TRANSCRIPT 🔗
WEBVTT
00:00:00.100 --> 00:00:05.591
Today we have Ms Monica Atkins, the CEO of Stop the Violence 757, on with us.
00:00:05.591 --> 00:00:06.573
How are you today?
00:00:06.573 --> 00:00:09.624
I'm good, I'm great, we're delighted to have you on.
00:00:09.624 --> 00:00:11.228
Thank you, we appreciate you.
00:00:11.228 --> 00:00:12.340
Thank you, monica.
00:00:12.340 --> 00:00:23.231
Here at MMB Media TV, we love to jump right into our interviews, to have those genuine conversations with genuine people just like yourself, who are moving the needle in our culture to make a difference.
00:00:23.231 --> 00:00:25.969
So, thanks again, you're welcome, absolutely.
00:00:25.969 --> 00:00:30.672
So we love to jump right in to these interviews by asking this question when did you grow up?
00:00:31.359 --> 00:00:35.048
I grew up right here in the city of Portsmouth, in an area called Newtown.
00:00:35.270 --> 00:00:35.750
Newtown.
00:00:35.750 --> 00:00:36.692
Yes, what's Newtown?
00:00:37.939 --> 00:00:45.182
Newtown is family, newtown is discipline, newtown is fun and Newtown is childhood.
00:00:45.182 --> 00:00:46.628
Newtown is fun and Newtown is childhood.
00:00:47.009 --> 00:00:48.816
Wow, a lot of good memories.
00:00:49.200 --> 00:00:50.265
A lot of good memories, yes, wow.
00:00:52.945 --> 00:00:55.110
What's the greatest memory that you have about Newtown?
00:00:56.079 --> 00:01:01.692
Being able to go to the fire hydrant and get wet because we didn't have a pool.
00:01:01.692 --> 00:01:05.631
So you know they used to cut the fire hydrant on when we was little.
00:01:05.631 --> 00:01:08.969
We can just run through the water and just get wet and enjoy one another.
00:01:09.040 --> 00:01:10.284
So a lot of fun back then.
00:01:10.284 --> 00:01:11.509
Yes, lots of fun.
00:01:11.509 --> 00:01:13.787
Did you have to be in the house when the streetlights came on?
00:01:14.140 --> 00:01:22.344
Oh, when the 9 o'clock bomb came on, we had to be in the house, yeah, yes, all of us had been through that.
00:01:23.707 --> 00:01:26.192
You could go back to talk to your 15-year-old self.
00:01:26.192 --> 00:01:27.281
What would you tell her?
00:01:27.281 --> 00:01:31.091
You know about preparing herself for now?
00:01:35.701 --> 00:01:36.867
When I was 15.
00:01:36.867 --> 00:01:47.912
Safe sex Never heard nobody answer like that Safe sex safe sex never heard.
00:01:47.932 --> 00:01:50.376
Nobody ask it like that safe sex, why you say that?
00:01:51.221 --> 00:01:58.927
because I had my first child at 13, got you and reflected back on my life.
00:01:58.927 --> 00:02:12.394
Now I don't regret it because I had a support system, which my son will be 40 in two years and I'm able to grow with him and I love it.
00:02:12.394 --> 00:02:22.868
And I had a village, but now, when you look at 15 year olds in this day and time, they don't have villages anymore because the villages are trying to be their siblings or friends.
00:02:22.868 --> 00:02:26.783
No, because the villages are trying to be their siblings or friends.
00:02:26.783 --> 00:02:31.707
Yes, and we need more structure in the 15-year-old lives today.
00:02:31.707 --> 00:02:33.187
Wow, wow.
00:02:33.939 --> 00:02:35.387
Never heard nobody answer that like that.
00:02:35.387 --> 00:02:39.766
In terms of having safe sex, yes, that's what you would tell your younger self.
00:02:39.919 --> 00:02:40.522
Most definitely.
00:02:40.643 --> 00:02:41.526
Wow, wow.
00:02:41.526 --> 00:02:43.667
You never know who's listening, never know.
00:02:43.667 --> 00:02:48.301
It's been 10 years since you started.
00:02:48.301 --> 00:02:50.165
Stop the Violence 757.
00:02:50.165 --> 00:02:52.790
Let's talk about why did it start.
