Abolitionist Public Health Network
Growing a public health network to advance the abolition of the prison industrial complex
The field of public health has begun to reckon with the health harms of law enforcement violence and carceral systems.
But work remains for public health to recognize abolition of the prison industrial complex altogether — and the creation of non-carceral community safety alternatives — as key public health strategies. We’re growing a network of students, faculty, staff, and alumni at schools of public health across the US to engage abolition as a public health strategy, and support student organizing for abolition on campuses.
Our fall cohorts typically focus on political education about the intersections of abolition, organizing, and public health, while spring cohorts are geared towards supporting abolitionist organizing on public health campuses. Since launching our first cohort in Spring 2022, 226 students and staff from 47 schools have participated in the network. Our first faculty cohort, launched in Spring 2024, includes 12 faculty members from 11 schools.
To be notified when applications open, sign up for HIP’s Public Health Awakened listserv.
Our network includes students and faculty from:
- American University
- Boston University School of Public Health
- Capella University
- Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science
- City University of New York
- Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health
- Colorado School of Public Health
- Drexel University
- Emory University Rollins School of Public Health
- George Washington University
- Georgia State University
- Harvard University T.H. Chan School of Public Health
- Howard University
- Iowa State University
- Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health
- Northeastern University
- Northwestern University
- Oregon Health and Science University and Portland State University School of Public Health
- Rutgers University
- San Diego State University School of Public Health
- San Francisco State University
- San Jose State University
- Seattle University
- Tufts University
- Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine
- University of California Berkeley School of Public Health
- University of California Davis
- University of California Los Angeles Fielding School of Public Health
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Gillings School of Global Public Health
- University of Central Arkansas
- University of Illinois Chicago School of Public Health
- University of Iowa College of Public Health
- University of Maryland School of Public Health
- University of Michigan School of Public Health
- Wayne State University
- University of Minnesota School of Public Health
- University of Minnesota Medical School
- University of Oxford
- University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health
- University of South Florida College of Public Health
- University of Southern California
- University of Victoria
- University of Washington School of Public Health
- University of Wisconsin Madison
- University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health
Our network includes students and faculty from:
- American University
- Boston University School of Public Health
- Capella University
- Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science
- City University of New York
- Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health
- Colorado School of Public Health
- Drexel University
- Emory University Rollins School of Public Health
- George Washington University
- Georgia State University
- Harvard University T.H. Chan School of Public Health
- Howard University
- Iowa State University
- Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health
- Northeastern University
- Northwestern University
- Oregon Health and Science University and Portland State University School of Public Health
- Rutgers University
- San Diego State University School of Public Health
- San Francisco State University
- San Jose State University
- Seattle University
- Tufts University
- Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine
- University of California Berkeley School of Public Health
- University of California Davis
- University of California Los Angeles Fielding School of Public Health
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Gillings School of Global Public Health
- University of Central Arkansas
- University of Illinois Chicago School of Public Health
- University of Iowa College of Public Health
- University of Maryland School of Public Health
- University of Michigan School of Public Health
- Wayne State University
- University of Minnesota School of Public Health
- University of Minnesota Medical School
- University of Oxford
- University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health
- University of South Florida College of Public Health
- University of Southern California
- University of Victoria
- University of Washington School of Public Health
- University of Wisconsin Madison
- University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health
Our network includes students and faculty from:
- American University
- Boston University School of Public Health
- Capella University
- Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science
- City University of New York
- Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health
- Colorado School of Public Health
- Drexel University
- Emory University Rollins School of Public Health
- George Washington University
- Georgia State University
- Harvard University T.H. Chan School of Public Health
- Howard University
- Iowa State University
- Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health
- Northeastern University
- Northwestern University
- Oregon Health and Science University and Portland State University School of Public Health
- Rutgers University
- San Diego State University School of Public Health
- San Francisco State University
- San Jose State University
- Seattle University
- Tufts University
- Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine
- University of California Berkeley School of Public Health
- University of California Davis
- University of California Los Angeles Fielding School of Public Health
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Gillings School of Global Public Health
- University of Central Arkansas
- University of Illinois Chicago School of Public Health
- University of Iowa College of Public Health
- University of Maryland School of Public Health
- University of Michigan School of Public Health
- Wayne State University
- University of Minnesota School of Public Health
- University of Minnesota Medical School
- University of Oxford
- University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health
- University of South Florida College of Public Health
- University of Southern California
- University of Victoria
- University of Washington School of Public Health
- University of Wisconsin Madison
- University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health
From our partners
“I learned how to ground myself in conversations about abolition, how to seek comfort/support from like-minded folks, how deeply ingrained the police mentality is entrenched in institutions with hierarchy, and how to feel safe in conflict heavy discussions.”
“I really liked the sessions that included incarcerated individuals fighting for abolition. I've never been in a virtual learning session where incarcerated voices were elevated like that, and I found that a very unique component of this network!”
“Thank y’all so so much for creating this space. I felt like I could always show up as my imperfect self, which is something I never have felt before in an organizing space. Being able to see that there are folks all across the country fighting for the same future as me was immensely comforting.”
Stop Cop Cities: Invest in Public Health Solutions
Drawing from public health literature and the Stop Cop City movement in Atlanta, Georgia, we authored a research report on the health harms posed by the growing number of police training facilities, commonly referred to as “Cop Cities.”
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From Crisis to Care: Ending the Health Harm of Women’s Prisons
We collaborated with Californians United for a Responsible Budget; California Coalition for Women Prisoners; and Transgender, Gender-variant, and Intersex Justice Project to create a research report, fact sheet, and social media tiles about the harms of women’s prisons.
Liberation is Essential: Leveraging Governmental Public Health Tools to Address the Harms of the Criminal Legal System
We partnered with Critical Resistance to provide examples of how local, state, and territorial health departments can use the 10 Essential Public Health Services to support abolitionist visions and campaigns.
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