The Museum of Drug Policy is a pop­up cultural hub that includes an immersive art experience and special live programming looking at the impact of current drug policies on populations around the world. The Museum will occupy space on Park Avenue for three days this month, during the United Nations General Assembly’s Special Session (UNGASS) on the world drug problem. Through art, conversations and experiential events, the Museum will showcase that the moment is now for drug policy reform and that damage caused by the war on drugs is evident across the world. The Museum will uplift the voices of people most impacted by the global drug policy: people who use drugs, crop growers, people who are incarcerated, people who have saved lives or lost loved ones to drug overdose, people on death row for drug offenses, doctors who can’t prescribe adequate pain relief to their patients, and other voices of the international drug policy reform movement.

Schedule

DAY 1 ­ TUESDAY, APRIL 19

11:00 AM: DOORS OPEN

1:00 PM: LUNCH TALK: A MOTHER’S LOSS
A MOTHER’S LOSS is a conversation between mothers from around the world who all share the same bond of losing their child. Joining us in this conversation will be:

• Denise Cullen: The United States
• Anne Marie Cockburn: The United Kingdom
• Karen Garrison: The United States
• Maricela Orozco: Mexico
• Grace: Philippines
• MODERATOR: Gretchen Bergman – Co­Founder & Executive Director, A New PATH

2:30PM: COFFEE BREAK

3:00PM SOUTHERN STORIES: GLOBAL AND DOMESTIC DRUG POLICY WITH A SPECIAL MUSIC PERFORMANCE BY IMANI UZURI
An exploration of how international drug policy has led to public health crises, mass incarceration, corruption, and black market–fueled violence.

Panelists include:

• Deon Haywood: Executive Director of Women with a Vision
• Pastor Kenneth Glasgow: Executive Director Of The Ordinary People Society
• Adeolu Ogunrombi: Project Coordinator of YouthRISE Nigeria and West African Countries

5:00 PM: OPENING RECEPTION
Join us for wine, music are opening remarks from:

• Kasia Malinowska: Director of the Open Society Global Drug Policy Program
• Pedro Arenas: Director of the Observatory on Growers and Crops Declared Illicit, Colombia
• Alyssa Aguilera: Co­Executive Director of Voices Of Community Activists & Leaders

6:30PM: LIVE PERFORMANCE FROM GRAMMY AWARD NOMINATED JOHN FORTÉ
John Forté is a Grammy­nominated American recording artist, composer, music producer, educator and activist. He achieved fame while writing, producing and performing with the celebrated hip hop group The Fugees during the 1990s, and has released four solo albums. In 2008, John was one of 14 people pardoned by President Bush. He had been serving a sentence of 14 years in prison since 2001, after being found guilty of possession of drugs with intent to distribute.

7:00PM: #NERDLANDFOREVER: LIVE WITH MELISSA HARRIS­PERRY
#NerdlandForever: Live With Melissa Harris­Perry will be a two hour show with over 15 guests including: Glenn Martin, Edo Nasution, Rev. Vivian Nixon, Piper Kerman, Vicky Hansen, Eduardo Ribero, Dr. Cal Hart, Jonathan Metzel, Kemba Smith and many other international voices. Modeled off of her hit television show, in front of a live audience, Melissa Harris­Perry will explore the issues of global drug policy, human rights, harm reduction and access to controlled medicines.

9:30PM: DOORS CLOSE

DAY 2 ­ WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20

11:00 AM: DOORS OPEN

1:00 PM: LUNCH TALK WITH AUTHORS ON THE ISSUES
Critically acclaimed authors join together on the museum stage to discuss their work on writing about the impact of drug policy. The authors include:

• Maia Szalavitz: Author of Help at Any Cost: How the Troubled­Teen Industry Cons Parents and Hurts Kids"
• Baz Dreisinger: Author of Incarceration Nations: A Journey to Justice in Prisons Around the World

2:30 PM: COFFEE BREAK

3:00 PM: GROWTH AND SUSTAINABILITY
A conversation around the opportunity to put an end to the horrors of the drug war and instead prioritize health, human rights, and safety. Please join:

• Vicki Hanson: Jamaica:Ganja (Future) Growers and Producers Association
• Lorenzo Jones: Co­founder and co­director of the Katal Center for Health, Equity, and Justice

5:00 PM: PANEL ON FAITH LEADERS AND THEIR COMMITMENT TO REFORMING DRUG POLICY
Discussion on the intersection of faith and drug policy with distinguished faith leaders. The panelists will be announced soon.

7:00PM: SCREENING OF 2016 ACADEMY AWARD NOMINATED “CARTEL LAND” WITH Q & A WITH MATTHEW HEINEMAN
With unprecedented access, CARTEL LAND is a riveting, on­the­ground look at the journeys of two modern­day vigilante groups and their shared enemy – the murderous Mexican drug cartels.

In the Mexican state of Michoacán, Dr. Jose Mireles, a small­town physician known as "El Doctor," leads the Autodefensas, a citizen uprising against the violent Knights Templar drug cartel that has wreaked havoc on the region for years. Meanwhile, in Arizona's Altar Valley – a narrow, 52­mile­long desert corridor known as Cocaine Alley – Tim "Nailer" Foley, an American veteran, heads a small paramilitary group called Arizona Border Recon, whose goal is to stop Mexico’s drug wars from seeping across our border.

Filmmaker Matthew Heineman embeds himself in the heart of darkness as Nailer, El Doctor, and the cartel each vie to bring their own brand of justice to a society where institutions have failed. (Running Time: 100 mins)

9:30PM: DOORS CLOSE

DAY 3 ­ THURSDAY, APRIL 21

11:00 AM: DOORS OPEN

1:00 PM: LUNCH TALK: A NEW APPROACH
Global drug policy experts focus on stories of healing and strategy around harm reduction. The conversation will include:

• Eduardo Ribeiro: Brazilian Black Initiative for A New Drug Policy
• Martin Collazo: Proderechos
• Donald Macpherson: Author of Vancouver’s Four Pillars Drug Strategy
• Gloria Lai: IDPC Senior Policy Officer
• MODERATOR: Gabriel Sayegh

2:30PM: COFFEE BREAK

3:00PM: HOW TO ACHIEVE HARM REDUCTION
Experts join together to discuss policies and practices that advance the health and human rights of people who use drugs. On the stage, we will hear from:

• Liz Evans: co­founder and former executive director of the PHS Community Services Society.
• Dr. Khuat Thi Hai Oanh: Founder and Executive Director of the Centre for Supporting Community Development Initiatives.
• Simon Beddoe: Senior Advocacy Officer: Drug Use & Harm Reduction
• MODERATOR: Daniel Wolfe –Director of the International Harm Reduction Development Program at the Open Society Foundations

7:00PM: BEATS, RHYMES AND REFORM FEAT. RUSSELL SIMMONS AND HOSTED BY ANGIE MARTINEZ
This curated spoken word night is dedicated to a poetic expression of how the time is now for reform. We will uplift the voices of people most impacted by the war on drugs. The poets who will rock the mic, include: Carlos Gomez, Jasiri X, Liza Jessie Peterson, Mahogany Browne and muMs. After the performances, the night will continue with beats provided by DJ Reborn.

9:30PM: DOORS CLOSE

Keep up-to-date with drug policy developments by subscribing to the IDPC Monthly Alert.