00:02:52.790 --> 00:02:56.367
As a matter of fact, december 5th right Marks the anniversary.
00:02:56.367 --> 00:02:58.435
Yes, December 5th, so it's been 10 years.
00:02:58.435 --> 00:03:00.061
So where did it all come from?
00:03:01.782 --> 00:03:05.367
So I actually started in 2013.
00:03:05.367 --> 00:03:09.193
My cousinon turner was murdered in london oats.
00:03:09.193 --> 00:03:15.953
Um, some individuals tried to rob the house and he was in his sleep, so he really never had a chance.
00:03:15.953 --> 00:03:28.945
So, um, I was a part of a call to action where me and, uh, maybe 80 individuals linked up at norcom high school to try to combat this violence thing that was starting to escalate.
00:03:28.945 --> 00:03:30.193
This was before Stop the Violence.
00:03:30.193 --> 00:03:31.425
This was before Stop the Violence.
00:03:31.425 --> 00:03:35.687
Yes, so the name of this thing that we was doing was just called Stopping the Violence.
00:03:35.687 --> 00:03:43.344
Again, it was just a call to action and you know, in this circle, you know we had a prayer circle.
00:03:43.806 --> 00:04:04.332
My son is standing in that circle, my son at the age of 25, he didn't really have to show up, but he did, you know, because he knew the impact of being family and the impact of Aaron being his cousin, how he wanted to be present, not knowing that, following year, my son was going to be a product of what I was showing up for.
00:04:04.332 --> 00:04:09.044
Following year, my son was going to be a product of what I was showing up for.
00:04:09.044 --> 00:04:10.828
So me, being the individual that I am, I can only speak for myself.
00:04:10.828 --> 00:04:12.211
My children was my world.
00:04:12.211 --> 00:04:15.361
You know um losing my mom at 17.
00:04:15.361 --> 00:04:20.252
I always said that my kids would never want for anything and I made sure that.
00:04:20.252 --> 00:04:26.291
So you know I just felt like they messed with the wrong child, because that was my baby.
00:04:28.021 --> 00:04:29.767
You say you lost your mom at 17.
00:04:29.767 --> 00:04:35.105
Yes, how did that impact you back then, being young?
00:04:39.673 --> 00:04:43.029
So it is.
00:04:43.029 --> 00:04:47.160
It's a little emotional because.
00:04:49.726 --> 00:04:54.209
I'm always
Load full transcript
talking about my son when people just don't know.
00:04:54.209 --> 00:04:58.168
I have suffered layers of trauma losing my mom, losing my dad.
00:04:58.168 --> 00:05:04.139
But, um, so I lost my mama at 17, my senior year in school.
00:05:04.139 --> 00:05:05.505
I was an honor student.
00:05:05.505 --> 00:05:08.151
Honor student all through school.
00:05:08.151 --> 00:05:09.605
I dropped out.
00:05:12.139 --> 00:05:13.646
You know I had issues with my family.
00:05:13.646 --> 00:05:18.250
You know, like I said at 16, I had already had two kids.
00:05:18.250 --> 00:05:31.134
So I felt, like you know, with my aunt having custody of me, they wanted to restructure things that I had already was what they had became a norm when my mama was living.
00:05:31.134 --> 00:05:38.317
So they tried to change that and I felt like it was too late to try to change things that I was already doing when my mama was living.
00:05:38.317 --> 00:05:41.028
So I ended up living from house to house.
00:05:41.028 --> 00:05:47.319
You know, living from house to house.
00:05:47.319 --> 00:05:54.843
You know, I eventually went back to night school, got my GED and I always just been an entrepreneur, you know.
00:05:54.843 --> 00:06:01.189
So being an entrepreneur, being very popular in the community, you know I was really able to thrive out here, you know.
00:06:01.189 --> 00:06:03.466
I mean I really didn't have to struggle.
00:06:03.788 --> 00:06:05.607
Wow, because you always had that mindset yes, I'm going, I really didn't have to struggle.
00:06:05.607 --> 00:06:07.244
Wow, you always had that mindset yes, I'm going to make it.
00:06:07.244 --> 00:06:09.107
Yes, wow, wow.
00:06:09.107 --> 00:06:12.553
So, going back to the question stop the violence.
