Book Talk: Exiles in New York City by Dr. Philip T. Yanos

Book Summary:

Ward’s Island in the East River sits just a short distance from Manhattan, Queens, and the Bronx, yet it has been cordoned off from the rest of New York City. For nearly two centuries, it has been treated as a dumping ground for society’s most marginalized—the unhoused, recent immigrants, and people diagnosed with mental illnesses. Even today, its two psychiatric hospitals, homeless shelters, and residential substance-use treatment program house more than one thousand people, but these institutions are fenced off from the athletic fields and green space of the adjoining Randall’s Island Park. Exiles in New York City shares untold stories from Ward’s Island, offering a new lens on the city’s past and present from the perspective of the marginalized. This incisive and timely book reveals a part of New York City that has long been hidden in plain sight, and it also considers how to transform Ward’s Island for a new era.

Author:

Philip T. Yanos, Ph.D., is Professor of Psychology at John Jay College, City University of New York. He is an Associate Editor for the journal Stigma and Health, currently serves as the Director of Clinical Training for the Ph.D. program in clinical psychology at John Jay College/The Graduate Center, and is the author of over 150 articles and book chapters. An advocate for people with lived experience of mental health conditions, he serves on the board of City Voices and was awarded the Gaetano Benedetti Award for lifetime service to psychosocial approaches to psychosis from ISPS-US in 2024. He grew up on Ward's Island, New York City.

Panelists:
Dr. Sasha-Marie Robinson, LCSW, is a Senior Vice President of Recovery and Treatment, overseeing the strategic direction and operational excellence of recovery-oriented services. She brings deep expertise in behavioral health leadership, program development, and systems improvement, with a strong focus on person-centered, evidence-based care. Dr. Robinson is recognized for her collaborative leadership style, commitment to quality improvement, and dedication to supporting individuals, families, and communities on their recovery journeys.

Taina Laing, CEO, Baltic Street Wellness Solutions

Yumi Ikuta, Director of Mental Health Access, The Mayor’s Office of Community Mental Health.

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Host or Publisher John Jay College of Criminal Justice