Over the years, Tyesha Harrell has heard the staccato pop of gunshots, seen the blood-stained sidewalks, and too often heard the wails of grief-stricken mothers whose sons and daughters have succumbed to violence.

"We lost six people yesterday," said the resident of Gilmor Homes, a public housing project in West Baltimore where Freddie Gray was arrested in April 2015, before later dying in police custody.

Yet amid the pain, Harrell, an activist with the citizen's advocacy group, Communities United, is determined to help change conditions for the better. And recently, she heard some good news.

Baltimore, joined by seven other municipalities nationwide, will receive nearly $10 million dollars from the Obama Administration to promote community healing.

"I know I'm not Wonder Woman, but it makes me feel like Wonder Woman," said Harrell.

On Thursday, Dr. Wen was invited to Annapolis by Delegate Glenn to speak on behalf of the Baltimore City Health Department at the Black Caucus’ first-ever public hearing. While there, she spoke about some of the major issues faced by the black community in Baltimore City. One of the most important issues for legislation in the upcoming session will be related to the opioid epidemic, in particular heroin, because it has a disproportionate negative impact on our black communities. 

On Wednesday afternoon, Dr. Wen joined former Baltimore City Health Commissioner Peter Beilenson’s class at Johns Hopkins University to discuss public health in Baltimore City. Dr. Wen captivated students while discussing the various roles and functions of BCHD, including restaurant inspections and animal control, as well as elaborated about the larger health issues facing the city: food and nutrition, opioid overdose, and HIV. During the conversation about opioid overdose and its prevention, Dr. Wen discussed one of the major problems in public health today, which is the severe lack of funding. She said that one of her greatest battles in this field is ensuring that these issues have a “seat at the table” and are constantly being made known to the public and legislators. She reminded the students that this is so crucial in the field because “your life is saved by public health every day, you just don’t know about it.”

BALTIMORE - Once a month, a team of high-level officials looks at every overdose fatality and the path that each individual took that led to death.

The Baltimore Overdose Fatality Review Team's goal: Identify missed opportunities for prevention, gaps in the system and areas for increased collaboration.

"We have high-level representatives from police, fire, health, behavioral health, SUD (substance use disorders) providers, the coroner's office parole and probation, hospital emergency departments, social services, pharmacy, office of the public defender, states attorney’s office, Maryland Poison Control, and our chief medical officer," said Adrienne Breidenstine, spokeswoman for Behavioral Health System Baltimore.