photo by: Contributed

Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health is located at 200 Maine St.

Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health will host the first of several events throughout the year for the community to learn about public health data on violence and firearm injuries.

The event, Public Health After Dark, will be held from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 27 at the Lawrence Public Library, 707 Vermont St. The series of events provide an opportunity for Douglas County residents to learn more about various public health related topics in a casual and community-oriented environment, according to a press release.

This month’s Public Health After Dark will focus on violence in the county. Dee Kinard, Informatics Manager at Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health, will share preliminary public health data on violence and firearm injuries.

Additionally, there will be a panel of community members, including Lawrence Police Chief Rich Lockhart, Douglas County Undersheriff Stacy Simmons, Principal Bill DeWitt from Eudora High School, and researcher Jomella Watson-Thompson from the University of Kansas will share their perspectives and data on violence in the county and ways to address and prevent violence.

The event is free and open to the public. There will also be light refreshments served. Registration to the event is requested, but not required. People can register on LDCPH’s website at https://bit.ly/3X8P6eX by March 20, 2025.