Morgan state hosts inaugural Intimate Partner Violence Symposium

By Alexis LaRue
AFRO Intern
alarue@afro.com

Morgan State University’s Center for Urban Violence and Crime Reduction hosted its inaugural Intimate Partner Violence Symposium on March 24. The event served as a platform for experts, advocates and survivors to address the issue of domestic violence, share solutions and offer resources as a way of prevention. 

Attendees gained valuable insights from the data on intimate partner violence (IPV) and personal accounts from victims. Discussion ranged from comparing the impact of IPV on the Black community to the influence of themes present in modern music. Crucially, participants left the event equipped with the necessary resources to navigate an intimate partner violence situation, should they ever encounter one.

Nadine Finigan-Carr Black, who serves as executive director of the UMB Center for Violence Prevention, was keynote speaker for the event. She spoke to the fact that women face a rate of intimate partner violence resulting in death that is three times higher than other groups.

 “Just about 45 percent of us [Black women] have experienced intimate partner violence,” said Finigan-Carr. “Black women have had to withstand abuse at the hands of the men they loved for generations, and there were no prevention methods during certain time periods.” 

Of the approximately 237 people in Maryland who died in 2025 from intimate partner violence, as recorded by Maryland’s Network against Domestic Violence, Black women make up 52 percent of the victims in Maryland alone. 

Anna McPhatter, the founding dean of Morgan State University’s School of Social Work, highlighted why it is important to have discussions around sensitive topics like abuse.

“Domestic violence and intimate partner violence are not just private matters,” said McPhatter. “They are public health crises, human rights concerns and social justice issues that demand our collective attention.”

A panel discussion brought together professors, department chairs and researchers to explore various pathways, prevention methods and policies that would provide all individuals – not just women – with the necessary tools and resources to combat intimate partner violence.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “IPV can include any of the following types of behavior: 

• Physical violence is when a person hurts or tries to hurt a partner by using physical force.
• Sexual violence is forcing or attempting to force a partner to take part in a sex act, sexual touching, or a non-physical sexual event (e.g., sexting) when the partner does not or cannot consent.
• Stalking is a pattern of repeated, unwanted attention and contact by a partner that causes fear or concern for one’s own safety or the safety of someone close to the victim.
• Psychological aggression is the use of verbal and non-verbal communication with the intent to harm a partner mentally or emotionally or to exert control over a partner.” 

The CDC reports that “In their lifetimes, nearly 1 in 3 women and about 1 in 8 men experienced contact sexual violence, physical violence, and/or stalking and at least one related impact. Some impacts included physical injury, missing work or school, safety concerns, medical care needs, and filing a police report.” 

Prevention measures can range from social-emotional programming for youth, with a focus on teaching healthy relationships, to creating environments built to protect those at risk.  The CDC recommends that leaders “disrupt the developmental pathways toward partner violence” with “early childhood home visitation; preschool enrichment with family engagement; parenting skill and family relationship programs and treatment for at-risk children, youth and families.”

At Morgan State’s conference on IPV, several organizations were mentioned as resources for those who have experienced a domestic violence situation tied to intimate partner violence (IPV), including House of Ruth Maryland and the Baltimore Mayor’s Office of Neighbourhood Safety and Engagement. Attendees had the opportunity, after the panel discussions, to connect with and speak to several of these organizations to learn about prevention methods and the resources available to assist with intimate partner violence.

If you are experiencing domestic or intimate partner violence, help is available via the National Domestic Violence Hotline. Call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), visit thehotline.org or text the word “START” to 88788. If in Maryland, you can also dial #211 to receive information on available resources to address everything from domestic violence to employment, legal services, mental health, reentry and more. 

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