Reading

Kurt Schmoke: “We Cannot Arrest Our Way Out of the Problem”

Previous Story
Article Image

Seeing Baltimore’s Native Americans Clearly

Next Story
Article Image

Creativity Gets Up Early in Baltimore

Cara Ober interviews Kurt Schmoke on the state of Baltimore following the city’s recent unrest.

Kurt Schmoke was the first elected African-American mayor of Baltimore, Maryland, a position he served for three terms from 1987 to 1999. During his tenure as Baltimore Mayor, Schmoke made education, drug addiction, and violent crime in Baltimore his priorities. During the height of the national ‘War on Drugs’, he advocated decriminalization, legalization, and treatment, a position which was viewed as controversial and soundly rejected by mainstream politicians from both parties.

As Baltimore Mayor, Schmoke is noted for improving low-income housing projects, creating a needle-exchange program for drug addicts, stabilizing the tax rate in the city, and attracting the Ravens football team.

After voluntarily leaving politics, Schmoke worked as a law partner at Wilmer, Cutler and Pickering. He became actively involved in the National Bar Association and the American Bar Association, serving a term as chair of the Council on Racial and Ethnic Justice at ABA. As a lawyer, Schmoke has provided countless hours of pro bono legal services to charitable organizations such as the Children’s Health Forum, a nonprofit group established to combat lead poisoning among children, before he became the Dean of the Howard University School of Law from 2003-2012.

Kurt Schmoke became the current President of the University of Baltimore in 2014.

Related Stories
Baltimore news updates from independent & regional media

Raúl de Nieves receives BMA Meyerhoff-Becker commission, the 2023 Baker Artist Awardees, BOPA Budget Hearings and Interim Director Todd Yuhanick, the Planned Parenthood-Honfest conflict, "People of Pride" Interviews, Fashion designer Justin Shaw, and more!

The best weekly art openings, events, and calls for entry happening in Baltimore and surrounding areas.

This Week:  Sky Hopinka at Academy Art Museum, Hidden Palace Reading Series at Fadensonnen, UMBC hosts the Maryland Arts Summit, Baltimore Clayworks' Seconds Sale + Preview Party, Jessy DeSantis opening reception at Davenport Imports, and more!

Baltimore news updates from independent & regional media

Phaan Howng's Dinner Gallery exhibition, BMA + MICA's Elizabeth Talford Scott exhibition + community celebration, Adam Holofcener interviews on Beyond the Studio Podcast, MCHC's Jim Henson exhibition, Catalyst Contemporary moving out of their space,+ more reporting from local + independent sources.

The best weekly art openings, events, and calls for entry happening in Baltimore and surrounding areas.

This Week: Tracie Taylor at Steven Scott Gallery, Hilton Carter book celebration at The Ivy Bookshop, Stoop Storytelling  + Queer Jewish Arts Festival at Creative Alliance, First Thursdays in Bromo Arts District + Mount Vernon, Asia North Closing Event at Motor House + The Parlor, and more!