY.

NOT EXACTLY SURE ABOUT THE REST OF THE STORY EXCEPT HE SAW A LOT OF ACTION IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR HE WAS OFFICIALLY, UNOFFICIALLY PROMISED HIS FREEDOM BUT IT WAS DENIED.

THE WAR OF 1812 COMES AROUND AND HE JOINS AGAIN TO FIGHT THE BRITISH AND HE FINALLY AFTER THAT FAILED PROMISE AFTER THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR FINALLY LATER IN LIFE HE ENJOYED FREEDOM.

HE BECAME HE LIVED AS A FREE MAN.

THE BIGGER PICTURE, IT'S VERY NOT THAT CLEAR.

THE BRITISH HAD A PLAN WHERE THEY WOULD TRY TO GET AMERICAN SLAVES COLONIAL SLAVES ESPECIALLY THE SLAVES OF THOSE PATRIOTS FIGHTING FOR WASHINGTON, IF THEY JOINED IF THOSE AFRICAN-AMERICANS JOINED THE BRITISH THEY WOULD BE PROMISED FREEDOM.

AND THAT WAS -- THERE WAS NO SUCH DEAL.

>> Jeff: DID THE BRITS DELIVER ON THAT?

>> THEY DID.

THERE WERE STORIES OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS, SLAVES WHO FOUGHT FOR THE BRITISH TAKEN UP TO HALIFAX WITH THE OTHER PRO BRITISH FORCES ONCE THE WAR WAS OVER UP TO HALIFAX, PRO BRITISH AREA.

ONE QUICK LITTLE BIG PICTURE MOMENT IS THAT THE BRITISH PROMISED THE SLAVES FREEDOM IF THEY JOINED UP.

AND THERE'S ONE ORBIT WHAT I WANTED TO GIVE YOU A NUMBER AND IT SAYS THAT MAYBE 3 OR 4% OF THE CONTINENTAL ARMY SOLDIERS OVERALL WERE OF AFRICAN DESCENT.

1778 SO IT IS UNCLEAR.

THE TOTAL NUMBER OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS AROUND 5,000 BLACK SOLDIERS DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR AND THE ENSLAVED WERE OFTEN SERVANTS OF HIGHER LEVEL OFFICERS.

THEY SERVED NOT JUST THE CONTINENTAL ARMY BUT SERVED AS SEA.

>> Jeff: OUR THANKS TO PROFESSOR TOM MOORE OF YORK COLLEGE AT THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK.

>> COMING SOON TO MPT THE KEN BURNS PROJECT THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, WHICH PREMIERS ON NOVEMBER THE 16TH.

[♪♪] THE COUNTDOWN IS ON FOR THE COUPS BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT'S RETURN TO BALTIMORE.

CHARLES ROBINSON LOOKS AT THE BASKETBALL AND THE FINANCIAL IMPACT.

>> I ALWAYS HEARD THE STORIES ABOUT THE TOURNAMENT AND THE LEAGUE, I WILL BE HONEST IT IS DIFFERENT THAN THE STORIES.

>> BILL BROOKS IS THE MEN'S BASKETBALL COACH AND SHAD DAY SWAM IS THE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL COACH AT BOWIE STATE UNIVERSITY AND HAPPEN FOR THE HOST FOR THE NATION'S OLDEST HBCU TOURNAMENT.

>> ONE OF OUR SELLING POINTS IS THE CIAA CONFERENCE IS THE MOST COMPETITIVE IN THE COUNTRY AND WHEN WE RECRUIT IF YOU COME TO OUR SCHOOL AND YOU ARE COMPETITIVE YOU WILL GET A SHOT AT PLAYING AT THE NEXT LEVEL.

>> I DON'T THINK OUR EXPECTATIONS CHANGED FROM WHERE THE TOURNAMENT IS HELD.

WE ALL WANT TO BE PLAYING ON SATURDAY.

JUST TAKE IT ONE GAME AT A TIME.

>> THE RETURN OF THE CIAA TO CHARM CITY HAS GIVEN NEW LIFE TO THE BROADER COMMUNITY.

