ENRICH OUR COMMUNITIES ACROSS OUR STATE.

AND IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR MEMBERS.

THANK YOU.

[♪♪] >> Jeff: GOOD EVENING WELCOME TO YOUR "DIRECT CONNECTION".

COMING UP TONIGHT A NEW SURVEY SPOTS SOME TRENDS IN WHAT RESIDENTS THINK OF THEIR COMMUNITIES.

THAT'S COMING UP.

FIRST TONIGHT, SMALL LIFESTYLE CHANGES THAT COULD HAVE A BIG IMPACT ON YOUR HEALTH.

JOINING US TONIGHT TO TALK ABOUT YOUR HEALTH IS Dr. SHANA NTIRI, MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND GREENEBAUM COMPREHENSIVE CANCER CENTER BALTIMORE CITY CANCER PROGRAM AND PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY MARYLAND'S SCHOOL OF MEDICINE.

DOCTOR, GREAT TO HAVE YOU BACK ON THE PROGRAM.

LET'S START WITH THE BIG PICTURE THIS IS CANCER PREVENTION AWARENESS MONTH.

AND CANCER DEATHS WE HAVE GOOD NEWS THERE AND BAD NEWS ON THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE, PARTICULARLY YOUNGER PEOPLE BEING DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER.

WHAT ARE THE BIG TRENDS TAKING PLACE?

>> YES, THAT IS CORRECT, JEFF.

GOOD TO BE HERE WITH YOU THANK YOU FOR AT THAT TIME INTRODUCTION.

YEAH, WE'RE SEEING THERE ARE INCREASES.

I THINK IF YOU LOOK OVERALL AT THE TRENDS IN CANCER WE'RE SEEING A DECLINE.

THERE ARE SPECIFIC POPULATIONS INCLUDING YOUNGER ADULTS AND WOMEN WE'RE SEEING INCREASES OVERALL AND THE NUMBER OF REASONS FOR THOSE INCREASES HAS TO DO WITH LIFESTYLE AND THE FACT WE ARE NOT EATING AS WELL AS WE COULD.

WE ARE NOT AS ACTIVE AS WE COULD.

AND THEN OTHER HABITS THINKING ABOUT THINGS AT THAT TIME PEOPLE THINK ABOUT WITH RELATION TO CANCER, SUCH AS SMOKING AND ALCOHOL USE.

ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE AFFECTING THE FACT WE'RE SEEING CANCER MORE AND MORE IN YOUNGER ADULTS.

>> Jeff: RIGHT TO A LIST OF CANCER AVOIDANCE IDEAS THAT YOU SENT OVER.

AND TOBACCO IS THE TOP OF THE LIST.

AND CERTAINLY IT'S LOGICAL TO UNDERSTAND HOW IT AFFECTS THE LUNGS.

BUT IT AFFECTS A BUNCH OF THINGS.

>> YEAH, IT AFFECTS THE ENTIRE BODY AND PUTS YOU AT INCREASE RISK FOR CANCERS.

LUNG CANCER I GET IT IF I SMOKE THAT CAN LEAD TO LUNG CANCER.

IT CAN BE ASSOCIATED WITH CANCER OF THE MOUTH AND BREAST CANCER AND IT'S NOT GOOD FOR YOUR BODY OVERALL.

TOBACCO IS TOP OF THE LIST IF YOU ARE A SMOKER USE ANY OTHER TOBACCO PRODUCTS ENCOURAGE YOU TO COME UP WITH A PLAN WITH YOUR PHYSICIAN AND YOUR SUPPORT SYSTEM TO HELP YOU TO STOP.

>> Jeff: NUMBER TWO ON THE LIST IS MAINTAINING A HEALTHY WEIGHT.

ACTUALLY LET'S RUN THROUGH THE REST OF THIS AND WE'LL COME BACK TO A COUPLE OF THE ITEMS.

AND RELATED TO THAT, WATCH WHAT YOU'RE EATING AND I WILL LET YOU PICK IT UP FROM THERE.

>> HEALTHY DIET, BEING PHYSICALLY ACTIVE.

USING SUNSCREEN SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE COULDN'T ALWAYS THINK ABOUT OUTSIDE OF THE SUNNY SEASONS.

NOT ALL INDIVIDUALS THINK ABOUT THAT AND VACCINATION, HPV VACCINE.

