Screaming in Silence: Unveiling a Model State Law
Schedule
Mon May 18 2026 at 10:00 am to 04:00 pm
UTC-04:00Location
Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg Center | Washington, DC
About this Event
The M.O.C.H.A. (Mental Outcomes and Comorbidities in Women's Health and Advocacy) Lab and researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, in partnership with Ujima, DC Justice Lab, The Brittany Clardy Foundation, the Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence, and Tiffany Garner (a Children and Health Policy Advocate), are hosting a convening to introduce a model law to establish a state office to address the epidemic of missing and murdered Black women and girls. This event is sponsored by the Bloomberg American Health Initiative.
In 2024, 40% of all missing women and girls who disappeared in the U.S. were Black and are more than six times more likely to be murdered compared to white women. Despite this disparity, only a handful of policy solutions addressing this epidemic exist. In response, we have developed a toolkit, including a model law, based off the 2021 Executive Order addressing the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous people in the United States which included provisions for “improving law enforcement and justice protocols as well as improving access to data to address missing or murdered Indigenous people,” while also integrating the perspectives and stories of missing and murdered Black women and girls.
We would be honored to have you join us to learn more about the model law and what local community organizations are doing within this field. This event will also provide a space to network with policymakers, community organizations, and impacted persons and family members to ensure the safety and wellbeing of Black women and girls.
Agenda
🕑: 10:00 AM - 10:20 AM
Welcome and Grounding
Host: Dr. Tiara Willie and Gretta Gardner
🕑: 10:20 AM - 11:05 AM
Project Update and Survivor Voices
Host: Lakeisha Lee and Panel of Impacted Persons
🕑: 11:05 AM - 11:35 AM
Introduction to Model Law
Host: DC Justice Lab
🕑: 11:45 AM - 12:45 PM
Morning Breakout Sessions
Info: Healing Space (with Jasmine Allen); How to Create a Taskforce (with Lakeisha Lee); Advocacy Strategy Session (with Gretta Gardner and Tiffany Garner)
🕑: 12:45 PM - 01:45 PM
Lunch and Networking
🕑: 01:45 PM - 02:45 PM
Afternoon Breakout Sessions
Info: Healing Space (with Jasmine Allen); How to Create a Taskforce (with Lakeisha Lee); Advocacy Strategy Session (with Gretta Gardner and Tiffany Garner)
🕑: 02:45 PM - 03:15 PM
Debrief
Host: Whitney Adell
🕑: 03:15 PM - 03:45 PM
Action Planning and Commitment Circle
Host: Dr. Sachini Bandara
🕑: 03:45 PM - 04:00 PM
Closing Remarks
Host: Dr. Tiara Willie
Where is it happening?
Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg Center, 555 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest, Washington, United StatesEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
USD 0.00
