Scared Stiff: Program For Young Would-Be Murderers
by Mortuary Transport Expert ~ April 21st, 2008. Filed under: Business Ideas, Funeral Homes In The News.I referred to this program in an earlier post. This would be good anywhere there’s a problem, and I know Larry Gray would be glad to assist any way possible, as he lives and breathes the concept.
Let the young people see what the gang lifestyle is ‘producing’, or actually destroying. I picked up a few kids at the Medical Examiner who’d been shot, some by complete strangers who just wanted to shoot someone. It was very sad every time. The program was documented on KGO last year.
Let him know you heard about it from me, though he might not remember me anymore since it was over two years ago since I was down there. I’m still a supporter, though.
I tried to hire a couple guys from the Midnight Basketball program who’d graduated from High School and needed job experience. Only had one guy that worked out kinda, which all fizzled away because of so much drama with the mother of his children distracting him from being available for house calls.
Comunity leaders have gotten together to design a program targeting the very people who are most often targets of the violence.
The program is called Scared Stiff — as in dead bodies. The setting is Bryant’s Mortuary in San Francisco. The talk is graphic. Organizers say they want teenagers to realize death is not a video game.
Teenagers from schools, churches and neighborhood programs have been brought here as part of the Midnight Basketball Program.
Lawrence Gray, Midnight Basketball: “Under Midnight Basketball, health is one of our components and gun violence is a mental health issue.”
There is no real body for the kids to stare at, but what they do see and hear from embalmer Bruce Williams is pretty brutal.
Bruce Williams, Bryant Mortuary: “You are butt naked in front of me, cut open wide. Think about that.”
He was one of several people on a panel, including a paramedic, a preacher and a parent who hope that by sharing the real deal of deadly gun violence, it will make a difference. Most in the room raised their hands when asked if they knew a victim.Ronnita Hamlet, age 16: “I’ve seen a boy just laying there on the ground shot before. It does make you think.”
According to SFPD Lt. Con Johnson, the vast majority of the homicides are so-called black on black crimes.
Lt. Con Johnson, SFPD: “2006 — you don’t have to worry about the Ku Klux Klan and the hoods. You guys ain’t hearing what I’m talking about. You don’t have to worry about the Ku Klux Klans and the white hoods, this is the cold part about it — your enemy is a black man wearing a hoodie.”Harvey Ducksworth, age 16: “It’s actually kind of scary because they all my age. It could happen to anybody. It could happen to me.”
It happened to Slyvia Britt Raven’s relatives. Two shot dead in the first six days of this month.
Sylvia Britt Ravens: “I don’t know what it’s gonna take. I don’t know if we need military, armed trucks riding through here. I don’t know.”
And neither do the kids. They said the messages and the trip to the mortuary opened their eyes, but some feel hopeless about what’s going on around them.
Alexis Williams, age 15: “I just don’t want it to be me or none of my family.
Norsheequa Del Campo, age 16: “And how other people be feeling about seeing some of their family members just dead.”
So what is the solution? This young man offers one suggestion – afterschool activities.
Anthony Travis, age 16: “I’ll try to go back to school tomorrow and ask some of my teachers, ‘Can we open up more programs?”
This is expected to be more than just a one-time thing. Organizers are hoping to take this presentation to high schools throughout the Bay Area.