IT ALSO EXPOSES THESE SCHOOLS TO POTENTIAL STUDENT ATHLETES.

>> WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO BUILD THAT PLACE OUT THE COLLABORATION WE HAVE TO CREATE AN EXPERIENCE AND A FAN EXPERIENCE NOT JUST THERE BUT TO BE AN UNDER ARMOR THEY ARE A PARTNER WE ARE AUTO R ABLE TO USE THIS FACILITY TO SHOWCASE OUR ATHLETES.

THE CIAA MAYBE ABOUT BASKETBALL, BUT IT ALSO IS ABOUT ECONOMICS.

SPECIFICALLY, HERE IN BALTIMORE.

HERE ARE SOME OF THE NUMBERS.

BETWEEN 2022 AND 2025, THE CIAA MEN'S AND WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT GENERATED OVER $100 MILLION TO THE REGION'S ECONOMY.

LOCAL STATE AND TAX REVENUE RANG UP NEARLY $10 MILLION.

THE HBCU LEAGUE CONTINUED TO MAKE GOOD ON ITS PROMISE TO HELP AFRICAN-AMERICAN BUSINESSES.

92 BUSINESSES WERE DIRECTLY AFFECTED LAST YEAR, AND CONTRIBUTED $1.15 MILLION TO THEIR BOTTOM LINE.

CONVERSELY, SINCE 2022, BALTIMORE HAS GIVEN $6.7 MILLION IN SCHOLARSHIPS TO CIAA MEMBER SCHOOLS.

>> I'VE SEEN YOUNG PEOPLE COME IN NOT EVEN THINKING THEY WOULD GET ENROLLED AT OUR INSTITUTION.

WE HAVE TWO OR THREE LADIES PLAYING ON OUR TEAMS.

IT'S THE EXPOSURE AND ACCESS.

>> THE GOALS START BOUNCING IN CHARM CITY LAST FEBRUARY 2026.

THE CIAA WILL CALL BALTIMORE HOME UNTIL 2029.

IN BALTIMORE, I'M CHARLES ROBINSON FOR "STATE CIRCLE".

>> Jeff: A FEW WEEKS AGO BALTIMORE CITY RECORDED ITS 100TH HOMICIDE OF THE YEAR.

A SAD MILESTONE BUT IN 2024 THE 100TH HOMICIDE WAS RECORDED IN JULY.

AND IN 2023 IT WAS IN MAY.

CITY LEADERS CREDIT A NUMBER OF INITIATIVES INCLUDING VIOLENCE INTERRUPTERS WORKING OUT OF SAFE STREETS OFFICES IN CRIME HOTSPOTS AT THE CHERRY HILL OFFICE THIS SUMMER WE SAT DOWN WITH THE DIRECTOR OF THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF NEIGHBORHOOD SAFETY AND ENGAGEMENT.

IT SEEMS LIKE WHAT YOU ARE DOING IN BALTIMORE IS THE OPPOSITE OF SENDING IN THE NATIONAL GUARD.

DOES THAT SOUND ABOUT RIGHT?

>> THAT SOUNDS RIGHT.

I THINK WHAT WE KNOW AND WHAT WE'VE LEARNED IN BALTIMORE IS THAT IN ORDER TO TRULY BUILD PUBLIC SAFETY IN OUR CITY WE HAVE TO GO BEYOND THE ROLE OF POLICE, PRISONS AND PROSECUTION AND TAKING THIS PUBLIC HEALTH APPROACH TO VIOLENCE REDUCTION, VIOLENCE PREVENTION HAS BEEN AT THE HEART OF OUR WORK ABOUT BRINGING IN ALL OF GOVERNMENT APPROACH TO THE PROBLEM.

BUT ALSO ABOUT HOW WE LEVERAGE OUR PARTNERSHIPS WITH GRASSROOTS INITIATIVES WITH COMMUNITY-BASED PARTNERS.

IT'S REALLY ABOUT THAT COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGY.

