GSJ: Break The Cycle

Thursday, May 22nd, 7-9 pm

In-Person and Streaming

Location: Wild Heaven West End, 1010 White St SW, Atlanta, GA 30310

Featured Speaker: Break The Cycle Speakers –

• Dr. Leslie Ruben
• Kevin Li

The Annual Break the Cycle of Children’s Environmental Health Disparities Program (BTC) supports an interdisciplinary set of student-driven research projects that explore the social, economic, and environmental factors that adversely affect children’s health and well-being and generate creative strategies to mitigate or reverse those adverse factors and provide the children with greater opportunities for a healthier, more secure, and brighter future for themselves and for their children. Students who are selected to participate in the annual program are required to complete their projects, present their work at our annual conference, and write manuscripts on their projects for publication.

Since its inception in 2004, Break the Cycle (BTC) has partnered with over 80 university departments across 21 States in the US, as well as from 6 countries in Latin America and 2 countries in Africa, and has supported research for over 200 trainees. Annual BTC trainee projects are published in international journals and a book series on public health.  Alumni of the BTC program rate their mentored research experiences highly and many pursue careers related to their Break the Cycle projects.

Speaker Name: Kevin Li

Speaker Bio:

Kevin Li is a senior at Emory University pursuing a major in Chemistry and a minor in Comparative Literature. He co-leads Sprouting Readers, an after-school literacy program serving disadvantaged communities in Atlanta. Working alongside Eva, Mica, and Janet, Kevin helps integrate reading with STEAM activities, nutrition education, and environmental awareness. The program, established by Joan Wilson, takes a holistic approach to childhood development, aiming to improve not only reading skills but also health literacy and long-term wellness outcomes. Inspired by his work with Sprouting Readers, Kevin plans to attend medical school and explore how narrative medicine can help address systemic health disparities.