SO HUMAN PAPILLOMA VIRUS ASSOCIATED WITH CERVICAL CANCER AND WE'RE ENCOURAGING OUR OLDER ELEMENTARY AGED CHILDREN THINKING THE AGES OF 9-11 TO GET THIS VACCINATION BUT IT CAN BE GIVEN THROUGH ADULTHOOD.

YOU MAINTAINING A HEALTHY WEIGHT.

OFTENTIMES PEOPLE HAVE THE GOAL WEIGHT THEY WANT TO REACH.

WE DON'T DISCOURAGE PEOPLE FROM GETTING TO THE GOAL WEIGHT BUT SMALL DECREASES IN YOUR WEIGHT.

AS LITTLE AS 5% WEIGHT LOSS WHICH FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE COULD BE 10 TO 15 POUNDS CAN IMPROVE YOUR HEALTH SIGNIFICANTLY AND DECREASE YOUR RISK OF DEVELOPING CANCER.

STAYING PHYSICALLY ACTIVE, AGAIN THAT IS A GOOD THING HELPS TO MAINTAIN THAT HEALTHY WEIGHT AND KEEPS YOUR BODY GOING.

I THINK WE HAVE HAD THIS CONVERSATION BEFORE WE'RE SLIGHTLY OUTSIDE OF THE WINDOW OF PEOPLE AND THE NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS BUT THIS IS THE TIME WE WANT TO DIG DEEP AND HOLD ON TO THOSE THINGS.

AND THE THINGS WE KNOW TO DO.

THE THINGS THAT KEEP YOU HEALTHY ARE GREAT WAYS TO PREVENT CANCER AS WELL.

>> Jeff: AND ESPECIALLY THE SIMPLE STUFF.

I WILL COME BACK TO THE HPV VACCINE BECAUSE IT MAKES FOR AWKWARD PARENT-CHILD CONVERSATIONS BUT THE THING HAS BEEN A SPECTACULAR SUCCESS?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IT HELPED US TO SEE DECLINES IN THE RATES OF CERVICAL CANCER AND MOUTH OR ORAL CANCERS AFFECTED.

YOU'RE RIGHT I HAVE 11-YEAR-OLD TWINS WHO ARE GETTING READY TO DO THE PUBERTY CURRICULUM IN SCHOOL.

THOSE CAN BE AWKWARD CONVERSATIONS AND IMPORTANT CONVERSATIONS.

FOR PARENTS WHO SAY I'M NOT READY TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION YOU TALK ABOUT THE FACT THIS IS A VACCINE.

THAT CAN HELP YOU TO PREVENT CANCER AS YOU GET OLDER AND TO HELP YOU IMPROVE YOUR HEALTH WHICH IS WHAT VACCINES DO OVERALL.

>> Jeff: LET'S TALK ABOUT ALCOHOL THERE WAS A SURGEON GENERAL REPORT LINKING ALCOHOL TO AT LEAST SEVEN TYPES OF CANCER.

READING THAT, I'M NEVER GOING TO HAVE A BEER AGAIN BUT I'M PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE A BEER AGAIN.

HOW DO YOU ADVISE PEOPLE THAT YOU SEE IN YOUR PRACTICE TO DEAL WITH INFORMATION LIKE THAT?

SY.

YEAH.

IT'S IMPORTANT INFORMATION.

THE FIRST KEY IS MAKE SURE PEOPLE ARE AWARE.

THE FIRST STEP IS MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE HAVE THE INFORMATION THAT THEY NEED IN ORDER TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS.

SO WHEN IT COMES TO THINGS LIKE ALCOHOL, THERE ARE MANY WHO ABSTAIN ENTIRELY FROM ALCOHOL.

CERTAINLY FULL HEARTEDLY SUPPORT THAT DECISION.

FOR OTHERS THAT USE ALCOHOL IT'S ABOUT USING ALCOHOL IN MODERATION AND KNOWING LIKE YOU SAID, ALCOHOL IS LINKED TO AS MANY AS SEVEN CANCERS AND CANCERS PEOPLE MAY NOT THINK ABOUT BUT LIVER CANCER AND BREAST CANCER AND ORAL CANCERS.

IF AN INDIVIDUAL DRINKS ALCOHOL CAN COME UP WITH A PLAN AND TALK ABOUT HOW YOU CAN DECREASE THE AMOUNT YOU ARE DRINKING, I THINK WHEN I'M TALKING TO PATIENTS IT'S ALWAYS ABOUT MEETING PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE.

I CAN TELL THEM WHAT I WANT THEM TO DO AS THE PHYSICIAN BUT IF I'M TELLING THEM AND NOT MEETING THEM WHERE THEY ARE IT IS NOT A PLAN THAT WILL WORK.