00:06:12.553 --> 00:06:14.427
You said it originated 10 years ago.
00:06:14.427 --> 00:06:22.432
Yes, and your son was in the midst of a of a movement that you were doing, not knowing the following year that he was going to be murdered, wow.
00:06:22.432 --> 00:06:26.190
So talk about stop the Violence that originated from that.
00:06:28.641 --> 00:06:31.605
Again, you know 2013,.
00:06:31.605 --> 00:06:32.790
It was all these individuals.
00:06:32.790 --> 00:06:35.204
I'm a firm believer.
00:06:35.204 --> 00:06:40.581
I say this all the time Everybody want to be on the bus until they see the work behind the scene.
00:06:40.581 --> 00:06:47.206
Talk about that, but when you don't want to be committed to what you say you're going to do, you eventually drop off.
00:06:47.206 --> 00:06:55.927
Your heart is not in it and from maybe over 50 some people, it ended up to three individuals and them three individuals.
00:06:55.927 --> 00:07:00.208
They stood with me through the hardest times and now you know.
00:07:00.208 --> 00:07:06.343
I'm grateful because you know look at Stop the Violence today, 10 years strong, but not even that.
00:07:06.343 --> 00:07:13.572
From that first year, everything that we said that we would do, we continued to do them for 10 straight years.
00:07:13.572 --> 00:07:17.336
We was committed, Wow, Consistent, Consistent, yeah, Dedicated.
00:07:17.336 --> 00:07:19.399
It takes that, yeah, yes, yeah, everything.
00:07:19.399 --> 00:07:23.485
And the only time you can do that is you're passionate about it.
00:07:23.485 --> 00:07:25.288
And not even that.
00:07:25.288 --> 00:07:28.954
I didn't want another parent to go through what I went through.
00:07:31.721 --> 00:07:38.949
So what would you tell a parent who has lost a child right now, who you see going through what you went through back then?
00:07:41.062 --> 00:07:42.290
I see parents suffering all the time.
00:07:42.350 --> 00:07:42.934
All the time.
00:07:43.800 --> 00:07:44.603
On the inside.
00:07:44.603 --> 00:07:46.088
They got to talk about it.
00:07:46.088 --> 00:07:57.586
You have to talk about it, not even that Some parents may think that the only way that they can survive is getting justice.
00:07:57.586 --> 00:08:00.663
I'm 10 years now and I still don't have justice.
00:08:00.663 --> 00:08:02.764
Wow, but I know karma is real.
00:08:02.764 --> 00:08:13.944
Right, I know God going to continue to fight my battles, because a lot of times people don't know that karma can live and come back to hunt us through our children, through their children's children.
00:08:13.944 --> 00:08:16.903
So I always sit back because I know God is real.
00:08:18.235 --> 00:08:28.877
So communication talking about it, yes, yeah, getting some help, because holding that pain in you could die eternally and bring on sickness, a broken heart.
00:08:28.997 --> 00:08:35.655
Yes, my son's father died six months after him, and I believe it was from a broken heart.
00:08:37.457 --> 00:08:47.831
Wow, I never heard that before until I had a conversation with someone that said that you can die from a broken heart because you had so much love for that individual.
00:08:47.831 --> 00:08:49.181
And I never heard that before.
00:08:49.595 --> 00:08:50.659
But not even that too.
00:08:50.659 --> 00:08:57.543
I had to learn this too, because God said don't love nobody more than you.
00:08:57.543 --> 00:09:01.727
Love me, mm, mm, you love me.
00:09:01.727 --> 00:09:08.128
I love my son so much, so much, so much.
00:09:08.128 --> 00:09:16.927
So in the midst of me losing my son, my daughter had a baby, my son.
00:09:16.927 --> 00:09:24.089
When I needed a babysitter, my daughter, my son, used to come home and babysit for me right.
00:09:24.089 --> 00:09:34.570
So when I lost my son, it's like that same love that I was pouring into him I could pour it into my granddaddy.
00:09:34.570 --> 00:09:47.177
So I kept my daughter's baby for maybe the straight five years and I just went cold turkey and stopped keeping her Because I wanted God to keep her.
00:09:48.721 --> 00:09:51.327
Wow, wow, that's deep man.