AND WE KNOW IF WE DON'T GET UPSTREAM IF WE ARE NOT LOOKING HOW WE PREVENT VIOLENCE AND MEETING PEOPLE'S NEEDS WE ARE NOT GOING TO BUILD PUBLIC SAFETY AND WE HAVE BEEN TAKING A DIFFERENT APPROACH.

>> Jeff: HOW MUCH SKEPTICISM WAS THERE AT THE BEGINNING ABOUT TAKING A PUBLIC HEALTH APPROACH TO SOMETHING THAT IS ALWAYS BEEN A LAW AND ORDER MATTER?

>> THERE WAS A FAIR AMOUNT OF SKEPTICISM.

WHILE THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO SUPPORTED TAKING A DIFFERENT APPROACH ONE OF THE MOST COMMON THINGS WE HEARD WHEN WE EMBARKED ON THIS WORK OF THE COMPREHENSIVE VIOLENCE PREVENTION HAND UNDER MAYOR SCOTT'S LEADERSHIP IN 2021 WAS IT GOING TO TAKE 20-30 YEARS TO REALIZE THE OUTCOMES OF THIS WORK.

WHEN YOU PAIR THAT PREVENTION WORK WITH INTERVENTIONS THAT ARE HAPPENING RIGHT NOW, TO STOP THAT NEXT HOMICIDE, WE'RE SEEING RESULTS TODAY.

WE'RE SEEING RESULTS THAT ARE SUSTAINING.

WE'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO TAKE AN APPROACH OF PUBLIC SAFETY IN A SUSTAINABLE WAY ONE THAT IS NOT JUST REDUCING VIOLENCE FOR THE MOMENT OR A YEAR OR TWO BUT SOMETHING THAT IS CHANGING THE CULTURE OF PUBLIC SAFETY IN OUR CITY BUT CHANGING THE WAY WE ENGAGE WITH PEOPLE AND UNDERSTAND HOW WE MAKE OUR CITY SAFE.

>> Jeff: HOW DOES IT WORK?

THE NUTS AND BOLTS.

YOU HAVE OFFICES LIKE THIS IN THE CITY WHAT IS HAPPENING ON A DAILY BASIS?

>> UNDER THE MAYOR'S OFFICE ON NEIGHBORHOOD SAFETY AND ENGAGEMENT WE HAVE LANES OF OUR WORK SPANNING, PREVENTION, INTERVENTION, REENTRY, REHABILITATION INITIATIVES.

OUR OFFICE IS INVOLVED WITH THE GROUP VIOLENCE REDUCTION STRATEGY THIS IS A FOCUSED DETERRENCE INITIATIVE WE ARE IDENTIFYING PEOPLE ENGAGED IN GROUP RELATED VIOLENCE AND IMMEDIATELY STAGING INTERVENTIONS WHAT ARE HAPPENING IN REALTIME.

WE ALSO HAVE THE WORK OF COMMUNITY VIOLENCE INTERVENTION UNDER OUR BELT THAT INCLUDES INITIATIVES LIKE SAFE STREETS AND WE ARE AT THE SITE TODAY BUT OUR WORK WITH OUR HOSPITAL SYSTEMS TREATING PATIENTS AND SITTING WITH THEM BEDSIDE AND MAKING SURE WHEN THEY ARE RELEASED FROM THE HOSPITAL THEY ARE NOT GOING TO COMMIT AN ACT OF VIOLENCE IN RETALIATION AND NOT REVICTIMIZED.

BRINGING ALL THE 10TYTYS TOGETHER IN A NETWORK.

WE DO THE WORK OF REENTRY THAT RELATES TO PUBLIC SAFETY AND THE WORK OF VICTIMS SERVICES.

WE KNOW WHEN PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN VICTIMIZED BY AN INCIDENT OF VIOLENCE IT MEANS THEY MAYBE MORE LIKELY TO BE VICTIMIZED AGAIN OR RESORT TO RETALIATION.

AND WHEN WE CAN SUPPORT THEM IN THAT I AM TOO OF NEED WE'RE SEEING THAT HAVE AN IMPACT ON PUBLIC SAFETY.

IT IS A LOT THAT FALLS UNDER THAT BANNER.

