Mid-Atlantic Regional SSDP Conference Program

Students for Sensible drug policy

WELCOME

MID-ATLANTIC REGIONAL CONFERENCE

Welcome to the 1st Annual Students for Sensible Drug Policy Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference. We are thrilled that you are joining us for this important discussion about drug policy reform and the role of students and youth in pushing for more sensible policies based on science, compassion, justice and liberty.

ABOUT

Students for Sensible Drug Policy

Mid-Atlantic Region DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA American University Georgetown University, School of Law University of DC, School of Law George Washington University

NORTH CAROLINA UNC Chapel Hill UNC Charlotte North Carolina State University* Elizabeth City State University*

GEORGIA Georgia State University* Georgia Southern University* Augusta State University*

SOUTH CAROLINA College of Charleston University of South Carolina Upstate*

MARYLAND University of Maryland, College Park University of Baltimore Albert Einstein High School Goucher College* Anne Arundel Community College* WEST VIRGINIA West Virginia University

VIRGINIA College of William & Mary George Mason University NVCC Woodbridge Campus Old Dominion University University of Virginia Virginia Commonwealth University Virginia Tech Roanoke College* *Interim Chapters

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schedule at a glance 10:30 AM

Registration

11:00 AM

Opening: Leigh Maddox (LEAP)

11:30 AM

Guest Speaker: Jasmine Tyler (DPA)

12:00 PM

The War on Drugs is the New Jim Crow

1:00 PM

Lunch (on your own)

1:30 PM

Safety on Urban Campuses & Surviving Police Encounters

2:30 PM

Urban Crime Fighters: How Our Drug Laws Effect Your City

3:15 PM

Break

3:30 PM

Compassionate Curiosity in Drug Policy & the Genetic Snowflake

4:15 PM

Neurons Firing- How to Effectively Work

5:15 PM

The Marketplace of Ideas-How to Sell Yours!

63 : 13 50 P M

Closing

6:30 PM

Dinner (on your own)

8:00 PM

Reception www.schoolsnotprisons.com

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What’s Going On...

All sessions take place in University Student Commons, Richmond Salons I & II

10:30 AM Registration 11:00 AM Opening Remarks: Leigh Maddox (LEAP) Ms. Maddox will talk about the escalating violence associated with the global drug cartels engaged in the manufacture and distribution of illicit drugs and how the domestic and global failed prohibitionist laws have destabilized communities. She will explain the measures governments and communities can take to reduce the harm of current drug polices while simultaneously working toward strategic reform.

11:30 AM Guest Speaker: Jasmine Tyler (DPA)

In a discussion on repealing drug laws and harm reduction efforts, DPA’s Jasmine Tyler will also delve into the collateral damage caused by prohibitionist drug laws

SCHEDULE

12:00 PM The War on Drugs is the New Jim Crow From its inception continuing through the present, the War on Drugs has been a war on people, particularly those of color. Laws passed to penalize the use of drugs have had a disparate impact on minority communities already struggling with poverty and violence. Jasmine Tyler and Leigh Maddox will discuss how the War on Drugs is simply another term for racism.

Jasmine Tyler, Leigh Maddox

1:00 PM Lunch (on your own) 1:30 PM Safety on Urban Campuses, Surviving Police Encounters, & Your Rights How to stay safe on urban campuses, what to do in police encounters, and how to practice safe and sensible social decisions on and off campus.

Kristen Kidd Donovan, MPH, Michael Liszewski, John Venuti

2:30 PM Urban Crime Fighters: How Our Drug Laws Affect Your City Cities, for better or worse, have become the hearts of today’s societies. Cities should be places where communities feel safe and can flourish. Unfortunately, drug laws have turned cities into hotbeds of violence, from both police and criminals. Learn about some of the detrimental effects the drug war has had on your freedoms and your city.

Leigh Maddox, and Jon Katz

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SCHEDULE

3:30 PM Compassionate Curiosity in Drug Policy & the Genetic Snowflake

The current laws regarding drug use treat the addict stretching out a hand for help in freeing himself of his condition as the same as a heartless murderer. Compassion and aid should be extended to the people suffering from addiction, mental health problems, and drug policy should be reformed accordingly.

Speaking on this topic will be...

Linda Hancock, PhD - Director of the student health and resource center

4:15 PM Neurons Firing- How to effectively network

A neuron firing by itself accomplishes nothing. But a million neurons communicating and working together can make a body run, leap, create. Learn how to utilize online networking and other forms of media to spread your message and motivate people to aid you in your cause. Presented by....

Devon Tackels, Drew Stromberg, Stacia Cosner

5:15 PM Marketplace of Ideas- How to Sell Yours!

With a million tongues babbling in the arena of free exchange how can you makes your ideas cut through the din in a clear and seductive fashion? Learn how to create effective talking points and use the art of rhetoric to persuade undecideds and opponents.

Stacia Cosner

6:15 PM Students and the Future of Drug Policy Reform

Learn how currents student can continue to influence thousands from around the world to take part in the political process and push for sensible policies that respect personal liberty and are grounded in science, compassion and justice. How will these students continue to influence and contribute to the movement after they graduate?

