As a highschool teacher, prosecutor, political official, academic and policy analyst, and the founding director of the Violence Reduction Center at the University of Maryland, Thomas Abt, JD,has dedicated his career to developing evidence-informed strategies to reduce Community Violence. In this conversation Thomas walks us through how Community Violence disproportionately clusters in hotspots amongst certain groups of people, though the entire community is impacted by increased taxes, raised insurance, and reduced property value. Through rigorous research, Thomas has found that there are 3 core principles of successful community violence interventions:

• Focus
• Balance
• Fairness

Watch this Conversation, and learn how Thomas Abt effectively approaches the problem of Community Violence.

Watch NowPlaylist of the Month
How to solve BIG PROBLEMS

Are kids born in August susceptible to a higher chance of ADHD? Can machine learning help us understand drug side effects? Would combining neuroscience and the legal system bring us closer to the truth?

These are some of the fascinating questions answered in this playlist featuring experts dedicated to solving complicated problems across the fields of neuroscience, general medicine, genetics, and healthcare. Curated from us to you–let us know what you think! Take a look here:

• The profound difference between seeing and looking
• What really happens when you mix medications?
• Why every story is a brain story
• How we’re building the largest family tree

Watch NowWhat you might’ve missed
What laws prevent intimate partner homicide?

TEDMED sat down with April Zeoli, PHD, MPH, whose research focuses on the prevention of firearm violence, intimate partner violence, and homicide through policy and law. Her research has found that domestic violence protective order firearm restrictions are one of the most effective legal measures to prevent intimate partner homicides.

Listento understand:

• The warning signs of an abusive relationship
• The history of intimate partner violence (IPV)
• How intimate partner homicide risk increases when firearms are present
• The most effective legal measures to prevent intimate partner violence and homicide

Watch April Zeoliexplain her findings on the matter, and learn what policies are in place to help prevent IPV lead to homicide.

Watch NowLast Month’s Playlist
Gun Violence and what to do about it

Gun ownership continues to be a controversial subject in the United States amidst rising numbers in gun deaths. From 2019 to 2021, gun deaths among children and teens rose 50%. These Speakers investigate the problem from different perspectives including: personal experience, policy change, and hope for the future.

Watch this playlist to better understand the tragic effects of gun violence and what we can do to decrease it.

• My Son was a Columbine Shooter
• Why violence clusters in cities and how to reduce it
• The frightening frequency of family mass shootings
• How better policy will trigger fewer gun deaths
• Ending violence with an empowering antidote

Watch NowWhat do you think?