EVEN DECREASING WHAT YOU ARE DOING YOU DON'T HAVE TO QUIT AND IT IS OKAY TO HAVE A BEER ON OCCASION.

>> Jeff: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I WILL WRITE THAT DOWN.

LET'S TALK ABOUT SCREENINGS A LITTLE BIT.

AND I WILL ASK YOUR THOUGHTS ON SOMETHING WE HADN'T PLANNED TO TALK ABOUT AND THAT IS FULL BODY SCREENING.

IF YOU THINK ABOUT MAMMOGRAMS THE RISK REWARD IS YOU ARE GETTING A LITTLE BIT OF RADIATION BUT WITH THE UPSIDE OF CATCHING A COMMON CANCER, HOPEFUL EARLY WHEN IT'S MORE TREATABLE.

BUT IF YOU ASK DOCTORS ABOUT FULL BODY SCANS, WHICH IT SEEMS LIKE I'M SEEING FEWER ADS FOR, THAT IS THE IDEA OF LIKE RADIATING EVERYTHING JUST TO SEE IF THERE'S ANYTHING GOING ON.

MOST PEOPLE WHO WEAR WHITE COATS THINK THAT IS A BAD IDEA.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE?

>> MOST PEOPLE WHO WEAR WHITE COATS WILL THINK IT IS THE BAD IDEA.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS VERSUS THE RISKS AND THE POTENTIAL HARMS.

YOU SPOKE TO THE FACT THAT RADIATION EXPOSURE IS ONE.

THAT IS CERTAINLY A SIGNIFICANT RISK.

THE OTHER THING IS INCIDENTAL FINDINGS YOU WILL FIND THINGS THAT AREN'T GOING TO LEAD TO NEW NEGLECT OUTCOME BUT CAN CAUSE A GREAT DEAL OF ANXIETY AND THAT IS VERY REAL.

EVEN WITH THE SCREENINGS WE DO SUCH AS MAMMOGRAMS, COLONOSCOPIES AND LUNG CT'S, CERVICAL CANCER SCREENINGS THEY SHOULD ALWAYS START WITH A CONVERSATION BETWEEN THE PHYSICIAN AND THE PATIENT, UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE PROS AND THE CONS ARE WHY YOU MAY WANT TO AND WHY YOU MAY WANT TO START AT A CERTAIN AGE.

WE CALL THIS SHARED DECISION MAKING.

AND THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE YOU NEVER WANT TO START DOWN A PATH THAT IS GOING TO CREATE ANXIETY FOR I APATIENT THAT THE PATIENT DOESN'T WANT TO DEAL WITH OR I WILL NOT FOLLOW THROUGH ON.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT A WHOLE BODY SCAN YOU ARE LOOKING AT THE ENTIRETY OF THE BODY THE LIKELIHOOD YOU WILL FIND INFORMATION THAT IS NOT GOING TO HAVE MEDICALLY SIGNIFICANT UTILITY THAT WILL CREATE A LOT OF ANXIETY IS QUITE SIGNIFICANT AND THAT IS A REASON TOO YOU DON'T SEE A LOT OF EMPHASIS ON WHOLE BODY SCANS.

>> Jeff: WHAT ARE THE CONVERSATIONS LIKE IN YOUR PROGRAM?

IS THERE A SCREENING TEST THAT YOU REALLY ARE GOOD AT TALKING PEOPLE INTO?

OR PRESENTING THE CASE THAT THEY SHOULD GET WHATEVER THE TEST IS?

AND ARE THERE SOME THAT YOU AND YOUR COLLEAGUES REALLY HAVE A HARD TIME GETTING PEOPLE TO SIGN UP FOR?

>> YEAH.

YOU KNOW I THINK THAT VARIES.

I CAN THINK OF SPECIFIC PATIENTS I'VE ASKED TO DO CANCER SCREENINGS AND IT'S TAKEN YEARS TO GET IT DONE.

BEING A FAMILY PHYSICIAN YOU HAVE THE LONGEVITY OF A RELATIONSHIP.

IF YOU SEE I TODAY AND YOU SAY NO IT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S NO TOMORROW OR A YEAR FROM NOW.

MEETING FOLKS WHERE THEY ARE IN TERMS OF WHAT THE CANCER PRIORITIES ARE.

IF WE STEP IS BACK AND LOOK WHERE CANCER SCREENINGS ARE THERE'S ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT.

