Exploring the intersection between mental health and the criminal justice system and featuring Mr. Nakamura of the Nakayoshi School Project
BETHLEHEM, PA – This March, Northampton Community College (NCC) will host their annual Peace and Justice Conference on Bethlehem campus. The event will span over two days, which will include a symposium, screenings, panel discussions, and more.
On March 20, Lehigh Valley Justice Institiute (LVJI) will hold a full day symposium on the Intersection of Mental Health and Criminal Justice beginning in the Lipkin Theatre. The day’s activities feature a keynote delivered by former Congresswoman Susan Wild, a lunch, and several panels. The panels will include topics like mental health in schools, police mental health co-response, the mental health crisis in jails, and re-imagining roles in the justice system. U.S. Magistrate Judge Elizabeth Hey, who developed the mental health diversion program in the Eastern District federal courts, and Robert Reed, Esq., a former federal prosecutor who is currently Chair of the Pennsylvania Re-entry Council, will be a special part of the panels during the symposium.
Additional esteemed panelists are as a follows:
Dr. Harrison Bailey, Superintendent, Wilson Area School District
Gavin Holihan, Lehigh County District Attorney
Dr. Joseph Roy, former Superintendent, Bethlehem Area School District
Andrew D’Angelo, Executive Director, Center for Humanistic Change
Chief Michelle Kott, Bethlehem Police Department
Susan Benay Berger, Bethlehem Health Department
Vertel Martin, NCC Professor of Criminal Justice
Kim Makoul, Lehigh County Public Defender
At 7 p.m. on March 20, NCC will hold a free screening of Ken Burns’ The Central Park Five documentary at the Frank Banko Alehouse Cinema at SteelStacks in Bethlehem, which ties into this year’s Annual Humanities Keynote delivered by Dr. Yusef Salaam on April 15. A panel discussion will follow.
On March 21, during the second day of the conference, LVJI will officially unveil an “Injustice Map” of the Lehigh Valley. The map, which will be hosted on the LVJI website, will allow users to study data on education, healthcare, economics, criminal justice, and the environment, all displayed with demographic data on the various neighborhoods of the Lehigh Valley. Later, Mr. Nakamura of Nakayoshi School Project will introduce the activities at a rehabilitation school for former child soldiers in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Efforts include supporting the disarmament process, teaching automotive repair skills, and facilitating vocational training programs to help them reintegrate into society. Nakamura will provide valuable insights into the intersection of peacebuilding and education.
To find an agenda for the day, and to register for the symposium, visit https://www.northampton.edu/about/peace-conference.html
About Northampton Community College
With an enduring commitment to the regional communities it serves and a focus on student success, Northampton Community College is an educational institution of extraordinary distinction, earning accolades at the state and national levels for innovative programs, outstanding faculty, and impressive student achievements. It counts among its successful alumni a four-time Pulitzer Prize winner and an Academy Award winning director, as well as a host of CEOs, presidents, and leaders of business and industry. Today, Northampton Community College has locations in Bethlehem, Southside Bethlehem, and Monroe County, serving 30,000 students annually from 53 counties, 42 countries, and 25 states. For more information or to apply, please visit northampton.edu. Follow NCC’s President on X @NCCPresDaveRuth, and the college on LinkedIn, Instagram @NorthamptonCommCollege, TikTok @NorthamptonCC, and Facebook.
