Supporting our community affected by tragic loss

Note: This letter originally appeared as an e-mail sent to the Hopkins community on Thursday September 28, 2023.

Dear Johns Hopkins Community,

We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Pava LaPere, a 2019 graduate of the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences, who made Baltimore her home and invested her talent in our city. Our hearts are with her family, friends, and Ecomap co-workers, and with all who may have had the privilege of knowing her. We witnessed how this loss is felt by many in our community during last night’s vigil.

Although this tragedy did not occur on a Johns Hopkins campus, we have been in communication with the Baltimore Police Department throughout its investigation and are providing support services to our students, staff, alumni, and neighbors.

We take very seriously your safety and well-being. If ever there is cause for heightened alert, we will notify the community immediately via our Rave alert system, which we encourage you to sign up for here.

To support our community during this difficult time, we include below the resources that are available to all JHU students, faculty, and staff. These resources are here for you now and at any time, and we hope you will reach out to avail yourself of them as needed and encourage your classmates and colleagues to do the same.

Mental Health Resources

• Student Mental Health Services: JHU students seeking support through Student Mental Health Services can refer to https://wellbeing.jhu.edu/.
• Behavioral Health Crisis Support Team: To initiate an in-person mobile crisis response for yourself or someone you are concerned about, call the Behavioral Health Crisis Support Team (BHCST) access line at 410-516-9355, available 24/7, 365 days a year. Telephone consultation with BHCST is available to students, faculty, and staff in Washington, D.C.
• Employee Assistance Program: Faculty and staff can call the Johns Hopkins Employee Assistance Program (JHEAP) at 888-978-1262, for free, confidential help and referrals for emotional or mental health concerns you may have.

Public Safety Resources

• Daytime Shuttle Service: JHU operates a shuttle service to connect different areas of our campuses. You can review the schedules for all shuttles here. For questions regarding bus timing and tracking for the Homewood – Peabody – JHMI shuttle, in particular, call the dispatch line at 410-391-8700, option #3.
• Blue Jay Shuttles: To make ride requests and track the shuttle vans, go to ondemand.transloc.com. TransLoc’s free app is available at transloc.com/app. Dispatchers are available during operating hours at 410-516-8700.
• Blue Jay Night Ride: Blue Jay Night Ride is an on-demand, curb-to-curb service to and from locations within the designated service area. Ride requests are accepted beginning at 6 p.m. and honored until 2 a.m. To request a ride and track your van, download the TransLoc app, visit https://ondemand.transloc.com, or call 410-516-8700.
• LiveSafe App: JHU offers LiveSafe, a free mobile app that provides real-time, two-way communication 24/7 between Public Safety and members of the JHU community when they are on campus.
• Lyft Rideshare: Dispatchers may transfer a pending ride from a Blue Jay Shuttle to Lyft during peak service hours. A Lyft driver will be sent directly by the dispatcher—riders do not need to call Lyft, use the Lyft app, or pay. Riders will be notified by text message when their Lyft vehicle arrives. Passengers are encouraged to verify that the vehicle they are about to enter is the one described in the text message.
• Public Security Escort: Call 410-516-4600 for a walking or vehicle escort on or around campus.
• RAVE Alerts: Sign up for RAVE alerts, an emergency text message system that immediately broadcasts emergency information to subscribers.
• Blue Lights: Emergency blue lights are installed around campus to get you an immediate police officer response if you are in an emergency or feel concerned for your personal safety.

In addition to the resources above, please visit the Public Safety website for more information.

Please continue to keep yourselves and each other safe.

Sincerely,

Branville G. Bard Jr.
Vice President for Public Safety

Rachelle Hernandez
Vice Provost for Student Affairs

Kevin G. Shollenberger
Vice Provost for Student Health and Well-Being