BUT FOR US, I THINK, IT IS THE BREADTH AND DIVERSITY OF THE STRATEGIES THAT IS ALLOWING US TO SEE THE RESULTS WE'RE SEEING.

>> Jeff: AT THE HOSPITAL SOMEBODY WHO HAS MAYBE BEEN SHOT AND TREATED AND PROBABLY HAD SURGERY THEY WANT REVENGE AND YOU ARE GOING TO TALK THEM OUT OF IT?

HOW DO YOU DO THAT?

>> IN OUR HOSPITAL SYSTEMS ACROSS NINE HOSPITALS RIGHT KNOW FIVE OF OUR HOSPITAL SYSTEMS THAT SERVE THE MAJORITY OF THE TRAUMA PATIENTS THEY HAVE CREDIBLE MESSENGERS INSIDE THE HOSPITALS WHO ARE CONNECTED TO ALL OF THE WRAP AROUND SERVICES THAT EXIST THEY ARE CONNECTED TO OUR OFFICE.

AND SO THEY ARE SITTING BEDSIDE FOR THAT PERSON SAYING WE DON'T WANT YOU TO END UP BACK HERE AND WHAT WILL IT TAKE TO MAKE SURE YOU DON'T.

AND SOMEONE WHO CAN SPEAK FROM THE EXPERIENCE OF HAVING BEEN SHOT CAN SPEAK FROM THE EXPERIENCE OF GROWING UP IN A COMMUNITY SIMILAR TO WHAT PEOPLE ARE COMING INTO THE HOSPITAL FROM.

ALL OF THOSE THINGS AND MAKING THAT RELATIONSHIP AND CONNECTION AND THEN BEING ABLE TO CONNECT THAT TO INITIATIVES THAT DO SIMILAR WORK FROM SAFE STREETS TO OTHERS ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE HOSPITAL IS HELPING MAKE SURE WE HAVE THAT CONTINUUM OF SUPPORT FOR ANYONE WHO IS A VICTIM.

>> Jeff: HOW MUCH OF THIS APPROACH IS HOMEGROWN HERE IN BALTIMORE AS OPPOSED TO TAKING ADVANTAGE OF WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE IN OTHER CITIES?

>> WE CERTAINLY HAVE MODELS IN BALTIMORE THAT COME FROM OTHER CITIES THAT MAY HAVE ORIGINATED IN OTHER CITIES.

BUT THE BEAUTY OF OUR APPROACH IN BALTIMORE IS THAT WE'VE ALSO ADAPTED IT HEAVILY TO THE PARTICULARS OF OUR CITY.

WE ARE A UNIQUE CITY.

WE HAVE A UNIQUE HISTORY.

WE ARE JUST DIVERSE AS FAR AS OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND EVERY CORNER OF THE CITY.

WE HAVE TO HOME GROW OUR APPROACHES.

BUT IT IS A BLEND OF APPROACHES.

WE HAVE MODELS LIKE ROCA PART OF OUR COMMUNITY ECOSYSTEM FOUNDED IN MISBUT THE -- MASSACHUSETTS BUT IT'S ADAPTED TO BALTIMORE.

WE SEE A LOT OF INITIATIVES LIKE THAT.

SAFE STREETS PULLS FROM THE CARE VIOLENCE MODEL A NATIONAL MODEL HOW YOU APPROACH AND INTERRUPT VIOLENCE USING A PUBLIC HEALTH APPROACH.

WE HAVE HAD TO ADAPT IT TO BALTIMORE'S CULTURE AS WELL.

YOU SEE A BLENDING OF APPROACHES AND ALSO NOT AN OVERRELIANCE ON ANY ONE APPROACH BECAUSE WE NEED LOTS OF DIFFERENT THINGS TO ADDRESS PEOPLE AT DIFFERENT STAGES OF THEIR LIFE AT DIFFERENT STAGES OFTH PROVIDES AND MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF OPPORTUNITY TO INTERVENE.

>> Jeff: THE VIOLENCE HAS GONE HAND IN HAND WITH THE DRUG TRADE FOR DECADES AND DECADES.