THERE IS NO CANCER SCREENING SAYING WE'RE HIT THAT OUT OF THE BALL PARK AND DOING WHAT WE FEED TO DO.

BUT THINKING ABOUT MAMMOGRAMS WE DO BETTER THERE AND COLONOSCOPIES WE DO BETTER THERE.

CERVICAL CANCER SCREENING AS WELL.

OTHER CANCER THE ONE CANCER WE KNOW THERE IS A LOT OF ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT IS LUNG CANCER SCREENING FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE A HISTORY OF SMOKING AND HAVE SMOKED WITHIN THE PAST 15 YEARS.

AND THERE ARE OTHER FACTORS WE LOOK AT.

IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND, MAMMOGRAPHY RATES ARE CLOSER TO 80% DEPENDS WHAT POPULATION YOU LOOK AT.

THERE ARE DIFFERENCES IF AN INDIVIDUAL IS INSURED UNINSURED AND RACE AND THINGS THAT CAN FACTOR INTO IT.

BETWEEN 70-80% WITH THE STATE.

VERSUS LUNG CANCER SCREENING ARE LESS THAN 10%.

AS A PROFESSION THERE IS A LOT OF EMPHASIS IT'S SOMETHING WE ARE DOING AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, THE GREENEBAUM CANCER CENTER LOOKING WHAT CAN WE DO STATE-WIDE TO IMPROVE OUR SCREENING RATES OVERALL.

I THINK WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT COVID HAD A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON CANCER SCREENING OVERALL.

WE'RE BEYOND THAT BUT WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CATCH UP WITH THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO MAY HAVE STOPPED SCREENING DUE TO THE PANDEMIC AND GET EVERYONE BACK ON TASK AND CONTINUE DOING THE SCREENINGS.

>> Jeff: BLACK AMERICANS TWICE AS LIKELY TO DIE FROM A NUMBER OF CANCERS, PROSTATE, STOMACH, UTERINE CANCERS.

TALK ABOUT THOSE DISPARITIES AND WHAT YOU AND YOUR COLLEAGUES ARE DOING TO TRY TO ADDRESS THEM?

>> SURE.

THOSE ARE IMPORTANT DISPARITIES AGAIN.

AND I THINK THEY ARE FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS.

IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT THE RATES ARE IN TERMS OF DIAGNOSIS, VERSUS THE RATES IN TERMS OF MORTALITY THERE IS A DIFFERENCE.

THOUGH BLACK AND AFRICAN-AMERICAN INDIVIDUALS MAY NOT BE DIAGNOSED WITH THESE CANCERS MORE COMMONLY THEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO DIE FROM THESE CANCERS.

THAT IS A NUMBER OF FACTORS WE TALK ABOUT THE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH AND ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE AND THINKING ABOUT INSURANCE STATUS, THINKING ABOUT EQUITY IN TERMS OF THE TREATMENT THAT IS OFFERED, CLINICAL TRIALS.

SURGERY, THE TIME AT WHICH TREATMENTS ARE OFFERED.

THERE ARE A LOT OF ISSUES THERE.

WHAT DO WE DO?

WE TRY TO ENCOURAGE FOLKS IT'S ONE OF THE BIGGEST PARTS OF WHAT I DO ON THE DAY-TO-DAY IS MAKE SURE THAT PATIENTS THAT LOOK LIKE ME ARE AWARE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS TO GET CANCER SCREENING AND THEY ARE FOLLOWING THROUGH ON THE RECOMMENDATIONINGS IF THEY HAVE FEARS OR BARRIERS OR REASONS WE TALK ABOUT THOSE AND TRY TO ADDRESS THOSE.

I ALSO YOU MENTIONED SERVE AS A MEDICAL DIRECTOR FOR THE BALTIMORE CITY CANCER PROGRAM A COMMUNITY-BASED INITIATIVE OF THE GREENEBAUM CANCER CENTER AND THAT PROGRAM TARGETS INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE EITHER UNINSURED OR UNDER INSURED AND MAY HAVE PROBLEMS ACCESSING CANCER SCREENINGS.

WE HAVE OUTREACH WORKERS WHO GO OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY AND MAKE SURE THE PEOPLE HAVE THE INFORMATION THEY NEED AND ENROLL THEM IN OUR PROGRAM TO HAVE ACCESS TO CANCER SCREENINGS THAT THEY MAY NOT HAVE.

THERE ARE A LOT OF INITIATIVES IN THE COMMUNITY TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE KNOW YOU CAN GET THE SCREENINGS DONE AND IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR A FEAR LET'S HAVE A CONVERSATION.

