It’s Not OK!
Brainstorming Solutions
A SAINT LOUIS STORY STITCHERS TEEN COUNCIL RAP SESSION
ON GUN VIOLENCE
Saint Louis Story Stitchers are working on a 2016 youth-led videotaped discussion on gun violence called, It’s Not OK! The purpose of the program is to allow St. Louis youth leaders a platform for discussion with local leaders to identify problems and solutions and to create an action plan for peace for youth and families affected by gun violence.
In this sequel to the 2015 discussion, Not Another One!, youth and adult guests will re-open communication to identify commonality, greater understanding and ways to cooperate and collaborate to heal America’s racial disparities. Teenagers, police and leaders will search for solutions to relevant topics including ways to curb youth gun crime, best practices for police-minority youth interaction, and the no snitching phenomenon.
Stitchers Teen Council’s Taron and Toryon aka “T&T” star in the new music video for the song by Story Stitchers artist in residence and filmmaker Jarmel Reece. The song speaks to teen peers and younger kids about the inherent dangers of guns. The piece is the title song of the 2016 youth-led gun violence discussion on gun violence prevention. The discussion will take place on a closed set on November 10th, 2016 and will be led by Stitchers Teen Council Co-Chairs Aniya and Toryon. An iTune release of the title song and an edited video of the discussion will follow.
The 2016 discussion, It’s Not OK! is sponsored by the Regional Arts Commission, Kranzberg Arts Foundation, Kranzberg Arts Center, the Institute for Public Health’s Gun Violence Initiative at Washington University in St. Louis, the Steward Family Foundation, the Yvette and John Dubinsky Family Foundation, and Risa Zwerling and Mark S. Wrighton, Ph.D.