Stacia Cosner, Devon Tackels

8:00 PM Connecting The Dots: A Networking Reception Location: Devon, Brian, & Brooke’s House- 2810 Monument Ave. Apt #2 Directions: Head west on Floyd Ave. and turn left onto Harrison Street. Travel .25 miles and turn right at W Main Street. Travel 0.6 miles and then turn right at N Meadow Street. Travel 0.5 miles and turn left at Monument Ave. Apartment building will be 0.7 miles on right. Stop at 2810 Monument Ave, Apt #2.

Sunday Activities (10/10) 12:00 PM: 2010 Mid-Atlantic Regional Strategy Summit What has our region been doing? Where are we going? How can we better collaborate and bring about serious policy change in the Mid-Atlantic?

Goals: Formulate a strategic plan on how SSDPers will achieve meaningful drug policy reforms throughout MidAtlantic region

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SPEAKERBIOS

Today’s Guests Stacia Cosner is SSDP’s Outreach Director for the northeast and mid-atlantic regions. Stacia got involved with drug policy when she joined the campus SSDP chapter as a freshman at the University of Maryland, College Park in 2005.!The next year, she was elected President of the!chapter, a role she served from 2006-2008. Stacia joined the SSDP national staff in June of 2009, and has been working full time since then. As an Outreach Director, Stacia works with students to start, maintain, and expand the chapter network throughout the East Coast. !

Kristen Kidd Donovan, MPH

is the Substance Abuse Services Coordinator at The Well. She received her BA in English from Davidson College. After serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Zimbabwe, she earned her Master of Public Health from the University of Iowa School of Public Health. Kristen educates on substance abuse, and connects students struggling with substance abuse issues to appropriate community resources. Kristen works with University partners to foster a healthy, safe environment for VCU students.

Linda Hancock, RN-C, FNP, PhD is Family Nurse Practitioner who has provided medical care to college students at the VCU student health clinic for over 2 decades. !Linda has a PhD in education and directs the Wellness Resource Center. She is a popular national speaker on the issue of alcohol and drugs. Linda tries to help others think in new ways about all the “S’s” – substance use, smoking, sex, stress, silliness and spirituality.

Michael Liszewski is a third-year student at UDC School of Law. Working several years as a community organizer in southeast Baltimore, he learned the importance of coalition building and witnessed some of the most devastating effects of America's drug war. As an intern at the ACLU-NCA,!he has advocated for DC statehood and helped lead a successful lobbying campaign!to defeat an ill-conceived crime bill. Liszewski currently serves on SSDP’s national board of directors and chairs the ACLU-NCA's Future Leaders Council.

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SPEAKERBIOS

Leigh Maddox retired a Captain from the Maryland State Police in 2007.

In the 1990’s, she worked as a patrol trooper and supervisor; served in the Intelligence Division and worked as a criminal investigator, legislative coordinator, public affairs spokesperson, and academy Instructor. Leigh later served as the Commander of the Baltimore Washington Metro Troop, Planning and Research Division, Training Division, and as the coordinator for the racial profiling Consent Decree related to the drug interdiction policies of the Maryland State Police.

Drew Stromberg is founder and president of West Virginia University

SSDP. He founded the chapter in August of 2009 and they received official student organization status in December of that year. Drew is working towards a multidisciplinary studies bachelor's degree, with concentrations in Psychology, Philosophy, and Entrepreneurship. Drew is also SSDP’s 2010-2011 Technology Intern, so he will soon be bequeathing his technological wisdom to SSDPers all over the globe.

Devon Tackels is the founder and president of Students for Sensible

Drug Policy at Virginia Commonwealth University, where he studies psychology. Since starting the chapter in 2008, Devon has worked hard to promote a safer, healthier, and more sensible environment for the student and youth communities. He has worked to strengthen the VA SSDP network, lobbied important issues in drug policy, and built coalitions with organizations on and off campus. He was given SSDP’s "Rising Star" award at our international conference last March for his dedication and hard work.

Jasmine Tyler is the deputy director of national affairs of the Drug Policy

Alliance. She works as a federal lobbyist on diminishing the harms associated with drug use and the drug war. She has worked directly on increasing access to substance abuse treatment, eliminating both!the Washington, DC, and federal bans on syringe exchange funding, equalizing the penalties for crack and powder cocaine, eliminating mandatory minimum sentencing, and repealing laws that amount to collateral sanctions for felony drug convictions such as the loss of voting rights, food stamps, TANF, student loans and other kinds of public assistance.

Chief John Venuti comes to the VCU Police Department with more than 25 years experience in law enforcement. He joined the Richmond Police Department in 1984 as a patrol officer and rose through the ranks to major.!

His last assignment prior to joining VCU was command of Support Services.!

In that role, he supervised more than 175 sworn and civilian employees and managed a $15 million budget. In the RPD, Support Service includes the major crimes unit, cold case unit, forensics unit, arson unit, fugitive unit and the force investigation and sexual assault teams.

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SPONSORS

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HELPFULINFORMATION

Important Addresses:

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Campus Day Location The Richmond Salons, University Student Commons 907 Floyd Ave. Richmond,VA 23221

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Parking: street (no parking meters or signs take effect on weekend)

Reception 2810 Monument Ave Richmond, VA 23221 Parking: street

EVENT WEBSITE*:

http://www.ssdp.org/conference/midatlantic

*also, check this page after the conference for photos, videos, presentations, & other updates.

CONTACT INFORMATION: Stacia Cosner, Outreach Director 410.299.3433 stacia@ssdp.org

Devon Tackels, President SSDP at VCU 202.549.1553 vcussdp@gmail.com!

connect with ssdp

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