>> Jeff: Dr. SHANA NTIRI AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND MEDICAL CENTER WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Jeff: A SURVEY OF BALTIMORE RESIDENTS FINDS IMPROVEMENT IN THE EXTENT OF FOOD INSECURITY IN THE CITY.

WE SPOKE WITH MICHAEL BADER ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF SOCIOLOGY AT JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY AND FACULTY DIRECTOR OF THE 21ST CENTURY CITIES INITIATIVE.

PROFESSOR THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

TELL US ABOUT THE 21ST CENTURY CITIES INITIATIVE.

>> YES, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

THE 21ST CENTURY CITIES INITIATIVE IS AN EFFORT BY JOHNS HOPKINS TO BUILD WORLD CLASS RESEARCH FROM ALL OF OUR LEADING SCHOLARS THAT ARE ACROSS OUR DIFFERENT DIVISIONS WHICH OUR SCHOOLS AND DIFFERENT UNITS AT JOHNS HOPKINS TO BUILD OUR CUTTING EDGE KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT IS GOING ON IN CITIES AND SURROUNDING ACROSS THE WORLD.

AND WE HAVE A PARTICULAR FOCUS ON BALTIMORE TO REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT IS HAPPENING IN AND AROUND OUR CITY.

>> Jeff: NOW, FOOD INSECURITY WAS A BIG FINDING LAST YEAR.

HOW DO YOU DEFINE THAT?

AND WHAT HAS CHANGED THIS YEAR?

>> SO FOOD INSECURITY IS SOMETHING THAT THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE MEASURES AND KEEPS TRACK OF NATIONWIDE.

AND THE IDEA THERE IS TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH PEOPLE ARE STRUGGLING TO PUT FOOD ON THEIR TABLE.

WE USED THEIR MEASURE.

IT'S SEVEN QUESTIONS THAT ASK THINGS LIKE DOES FOOD -- DOES MONEY RUN OUT BEFORE YOU CAN PAY FOR FOOD BY THE END OF THE MONTH?

AND QUESTIONS SIMILAR TO THAT.

SEVEN OF THOSE QUESTIONS AND WE PUT THEM INTO A SCALE.

AND WHAT WE FOUND IS THAT USING THE USDA'S MEASURE LAST YEAR, ABOUT 35% OF RESIDENTS IN THE BALTIMORE AREA WERE FOOD INSECURE.

WHICH MEANS THEY EITHER STRUGGLED SOME OF THE TIME OR STRUGGLED MUCH OF THE TIME TO BE ABLE TO PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE AND FEED THEIR FAMILIES.

>> Jeff: WHAT WOULD ACCOUNTED FOR THE IMPROVEMENT THAT YOU SAW IN THAT METRIC?

OBVIOUSLY WE HAD THIS BIG BOUT OF INFLATION.

BUT OVERALL, THE ECONOMY'S BEEN PRETTY STEADY MAYBE SLIGHT UPTICK IN UNEMPLOYMENT.

>> THAT'S TRUE.

SO THE MEASURE OF FOOD INSECURITY DROPPED BY SEVEN PERCENTAGE POINTS THIS YEAR WHICH WAS A MARKED DECREASE.

AND THAT WAS ESPECIALLY TRUE AMONG BLACK RESIDENTS IN THE BALTIMORE AREA.

AND I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT A LOT HAS TO DO WITH INFLATION.

THE 2023 BALTIMORE AREA SURVEY WAS IN THE FIELD DURING THE SUMMER OF 2023.

JULY AROUND JULY.

WHICH WAS THE PEAK END OF THE PEAK OF HIGH INFLATION.

AND THIS YEAR INFLATION HAS GONE DOWN PRICES ARE STILL INFLATED I THINK PEOPLE'S EXPECTATIONS OF HOW MUCH FOOD WOULD COST WAS ABLE TO CATCH UP.

AND I THINK THAT EXPLAINS A LARGE PART OF WHY FOOD INSECURITY DEKREINED.

PEOPLE WEREN'T MAKING BUDGETS AND THE BUDGETS WERE BUSTED BY INFLATION A COUPLE MONTHS LATER.

I THINK THAT HAS A BIG REASON WHY WE SAW THE DECLINE IN FOOD INSECURITY IN THE PAST YEAR.