00:09:51.327 --> 00:09:58.303
People don't understand the impact of, I guess, young people taking someone's help, someone's
life.
00:09:58.303 --> 00:10:01.826
They don't know the impact that it has on the other person's family.
00:10:01.826 --> 00:10:05.259
You know, to me, yes, it's a, it's a lot.
00:10:05.318 --> 00:10:10.014
You know, just even now me checking my emails from my website.
00:10:10.014 --> 00:10:15.283
You know people all over the 757 reaches out to me.
00:10:15.283 --> 00:10:21.644
You know their kids are being slain in the streets, just being shot at while driving.
00:10:21.644 --> 00:10:24.245
You know we really got to come together.
00:10:24.245 --> 00:10:27.864
You know we done lost so many young men, we losing the women.
00:10:27.864 --> 00:10:32.561
You know I mean enough is enough, enough is enough.
00:10:32.561 --> 00:10:36.842
What more has to be done for people to come together?
00:10:39.515 --> 00:10:41.703
As I always say, you never know who's listening.
00:10:41.703 --> 00:10:48.203
I know you have stopped the violence, but how do you cope with that loss of a loved one?
00:10:48.203 --> 00:10:49.587
Outside of that, what do you do?
00:10:49.587 --> 00:10:52.764
Because I know it has to be other activities that you have to do.
00:10:53.255 --> 00:10:56.645
So for me I am very engaged, right.
00:10:56.645 --> 00:11:02.357
So I worked for the Up Center Six years.
00:11:02.357 --> 00:11:03.383
I interned there.
00:11:03.383 --> 00:11:07.399
You know they was pleased with my work and you know my supervisor.
00:11:07.399 --> 00:11:11.585
You know she was like Monica if a job opening ever come up it's yours.
00:11:11.585 --> 00:11:17.705
And I ran into her four years later and she said I have an opening, if you want it, it's yours.
00:11:17.705 --> 00:11:19.480
And I proved myself opening.
00:11:19.480 --> 00:11:20.105
If you want it, it's yours.
00:11:20.105 --> 00:11:21.679
And I proved myself again.
00:11:21.679 --> 00:11:33.023
You know been there six years now, but not even that I facilitate two after school programs at schools I attended when I was young Brighton Elementary in Parkview.
00:11:33.023 --> 00:11:35.674
So you know things just came around full circle.
00:11:35.674 --> 00:11:43.328
I also I'm the facilitator through Bonds and Secours, kids and Grief.
00:11:44.815 --> 00:11:48.225
I have my own business where I'm a partner with me and my cousin and I.
00:11:48.225 --> 00:11:50.903
We started when it started the pandemic.
00:11:50.903 --> 00:11:52.962
You know it's called Atkins Yard Decor.
00:11:52.962 --> 00:11:56.498
I sell my own gravy, okay, and I make detox tea.
00:11:56.498 --> 00:11:57.344
So you know I am very entrepreneur.
00:11:57.344 --> 00:11:58.815
You know I gravy Okay, and I make detox tea.
00:11:58.815 --> 00:12:01.763
So you know I am very entrepreneur.
00:12:01.763 --> 00:12:04.335
You're not just Creative, not just creative.
00:12:04.335 --> 00:12:04.696
You know.
00:12:04.696 --> 00:12:05.697
I mean back in the days.
00:12:05.697 --> 00:12:14.024
You know I used to have all the big pool parties, all the big
block parties and things, but nevertheless that's my past, you know.
00:12:14.224 --> 00:12:20.859
Yeah, I got you so, but it stuck with you the entrepreneurship yes yes, you, you know, yeah, I got so but um, it stuck with you.
00:12:20.859 --> 00:12:22.566
Yes, yes, you gotta know how to chime it in and turn it into something else.
00:12:22.566 --> 00:12:22.846
You know, yeah.
00:12:22.846 --> 00:12:27.945
So I mean I'm very engaged in the community, very engaged, so you stay active always yes and not even that.
00:12:28.125 --> 00:12:38.916
Um, I was started a bike club called the pedal pushers, so you know, I have encouraged people during the pandemic to get up off the couch and to get outside and start riding the bikes.
00:12:38.916 --> 00:12:43.427
So I do have um partnerships with north of state.
00:12:43.427 --> 00:12:46.234
Um, I've did two bike rides with them.
