Keith Morton on Youth Gangs, Violence, and Non-violence

Show Notes

This episode is a conversation with Professor Keith Morton of the Public and Community Service Department about his recent book “Getting Out: Youth Gangs, Violence, and Positive Change” published in 2019 by University of Massachusetts Press.  The book recounts Dr. Morton’s experience with an innovative youth program in the Smith Hill neighborhood of Providence Rhode Island aimed at reducing so called “gang violence” in the community.  Morton co-lead the program between 2007 and 2015 along with staff of Providence’s Institute for the Study and Practice of Nonviolence.  The book not only recounts Keith’s experiences but offers a profound reflection on how we conceptualize the violence of urban youth, the nature of youth gangs, and how a “youth positive” approach can support youth survival and growth despite contact with gang violence.  

 

Professor Morton has been Associate Director and Director of the Feinstein Institute for Public Service at Providence College.  He currently chairs the department of Public and Community Service Studies.  Morton is largely responsible for development of the Feinstein Institute’s ties with the Smith Hill neighborhood which adjoins the Providence College campus forging a unique and productive campus- community collaboration that continues to today.  Along with his recent book, Keith has published extensively on service-learning pedagogy, campus-community relations, and non-violence.  He has been recognized with many awards over the course of his career including the National Society for Experiential Education Distinguished Scholar Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016and, quite relevant to today’s conversation, the Smith Hill MVP Award of the Smith Hill Community Development Corporation in 2017. 

Creators & Guests

Host

Bill Hudson

Beyond Your News Feed: Understanding Contemporary Politics is a podcast of the Providence College Political Science Department. On the podcast, we provide analysis of political issues and events featuring the expertise of Providence College faculty members. Our episodes seek to offer in depth discussion of contemporary events that go beyond what typically is covered in the media. In particular, our guests draw on the most up to date research in political science and other fields to throw light on world events. Our episodes cover political events in all regions of the world and in the United States. The issues and events analyzed include elections, public policy, domestic and international crises, political ideologies, racial and ethnic relations, prominent political figures, and many other topics.

What is Beyond Your News Feed: Understanding Contemporary Politics?

Welcome to "Beyond Your News Feed: Understanding Contemporary Politics" a new podcast sponsored by the Providence College Political Science Department. Host William Hudson, Political Science Department Chair, and colleagues will provide expert analysis of current political events and issues, delving more deeply into their causes and consequences than can be found in typical media sources.