Lehigh Valley PA — The Lehigh Valley Justice Institute is hosting an Inaugural Fundraising Event on October 13th, 2021, from 5 – 8 pm at Lafayette College’s Pfenning Alumni Center. The event will celebrate the 1st anniversary of the Institute’s work to develop a reimagined criminal justice system that is equitable and fair for all communities.

The event will feature Moravian College Professor and award-winning author Robert H. Mayer will be giving a talk about his just-published book In the Name of Emmett Till – how the children of the Mississippi freedom struggle showed us tomorrow. This presentation by Dr. Mayer will also include a book signing for Inaugural Donors at the $1,000 level and Partners ofLVJI at the $500 level.

The event will also feature comments from the Deputy State Inspector General of Law Enforcement Oversight, Sha S. Brown. Mr. Brown is a Chair of Governor Wolfs recently formed Pennsylvania State Law Enforcement Citizens Advisory Commission. LVJI Board President Marvin Boyer serves as Chair of the Bias in Policing Committee of the Commission.

Along with presentations from our speakers, a review of the work of the Institute over the past year will be presented. Food and beverages will be provided by Lafayette College’s Bon Appetit catering service. Members of the community can register for the event online at www.LVJI.org. Donation amounts include Inaugural Donor at the $1,000 level or above, Partners of LVJI at the $500-$999 level, and Friends of LVJI at the $100-$499 level. We hope you will consider joining us and becoming an honored donor of the Institute.

The Lehigh Valley Justice Institute was formed last year to address criminal justice issues specifically in the Lehigh Valley, from an academic perspective. The Institute is engaged in a multi-year deep study of the local criminal justice systems, as well as immediate work through various issue committees, such as policing, bail, and re-entry programs.