Watch: A discussion about public health solutions to gun violence in Missouri

Gun violence in Missouri has long been treated as a crime issue, but after decades of that approach the problem is worse than ever.

Public health experts say real solutions come from addressing the root causes that lead to violence. That means improving economic stability, neighborhoods and built environments, education, and access to food and the health care system.

Join American Public Square at Jewell and The Kansas City Star at 12:30 p.m. on Feb. 17 for the first digital program of the year in our series Gun Violence in Missouri: Seeking Solutions.

Our discussion will focus on public health solutions to gun violence across the state of Missouri, examining how poverty, racial inequality, food and housing insecurity, and other factors contribute to the problem.

Please RSVP now to reserve your spot.

Our expert panel will discuss the root causes of gun violence and we’ll take the conversation further to identify actionable plans aimed at addressing these urgent issues for the greater good of our communities.

The conversation will be moderated by Andres Dominguez, senior program officer at the nonprofit Health Forward Foundation in Kansas City.

Here’s a look at our panelists:

Arletha Bland-Manlove, an Independence resident and community organizer who lost a nephew to gun violence in 2020

Mikel Whittier, justice and social equity strategist formerly at the St. Louis Integrated Health Network

Marvia Jones, violence prevention and policy manager at the Kansas City Health Department

Jalen Anderson, Jackson County legislator, 1st District At-Large

This digital event is part of the Missouri Gun Violence Project, a two-year, statewide journalism collaboration investigating the causes and possible solutions to gun violence. It is supported by the nonprofits Report for America and Missouri Foundation for Health.

This story was originally published February 11, 2021 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Watch: A discussion about public health solutions to gun violence in Missouri."