CBH Talk | “Treating Violence” with Rob Gore and Marlon Peterson
Dr. Rob Gore has worked in the Emergency Department of Kings County Hospital for almost 20 years. He knows all too well the violence that plagues Brooklyn’s youth, especially its youth of color.
Gore is the visionary behind Kings Against Violence Initiative (KAVI), a Brooklyn-based intervention program that views violence not as a police matter, but as a public health crisis. For his violence prevention work Gore was named a CNN Hero. In his new book Treating Violence: An Emergency Room Doctor Takes On a Deadly American Epidemic, he writes about his own formative encounters with violence growing up in Fort Greene, and the resulting philosophy and activism that have become his life’s work.
Join him in conversation with Marlon Peterson, author of Bird Uncaged: An Abolitionist's Freedom Song, as he explains how trauma leads to violence, and describes the hope-filled work of KAVI’s violence interventionists who de-escalate conflict, teach youth skills to cope with trauma, and create young, activist leaders who bring communities together, rather than tear them apart.
Participants
Rob Gore, MD, is an emergency room physician and community activist. For close to 20 years he has been exploring and developing programs and solutions that focus on community violence and other disparities affecting urban and global health. He has been named a "CNN Hero" and has been included on the ROOT 100 list. He has been featured on CNN, NBC, ABC BET, and in the New York Times, among others. He has lectured around the U.S, the Caribbean, South America, and Asia, and has worked in East Africa, Haiti, and South America. He currently lives in Brooklyn, NY with his family. Follow him on Instagram (siriema22) and Twitter (drrobgore).
Marlon Peterson is a social justice advocate, writer, and sought-after speaker whose journey from incarceration to influential change-maker embodies resilience, redemption, and a steadfast commitment to justice. Marlon is currently the Executive Director of College and Community Fellowship, an organization committed to helping women with criminal convictions earn their college degrees and gain financial independence. His insightful and powerful narratives have been featured in publications such as Essence, Ebony Magazine, USA Today, and The Natio. He is also the author of the critically acclaimed memoir, Bird Uncaged: An Abolitionist's Freedom Song.
With a background that includes prestigious fellowships from the Soros Justice Fellowship and the Aspen Institute, Marlon's expertise and perspective are both deeply personal and widely respected. His TED Talk, Am I not Human? A Call for Criminal Justice Reform, has resonated with millions, urging society to rethink and reshape the criminal justice system. Ebony Magazine named Marlon on the top 100 inspiring leaders in the Black community. His story is a testament to the power of second chances, the importance of community, and the enduring fight for equity and justice.