00:12:46.234 --> 00:12:53.677
Okay, in the month of june, which is a national awareness day for gun violence, and I do bike ride for the city of portsmouth as well, wow.
00:12:53.758 --> 00:12:57.465
So get your bike, get on it and ride and get the movement.
00:12:57.465 --> 00:12:57.904
Yes, how moving.
00:12:57.904 --> 00:12:59.268
Yes, how often do you do those?
00:12:59.268 --> 00:13:00.210
When is the next one?
00:13:00.595 --> 00:13:01.556
So it'll be next year.
00:13:01.556 --> 00:13:04.139
It's the National Awareness Month, which is in June.
00:13:04.461 --> 00:13:04.860
Got you.
00:13:04.860 --> 00:13:09.211
So you think about People, think about why.
00:13:09.211 --> 00:13:09.913
You said why.
00:13:09.913 --> 00:13:13.912
What are some of the root causes Do you think gun violence come from?
00:13:13.912 --> 00:13:21.576
I know there's a lot of them, but what do you think the?
00:13:21.615 --> 00:13:31.052
main one is it could be food insecurities Got you, because sometimes you know people feel like they got to feed their families right and they want to go out here and take things by force.
00:13:31.052 --> 00:13:36.308
You know, survival, yeah, survival mode mode, but not even that too.
00:13:36.308 --> 00:13:51.975
We got to be careful how we converse with our kids or conversations that we have around them, because a lot of times too, kids can build up anger in them you know we got to stop telling these kids your father not nothing, your dad is your daddy's not nothing.
00:13:51.995 --> 00:14:00.455
Say we have an issue with somebody, certain conversations that we shouldn't have around kids, and not even that, setting the kids up for failure.
00:14:00.455 --> 00:14:04.649
We's buying these children all this expensive stuff when they're younger.
00:14:04.649 --> 00:14:09.072
Then, when they get older, they can't afford it and they feel like they're entitled to it.
00:14:09.072 --> 00:14:12.770
They want to take it, and not even that we need to correct children when they're entitled to it.
00:14:12.770 --> 00:14:13.432
You know they want to take it.
00:14:13.432 --> 00:14:15.965
You know, and not even that we need to correct children when they're wrong, not just correct them.
00:14:15.965 --> 00:14:31.506
Also, we need to listen to our children and I was always I'm convicted of that, you know, because my daughter I thank God for my daughter, because I never wanted to listen to stuff she had to say you know, I always thought I was right, yeah, I got you.
00:14:31.506 --> 00:14:33.312
And she was like mom, you have to listen to.
00:14:33.312 --> 00:14:34.996
You know, you got to hear my side of the story.
00:14:34.996 --> 00:14:36.428
So I'm a great listener.
00:14:36.428 --> 00:14:38.995
Now you know I need to listen, and not even that.
00:14:38.995 --> 00:14:41.087
Our tones.
00:14:41.931 --> 00:14:43.655
Yeah, we got to watch how you say it.
00:14:43.946 --> 00:14:53.534
It's how you say it yes, yes, and I can just be transparent, because when I grew up, my mother always yelled at me, always.
00:14:53.534 --> 00:15:00.917
And what I did when I raised my children I yelled at them and not even that you know.
00:15:00.917 --> 00:15:08.697
I reflect back when my mama used to yell at me for when I came back late from keeping my, you know, when she kept my children.
00:15:08.697 --> 00:15:21.693
So when my sister used to keep my kids, I was terrified to come back home because guess what that same yelling my mother used to do, my sister would do the same thing, you know.
00:15:21.693 --> 00:15:29.677
So you know I overcame that because, again, we got to be able to listen, we got to be able to listen, wow.
00:15:30.505 --> 00:15:36.508
What would you like to say to lawmakers or leaders who have the power to address gun violence?
00:15:36.508 --> 00:15:39.956
I know a lot of people run for office city council.
00:15:39.956 --> 00:15:43.128
What would you, what would you say to them if you had?
00:15:43.128 --> 00:15:44.671
You know that space and time?
00:15:46.833 --> 00:15:55.532
so I'm not into the politics okay I'm not into it, right, but we just got to be compassionate and real with one another.
00:15:55.532 --> 00:16:00.615
It's just so much lowball stuff that's going around here.