>> Jeff: YOUR SURVEY COVERED BALTIMORE CITY AND BALTIMORE COUNTY, AND WITHIN BOTH JURISDICTIONS, YOU WERE SEEING RACIAL DISPARITIES ACROSS A BUNCH OF CATEGORIES, I UNDERSTAND?

>> ONE OF THE THINGS WE TRY TO UNDERSTAND IS NOT JUST WHAT IS HAPPENING IN BALTIMORE CITY PROPER BUT THE SURROUNDING AREA OF BALTIMORE COUNTY.

OUR SURVEYS STATISTICALLY REPRESENTATIVE OF BOTH RESIDENTS IN BALTIMORE CITY AND BALTIMORE COUNTY.

AND THAT STATISTICALLY REPRESENTATIVE IS IMPORTANT SO WE DO WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS WEIGHTED TO REPRESENT THE POPULATION THAT LIVES HERE AND SO ONE OF THE REASONS WE DO THAT IS SO THAT WE UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING ON AMONG ALL RESIDENTS AND THERE ARE SEVERAL AREAS WHERE WE SAW PROFOUND RACIAL DISPARITIES.

ONE WAS FOOD INSECURITY.

I MENTIONED THE IMPROVEMENT BEING STRONGER AMONG BLACK RESIDENTS.

LAST YEAR OVER HALF OF BLACK RESIDENTS IN THE BALTIMORE AREA WERE CLASSIFIED AS FOOD INSECURE.

THIS YEAR IT WAS CLOSER TO A THIRD.

WHICH WAS A MUCH LARGER IMPROVEMENT OVER THAT TIME PERIOD THAN FOR WHITE FOLKS WHERE THERE WAS A SMALL IMPROVEMENT.

WE SAW RACIAL DISPARITIES IN WHERE WHO HAD ACCESS TO GROCERY STORES.

ONE OF THE THINGS AFTER WE PUBLISHED OUR RESULTS AND FOLKS ASKED US IF WE KNEW ANYTHING ABOUT FOOD DESERTS SO WE ADDED ONE THIS YEAR AND A QUARTER OF BLACK RESIDENTS IN THE BALTIMORE AREA REPORTED THEY DIDN'T HAVE A GROCERY STORE WITH CONVENIENT ACCESS TO FRESH AND HEALTHY FOODS NEAR THEM THAT WAS SOMETHING ELSE WE FOUND.

AND THERE'S RACIAL DISPARITIES IN TRANSPORTATION ISSUES.

BUT THOSE SEEM MUCH MORE ALIGNED WITH ECONOMICS THAN WITH RACE.

>> Jeff: PERCEPTIONS OF NEIGHBORHOODS.

I RECALL FROM LOOKING AT THIS PEOPLE SORT OF GENERALLY LIKE THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD NOT NECESSARILY BIG FANS OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOL.

WHAT TRENDS DO YOU SEE IN THERE?

>> SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS INTERESTING, AS YOU MENTIONED, MOST OF BALTIMORE AREA RESIDENTS LIKE THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.

7-10 RESIDENTS SAY THEY WERE SOMEWHAT OR VERY SATISFIED WITH THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS.

AS YOU MENTIONED THERE WAS A PERCEPTION OF SCHOOLS NOT BEING QUITE AS HIGH.

SO WE ASKED WHETHER FOLKS THOUGHT THAT THE SCHOOLS WERE VERY GOOD OR GOOD.

AND WHAT WE FOUND WAS THAT THERE WERE RACIAL DISPARITY THERE IS.

BUT IF YOU ASKED PEOPLE WHO WERE PARENTS THE RATES WERE HIGHER.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE LEARNED IS THAT THE PERCEPTION OF SCHOOLS IS NEGATIVE MAYBE NEGATIVE OVERALL BUT WHEN YOU ASK RESIDENTS WHO HAVE CHILDREN LIVING IN THEIR HOME, IT WAS MUCH BETTER.

>> Jeff: PREVIOUS DATA SET LOOKED AT THE OPIOID OVERDOSE EPIDEMIC THAT WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH.

NOT SURPRISINGLY, THERE'S SOME BIG SOCIOECONOMIC FACTORS THAT ARE PREDICTIVE OF THAT?

>> YES.

SO LAST YEAR, WE ASKED RESIDENTS IF THEY KNEW ANYONE WHO DIED OF AN OVERDOSE DEATH.

AND WE FOUND THAT 4-10 BALTIMORE AREA RESIDENTS KNEW SOMEONE WHO DIED OF AN OVERDOSE DEATH AND THE PATTERN WAS MARKED AMONG THOSE WHO MADE LESS THAN $30,000 A YEAR.

