KANSAS CITY, Mo. (March 31, 2023) – On Wednesday, April 5, beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the Kansas City Public Library – Plaza Branch (4801 Main St., Kansas City, Mo., 64112), Swope Health and KC Common Good will host a panel discussion concerning violence in our community. This event is free and open to the public.
The discussion, moderated by Swope Health President and CEO Jeron Ravin, JD, will feature panelists Alvin Brooks, community activist; Stacey Graves, chief of police for the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department; and Dr. Jennifer Collier, superintendent for Kansas City Public Schools. Light refreshments will be served at 5:30 p.m., and the conversation will begin at 6:30 p.m. The audience will have the opportunity to ask questions of the panel.
Kansas City has one of the highest murder rates in the nation, currently ranked with the seventh highest homicide rate in the U.S., according to worldpopulationreview.com. In 2022, the city had 171 homicides, the second highest in the city’s history. In response, Swope Health and KC Common Good, both staunch advocates for equality, justice, and evidence-based solutions, will leverage their deep connection to the community to drive a conversation that will engage and challenge all to work toward solutions for overcoming the public health crisis of violence in Kansas City.
“Kansas City is enjoying unprecedented success in so many areas; however, in our ascent to a world-class city, we must address the endemic rate of violence that we see in a few concentrated communities,” said Swope Health President and CEO Jeron Ravin, JD. “While the problem is not insurmountable, it cannot be solved by an isolated few, nor is it the fault of the communities that are experiencing it. It will take all of us. Community-wide problems require community-engaged solutions. This conversation is an intentional step forward in that effort.”
This is a critically important discussion, seeking insights from Kansas City leaders. Please contact Bridget Locke, director of strategic communications at Swope Health, at blocke@swopehealth.org or (816) 923-5554 if you wish to interview Ravin in advance of the April 5 event. There will also be opportunities to speak with Ravin and the panelists immediately following the panel discussion at the library, which will end at approximately 8 p.m.
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Swope Health, the leading provider of healthcare for underserved individuals and communities in greater Kansas City, has provided comprehensive primary care and behavioral health services for more than 50 years. Recognized as a patient-centered medical home by the National Committee for Quality Assurance, Swope Health’s commitment to an integrated model of healthcare aligns with its mission of improving community health and wellness by delivering accessible, quality, comprehensive patient care. Accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities and The Joint Commission, Swope Health is also recognized as a Federally Qualified Health Center. Annually, Swope Health serves more than 46,000 patients at 16 centers located throughout the area including Kansas City, Belton, Independence, Kansas City North, Hickman Mills and Wyandotte County, Kan. Learn more at swopehealth.org.