00:16:00.615 --> 00:16:03.133
It's happening in every city, you know.
00:16:03.133 --> 00:16:05.494
But stay true to yourself, you know.
00:16:05.494 --> 00:16:06.951
Stay true to who you are.
00:16:06.951 --> 00:16:09.111
Don't allow nobody to buy you.
00:16:09.111 --> 00:16:11.145
You know and stand on your word.
00:16:11.145 --> 00:16:12.485
What you say, mean it.
00:16:12.485 --> 00:16:13.767
Don't let nobody to buy you.
00:16:13.767 --> 00:16:15.067
You know and stand on your word.
00:16:15.067 --> 00:16:15.988
What you say, mean it.
00:16:15.988 --> 00:16:19.330
Don't let nobody change what you want to say or what you got to say.
00:16:19.330 --> 00:16:21.571
Don't let nobody put a price tag on what you want to say.
00:16:21.591 --> 00:16:22.451
Be authentic with who you are.
00:16:22.451 --> 00:16:23.032
I like it.
00:16:23.032 --> 00:16:23.751
I like it.
00:16:23.751 --> 00:16:26.133
You never know what room you'll be in in 2025.
00:16:26.133 --> 00:16:27.994
That's why I said it you never know.
00:16:28.715 --> 00:16:31.576
I mean, you never know, it's God's plan Absolutely.
00:16:31.615 --> 00:16:33.136
It's God's plan, absolutely.
00:16:33.136 --> 00:16:33.897
You never know.
00:16:33.897 --> 00:16:35.217
So you might get that.
00:16:35.217 --> 00:16:41.821
You know the microphone to share your heart with lawmakers and because of you, things will change.
00:16:41.821 --> 00:16:42.701
Yeah, they will.
00:16:42.701 --> 00:16:45.442
Wow, you're an amazing person, monica, thank you.
00:16:45.442 --> 00:16:54.519
Wow, with all that you've been through in life, what would you say about Monica Atkins today?
00:16:57.866 --> 00:17:02.870
I love who I am today, With all the trials and tribulations I had to go through.
00:17:02.870 --> 00:17:10.170
But through it all I got to give God the glory because God has kept me through all that I've been through.
00:17:10.170 --> 00:17:12.287
It's God that's keeping me.
00:17:12.528 --> 00:17:17.531
So you think you've grown, you've matured, Most definitely yes, I am not who I used to be.
00:17:17.531 --> 00:17:18.273
Wow.
00:17:18.273 --> 00:17:32.226
So how would you identify yourself today as a person in terms of being who you are, in terms of an entrepreneur and a family person?
00:17:32.226 --> 00:17:38.017
How would you present yourself today or say if somebody was to ask you about Monica Atkins being who you are in?
00:17:38.037 --> 00:17:39.038
terms of an entrepreneur and a family person.
00:17:39.038 --> 00:17:39.721
How would you present yourself?
00:17:39.740 --> 00:17:41.123
today, if somebody was to ask you about Monica Adkins.
00:17:41.143 --> 00:17:42.045
So for me, seeing me as love, okay.
00:17:42.404 --> 00:17:47.213
Because love is action and anybody that tell you they came across me.
00:17:47.213 --> 00:17:52.433
I'm a woman of my word and I show up for everybody.
00:17:52.433 --> 00:17:53.638
If I tell you I'm going to be there, I'm a woman of my word and I show up for everybody.
00:17:53.638 --> 00:17:56.974
If I tell you I'm going to be there, I'm there.
00:17:56.974 --> 00:17:59.511
If I tell you I'm going to do something, I'm going to do.
00:17:59.511 --> 00:18:00.335
And not even that.
00:18:00.335 --> 00:18:14.232
And my son was into music and he had a verse that say making sure the kids in the hood being took care, and I'm grateful that I'm honoring his wishes.
00:18:14.232 --> 00:18:18.070
I'm making sure the kids in the hood being took care.
00:18:18.070 --> 00:18:20.897
That's deep.
00:18:21.704 --> 00:18:28.830
So what are some of the activities you have that you have coming up that can bring awareness to the community about Stop the Violence?
00:18:29.286 --> 00:18:34.631
So you know, as of Friday, the kids are out for two weeks for the holiday breaks.