THOSE RESIDENTS WERE ABOUT TWICE OR THREE TIMES AS LIKELY AS THOSE WHO MADE OVER THE MEDIAN INCOME IN THE BALTIMORE AREA TO KNOW SOMEONE WHO DIED OF AN OVERDOSE.

>> Jeff: WHAT DO YOU HOPE THAT POLICYMAKERS LEARN FROM YOUR RESEARCH?

WHAT SHOULD THEY TAKEAWAY FROM THIS AND WHAT SHOULD THEY DO ABOUT IT?

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I HOPE THAT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO DO IS UNDERSTAND THE DAILY EXPERIENCES THAT BALTIMORE AREA RESIDENTS HAVE IN THEIR LIVES.

AND THE WAYS IN WHICH THERE ARE CONNECTIONS ACROSS DIFFERENT AREAS OF LIFE.

FOR EXAMPLE ONE OF THE THINGS WE FOUND THIS YEAR WAS 30% OF RESIDENTS WHO MADE LESS THAN 30,000 DOLLARS, BOTH DID NOT HAVE HIGH SPEED INTERNET AT HOME AND ALSO STRUGGLED WITH TRANSPORTATION ACCESS.

I THINK THERE ARE WAYS IN WHICH POLICYMAKERS CAN CONCENTRATE THEIR EFFORTS TO REALLY FOCUS ON THOSE GROUPS WHO MIGHT NEED HELP AND OUR HOPE IS THAT AT HOPKINS AND MORE GENERALLY FOR BUSINESSES, NONPROFITS AND COMMUNITY GROUPS, THAT HAVING THESE LONG-TERM DATA CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT THE TRENDS ARE RATHER THAN DEALING WITH A PROBLEM ONE AT A TIME WE CAN SEE WHERE PROBLEMS ARE ARISING OVER MULTIPLE YEARS AND ALSO WHERE THE SOLUTIONS MELEE.

>> Jeff: PROFESSOR MICHAEL BADER, JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY, SIR, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU IT WAS A PLEASURE TO BE HERE.

>> Jeff: AND NOW CHARLES ROBINSON WITH THE DEAN OF THE MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY ENGINEERING SCHOOL ON THE EVE OF THE BEYA CONFERENCE.

>> YOU BRING A LARGE GROUP OF YOUNG PEOPLE TO THIS EVENTS.

TELL ME WHY IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THEM TO GO.

>> WELL, LET ME SAY THANK YOU FOR INVITATION IT'S GREAT TO TALK WITH YOU AND EXCITED ABOUT BEYA.

FOR OUR STUDENTS IT'S EYE-OPENING.

IT IS THE EVENT WHERE STUDENTS START TO LOOK AT THE IMPACT OF A COMMUNITY.

AND THEY SEE THEMSELVES NOT ONLY AMONGST THEIR PEERS, BUT ALSO AMONGST FOLKS THEY ASPIRE TO BE LIKE.

AND THEY SEE FACULTY MEMBERS.

THEY SEE MILITARY LEADERS.

THEY SEE BUSINESS LEADERS.

AND THAT PICTURE BECOMES CEMENTED IN THEIR MINDS AND WHEN THEY COME BACK TO MORGAN STATE THE ONLY THING WE HEAR IS WHAT A TREMENDOUS EXPERIENCE WE HAD.

I CAN'T WAIT UNTIL NEXT YEAR.

FROM A MENTORING PERSPECTIVE AND OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO VIEW THEMSELVES IN THE FUTURE, BEYA IS ESSENTIAL TO US.

>> I NOTE THERE ARE A LOT OF SMALL BREAK OUT ROOMS.

WHAT DO YOU HOPE THE YOUNG PEOPLE GET FROM THAT?

>> SO THEY WILL COME WITH THEIR OWN QUESTIONS AND THEIR OWN THOUGHTS ABOUT HOW TO STRUCTURE THEIR CAREER NOT THEIR JOB.

BECAUSE I THINK OUR STUDENTS ARE LOOKING FOR WHERE THEY WILL BE 20, 30 YEARS FROM NOW.

IT MAYBE PIECEMEALED TOGETHER, FIVE YEARS AT THIS COMPANY.

BUT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR CAREERS NOW.

THE SMALL BREAK OUT SESSIONS WILL ALLOW THEM TO PUT TOGETHER COMPONENTS OF PROFESSIONAL LEADERSHIP, COMPONENTS OF BUSINESS ACUMINUTE.

