i'm jennifer vai a fellow with the metro program and i was asked or at least i think i was asked to open our session today for two reasons, first, because of my almost 14 years here at brooksings i have focused my research and policy development efforts on how cities and metro areas particularly older industrial areas in the northeast and midwest can revitalize their neighborhoods and grow their regional economies. that work includes research that i did several years ago the focused on greater baltimore's economy and strategies for better connecting low income residents to quality jobs. the second reason i was asked to provide opening comments is because i live in baltimore. these two things combined give me both a professional and personal perspective on the events that occurred in baltimore over the past several weeks. in my professional capacity at brooksings i together with several of my colleagues, have been trying to understand the circumstances and the conditions in which the protests and riots took place and put them in a broader regional and national context. it is by now well k