00:18:34.631 --> 00:18:37.569
Me and
my staff are here at Stop the Violence.
00:18:37.569 --> 00:18:48.570
We are doing a two-week free camp for 50 kids, feeding them breakfast, lunch and dinner, and have structured activities planned out for them for the eight days they'll be with us.
00:18:48.570 --> 00:18:53.846
Other than that, you know, we're excited about our 10th year.
00:18:53.846 --> 00:19:01.532
Galen is coming up in March and also we clean the streets in the city of Portsmouth, not just Portsmouth, norfolk.
00:19:01.532 --> 00:19:03.392
I adopted Effingham Street.
00:19:03.392 --> 00:19:15.451
That's the street my son was murdered on, and I clean it quarterly and I'm grateful that it's a sign out there that says Stop the Violence in memory of my son, because that's the area he grew up in.
00:19:15.451 --> 00:19:16.883
Wow, wow.
00:19:17.545 --> 00:19:19.371
You want to talk about that gala coming up?
00:19:19.371 --> 00:19:20.535
Sure, talk about it.
00:19:21.669 --> 00:19:31.133
So again, this year is our 10th year anniversary gala, which will be here in the city of Portsmouth at Rivers Casino on March the 8th.
00:19:31.133 --> 00:19:34.789
We will be here in the city of Portsmouth, at Rivers Casino on March the 8th.
00:19:34.789 --> 00:19:39.058
We will be highlighting individuals that supported us for the year 2024.
00:19:39.058 --> 00:19:48.500
So each year at our galas, we always highlight and nominate and award nonprofits that work with us for that year.
00:19:48.500 --> 00:19:48.940
Got you.
00:19:48.940 --> 00:19:54.731
But you know I'm excited this year because a lot of my son's friends are coming out.
00:19:54.731 --> 00:19:56.069
You know I need to let them know.
00:19:56.069 --> 00:20:00.413
These men are doing great things in life, wow.
00:20:00.413 --> 00:20:02.107
So I want to showcase them too.
00:20:02.107 --> 00:20:02.808
Got you.
00:20:02.808 --> 00:20:04.534
Wow, it's going to be a big event.
00:20:04.693 --> 00:20:06.076
Yes, wow, wow.
00:20:06.076 --> 00:20:10.650
So how can people reach out to you for help and to help?
00:20:11.191 --> 00:20:22.085
So anytime anybody want to volunteer, they can go to our website wwwstoptheviolence757.com and just complete the information that's at the bottom.
00:20:22.085 --> 00:20:27.998
I always return emails, or somebody on my staff will.
00:20:27.998 --> 00:20:33.478
They can follow our journey on Facebook or Instagram at StopTheViolence757.
00:20:33.478 --> 00:20:38.415
Or either they can email us personally at StopTheViolence757 at gmailcom.
00:20:38.415 --> 00:20:38.496
Wow.
00:20:39.964 --> 00:20:48.935
Before we go, is there anything you want to say to those who may be listening, any encouragement you know you want to share?
00:20:50.185 --> 00:20:53.435
Let's stop having a blind eye to things that's in our face.
00:20:53.435 --> 00:20:56.713
We can save our kids if we stop having a blind eye.
00:20:58.469 --> 00:20:58.931
That's good.
00:20:58.931 --> 00:21:05.417
So do you think sometimes people don't join because it's not happening to them?
00:21:05.417 --> 00:21:09.892
So people become quiet, most definitely Put their heads in the sand Most definitely.
00:21:10.045 --> 00:21:21.471
But then when it happens, it knocks at their front door and they want to get engaged because you know, back then growing up your child was my child, my child was your child.
00:21:21.471 --> 00:21:24.673
We need to bring that back in the communities today, Wow.
00:21:25.094 --> 00:21:25.816
That's amazing.
00:21:25.816 --> 00:21:31.150
We really appreciate you, monica, monica being a part of MMV Media TV.
00:21:31.150 --> 00:21:37.751
On behalf of me and my business partner, no Mills, we really appreciate you considering coming on.
00:21:37.751 --> 00:21:42.575
Thank, you we thank you for your wisdom and what you're doing in the community.
00:21:42.575 --> 00:21:44.228
We really appreciate that.
00:21:44.228 --> 00:21:45.311
Thank you, thank you.