COMPONENTS OF CAREER READINESS SO THEY CAN SAY I HAVE A RICH OPPORTUNITY TO NOW PUT ALL THE ELEMENTS TOGETHER TO MOVE FORWARD AND PUT MY CAREER VISION IN PLACE.

>> EVERYBODY'S TALKING ABOUT A.I.

I'M CERTAIN THAT YOUR SCHOOL IS TALKING ABOUT IT.

TELL ME WHAT PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT A.I., ESPECIALLY THE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO WILL BE GOING TO THIS EVENT?

>> FIRST THING WE CAN'T FEAR A.I.

IT IS ONE OF A NUMBER OF EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES.

I THINK WE ARE AT THE VERY BEGINNING OF AN ONSLAUGHT OF OTHER TECHNOLOGIES THAT WILL ALLOW US TO MOVE FORWARD AND ADVANCE SOCIETY.

WHAT MY PERSPECTIVE ALSO IS THAT IN ADDITION TO OUR REGULAR TRADITIONAL LITERACY, READING, WRITING AND MATHEMATICS AS EDUCATORS WE HAVE TO START LOOKING AT ADDITIONAL LITERACY AND HUMAN LITERACY, DATA LITERACY AND TECHNOLOGY LITERACY.

AND THAT WILL ADVANCE US TO THE NEXT THOUSAND YEARS.

OUR STUDENTS ARE VERY NIMBLE WITH USING TECHNOLOGY.

THEY WILL PLAY WITH IT AND IT WILL SAY TO US GUESS WHAT I CAN DO?

AND WE SOMETIMES AS STAFF WE ARE FEARFUL BECAUSE WE AREN'T AS NIMBLE.

WE HAVE TO LET THEM RUN WITH IT AND BE JUST AS NIMBLE AS THEY ARE TO BE AS FLUID ABOUT WHAT THE NEW PARADIGM LOOKS LIKE IN TERMS OF EDUCATION.

I'M EXCITED ABOUT IT.

MORGAN STATE HAS TAKEN A POSITION WHERE WE'VE HAD A NUMBER OF WORKING SESSIONS AND WORKING GROUPS AND WORKSHOPS TO PREPARE OUR FACULTY FROM THE BASIC CONCEPT OF HAVING JUST A SIMPLE STATEMENT ON YOUR SYLLABUS.

HERE IS WHAT IS ALLOWED FOR A.I.

UTILIZATION, HERE IS HOW YOU DOCUMENT THE INCLUSION OF A.I.

FROM THAT BEGINNING WE ARE COMPLETELY EMBRACING THE TECHNOLOGY.

>> I WANT TO SHIFT GEARS A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE, I THINK, IN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, THERE'S BEEN ALMOST AN ONSLAUGHT ABOUT D.E.I.

AND WHETHER OR NOT D.E.I.

IS WORTH IT.

I'M GUESSING THAT YOU BELIEVE THAT THAT IS STILL VIABLE AS A MEANS AND A WAY TO BRING PEOPLE OF COLOR INTO THIS INDUSTRY?

>> SO I THINK FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN UNDER THE GUN.

WHETHER IT WAS IN THE 60s, 70s, 80s, IT'S ABOUT INCLUDING A DIVERSE POPULATION INTO THE MAINSTREAM OF AMERICA.

I WILL SAY GENTLY IF WE DON'T MAINTAIN THE STATUS QUO, WE ARE FACING A CONSEQUENCE IN OUR ECONOMIC VIABILITY NATIONWIDE.

WE ARE ESSENTIAL TO THE GDP OF THIS COUNTRY WE ARE CENTRAL TO THE TECHNOLOGY GROWTH IN THIS COUNTRY.

WE ARE CENTRAL TO EVERY CULTURAL ELEMENT OF THIS COUNTRY.

IT IS ALMOST A TRAVESTY TO ME WHEN YOU HEAR FOLKS SAYING OR NE GATING THE IMPACT AND IMPORTANCE OF D.E.I.

WE CAN LABEL IT WHAT IT IS BUT I DO THINK WE HAVE TO REALIZE WE HAVE TO BE EVERYONE HAS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE COMMUNITY OTHERWISE THE COUNTRY AS IT MAY SEEM 30, 40 YEARS FROM NOW MAY NOT BE THE ECONOMIC ENGINE IT WAS 50 YEARS PRIOR.

>> Jeff: THANKS CHARLES AND THANK YOU FOR WATCHING "DIRECT CONNECTION".

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

[♪♪]