THE VIOLENCE IS DOWN.

DO YOU SEE ANY CHANGE IN THE DRUG TRADE?

>> WE DO SEE DRUGS AND VIOLENCE GO TOGETHER AND OUR FOCUS HAS BEEN ON I MENTIONED THE GROUP VIOLENCE REDUCTION STRATEGY OUR FOCUS HAS BEEN ON ADDRESSING GROUPS AND HOLDING GROUPS ACCOUNTABLE COMMITTING VIOLENCE AND MANY TIMES THAT VIOLENCE MAYBE CONNECTED TO DRUGS.

YOU MAY HAVE SEEN STORIES ABOUT SOME OF THE RECENT MAJOR LAW ENFORCEMENT TAKE DOWNS WE'VE HAD WHICH HAVE INVOLVED GROUPS THAT WERE SELLING DRUGS.

SO THAT HAS BEEN A PART OF OUR WORK.

WE ARE NOT IDENTIFYING GROUPS BASED ON THEM SELLING DRUGS BUT WE KNOW IF VIOLENCE GOES WITH IT THAT IS SOMETHING WE HAVE TO ADDRESS.

AND NOT ONLY HAVE WE PULLED PEOPLE OUT OF THAT LIFE AND CONNECT THEM WITH THE SERVICES, OPPORTUNITIES AND SUPPORT THAT HAVE ALLOWED THEM TO TRANSFORM THEIR LIVES BUT IN THE CASES WHERE PEOPLE HAVE NOT TAKEN US UP ON THE OFFER AND CONTINUED TO ENGAGE IN THAT ACTIVITY AND IN THAT VIOLENCE, THEY'VE ALSO BEEN HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

AND SO I THINK BRINGING ALL ASPECTS OF THAT APPROACH HAS BEEN IMPORTANT AND WE WANT TO LOOK AT PUBLIC SAFETY FROM A HOLISTIC LENS.

>> Jeff: YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON THE PAST FIVE YEARS.

WE HAD THE PANDEMIC.

WE HAVE THE GEORGE FLOYD HOMICIDE.

AND THEN NATIONALLY, WE HAD A LOT MORE MURDERS IN BIG CITIES ALL OVER THE PLACE.

WE'RE SEEING THAT TREND REVERSE A BIT.

WHAT DO YOU THINK HAPPENED?

WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW?

>> BALTIMORE WAS UNIQUE THAT WE DIDN'T SEE A SPECIFIC OF VIOLENCE -- SPIKE OF VIOLENCE DURING THE PANDEMIC.

>> Jeff: WE ARE GETTING OVER THE FREDDIE GRAY SPIKE FIVE YEARS EARLIER.

>> WE WERE AHEAD OF THE CURVE IN THE SENSE WE HAD OUR UPRISING IN BALTIMORE PRIOR TO THE NATIONAL PROTESTS AROUND GEORGE FLOYD.

IN SOME WAYS OUR CITY WENT THROUGH THAT MOVEMENT MAYBE EARLIER.

I DON'T KNOW EVERYTHING THAT ATTRIBUTED TO THOSE INCIDENTS BUT WE KNOW WHEN PEOPLE ARE FACING ECONOMIC HARDSHIP WHEN PEOPLE ARE FIND TO GO HARD TO LIVE, THEY CAN RESORT TO THINGS THAT WE DON'T WANT TO SEE.

THEY CAN RESORT TO VIOLENCE.

I THINK FOR US HERE IN BALTIMORE, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CAME OUT OF OUR EXPERIENCE IN 2015 WITH THE BALTIMORE UPRISING WAS THAT A WHOLE HOST OF ORGANIZATIONS, COMMUNITY-BASED EFFORTS, GRASSROOTS EFFORTS, REALLY CAME TOGETHER AS A CITY AND DEMANDED CHANGE.

>> Jeff: THANKS TO STEPHANIE AND THAT IS "STATE CIRCLE" FOR THIS WEEK.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

WE'LL SEE YOU BACK HERE MONDAY EVENING AT 7:00 P.M.

FOR "DIRECT CONNECTION".

[♪♪]