Yale Bulletin and Calendar

April 5-12, 1999

Volume 27, Number 27

Baltimore Mayor Kurt Schmoke
to talk at Divinity School

Baltimore Mayor Kurt L. Schmoke will deliver the 1999 Sorensen Lecture, "On Being Modern-day Nehemiahs," at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 8 in the Divinity School's Marquand Chapel, 409 Prospect St. The talk is free and open to the public.

In his talk, Schmoke will draw on the experience of the City of Baltimore to illustrate the involvement of the faith community in developing solutions to social problems.

This involvement reflects what he calls "the Nehemiah principle," a reference to the Old Testament prophet who called on his friends and neighbors to join together to rebuild Jerusalem at a time when "distress"and "waste" scarred the city. Schmoke will discuss how the strong partnership between the faith community and government is helping to revitalize neighborhoods and improve lives in Baltimore.

Schmoke, a Yale trustee and 1971 graduate of Yale College, was elected mayor of Baltimore in 1987. Now serving his third term, he has developed a reputation as one of the most innovative mayors in the nation for his initiatives in literacy, education, housing, community revitalization, health and economic development.

Under Schmoke, Baltimore has become a leader in the national effort to tear down dilapidated, crime-plagued high-rise public housing developments and replace them with lower-density, low-rise communities that better support the healthy development of families. As one of six "Empowerment Zone" cities recognized by President Clinton in 1994, Baltimore has become a national model for neighborhood revitalization. In addition, Schmoke's commitment to the principle of inclusion has led to minority participation in a number of the city's major development projects and to Baltimore's being named one of the nation's top cities for women entrepreneurs.

The Margaret Lindquist Sorensen Lectureship was established at the Divinity School in 1978 by a gift from its namesake's son, Andrew A. Sorensen, to provide an annual series of lectures on politics and ethics.

For further information, call 432-5303.

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