Success Strategies with Zhana: Black History Month and the Month of Nonviolence

Unfortunately, this is a very, very sad time.  I am beginning the Blogging Carnival for Nonviolence on a tragic note, once again.  

My guests on today's show were Dr. Lynne Muhammad, founder of the STREAM Labs, and Pastor Charetta Hodge, who is on the ministerial staff of Christhood International Ministries of St. Louis.  Both of my guests attended the recent HWPL Peace Summit in South Korea, as did my Executive Producer Naimah Latif.  

TRIGGER WARNING:  We talked about two extremely violent incidents which recently occurred in South London, and strategies for preventing these types of attacks in future. 

Go here to listen.  

To correct what was said there, 15-year-old Elianne Andam was killed when she intervened in an attack on a friend of hers by the friend's ex. 

Go here for a blog post on domestic violence.  

Go here for my conversation with Mercy Makinde on her experience of escapiing domestic violence.  

Go here for more from the Blogging Carnival for Nonviolence 2023.  

October is Black History Month here in the UK. And it is also the annual Month of Nonviolence which is held by Black Women for Positive Change, and is open to EVERYONE. And that means this is month is the annual Blogging Carnival for Nonviolence. So stay tuned for all the blogs I’ll be publishing this month.  The link for the Blogging Carnival for Nonviolence 2023 is above.

 What are your thoughts?  Please share this with your networks and please comment below.   

The Global Peace Summit with Naimah Latif

I am delighted to invite you to The Global Peace Summit with Naimah Latif, owner and Executive Producer of The Female Solution, which will be held this weekend. We will be live on Blogtalk Radio, on Facebook and on Zoom - see below for details including the full schedule.

The presenters on The Female Solution - including me - will speak during the weekend, sharing thoughts about practical methods for achieving and maintaining global peace. I will be speaking about Nonviolent Communication (NVC) on Friday at 10 a.m. Central Time/4 p.m. UK time.

The full schedule is below. Please join us for as much of the programming as you can, and please share this with your networks.

As we are still reeling from the shooting of Jacob Blake in Wisconsin, the killings of Breonna Taylor, George Floyd and so many others, never was there more of a need for the Global Peace Summit.

For more about the Global Peace Summit, see:  How Can We Create aPeaceful World? Part 5. For more information, check out The Female Solution on Facebook.  

We will be live on Zoom (with segments heard on Blogtalk Radio on Soul Purpose Healing, It’s My House, and The Female Solution Radio show.)

Friday, August 28, 2020 9 am-2 pm Central Time / 3 pm-8 pm UK time

Zoom Meeting ID: 853 2272 7205 Passcode: 200663Okk

Saturday August 29, 2020 9 am-2 pm Central Time / 3 pm-8 pm UK time

Zoom Meeting ID: 853 5219 9959 Passcode: 040656

This two-day international meeting of the minds will feature presenters from all around the world sharing programs that provide for the health, interests, rights and needs of the people.  Many organizations whose members envision a world of peaceful coexistence through cooperation and mutual respect have demonstrated great success with initiatives that provide solutions to the challenges we face.  This gathering is for the purpose of sharing these solutions so that each of our local successes can spread to the global community. The format is as follows:

Each half hour segment will feature three presenters that give a five minute synopsis of their program, their successes, the challenges they overcame and their website and contact information. In the next 10 minutes, members of the audience may ask a one-minute question or make a one-minute statement regarding the information presented.

Watch us live on Zoom or listen live on Blogtalk Radio and call in and comment:

Friday, August 28th

9-10 am Central / 3-4 pm BST

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/the-female-solution

515-605-9325

10am -12 noon Central / 4 pm-6 pm BST

http://www.soulpurposehealing

215-383-5863

12 noon to 2 pm / 6 pm-8 pm BST

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/solarlandlord

619-768-2945

Saturday August 29th 2020

9 am-11 am Central / 3 pm-5 pm BST

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/solarlandlord

619-768-2945

11 am-2 pm Central / 5 pm-8 pm BST

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/the-female-solution,

515-605-9325 

 

The program is as follows:

Friday, August 28, 2020

9:00 Introduction of Presenters for the Day

9:30 Energy Healing: The Mind, Body, Spirit Connection

10:00 Non-Violent Communication: The Foundation For Peace (with Zhana)

10:30 How To Discipline Children Without Hitting Them

11:00 Peace Schools: Teaching Values in The Classroom

11:30 Cooperative Farming, Urban Gardening

12:00 Avoid Hospitals With Healthy Food Prepared At Home

12:30 Humanity First: Helping Our Neighbors

1:00 Housing Cooperatives, Tiny Houses

1:30 Solar Energy, Own Your Own Power

2:00 Closing

Saturday August  29, 2020

9:00 Introduction of Presenters For the Day

9:30 Bitcoin: A New Global Currency Empowering People

10:00 The Pan African Connection: Doing Business Overseas

10:30 Ending Conflict Through Interfaith Communications

11:00 Declaration of Peace, Cessation of War (DPCW)

11:30 Ethics In Elections: How To Protect Your Vote

12:00 Creating A Culture of Gender Equality

12:30 Redefining Manhood: Bringing Fathers Back Home

1:00 After Incarceration: Transforming New Citizens

1:30 Security With The Right Spirit: Police Officers Who Pray

2:00 Closing

For more information, check out The Female Solution on Facebook.  

Please submit your blog post to The Blogging Carnival for Nonviolence. 

 

How Can We Create a Peaceful World? Part 4

How Can We Ceate a Peaeful World? 

In the second half of my "Success Strategies" online radio show, we continued our discussion on “How Can We Create a Peaceful World?”. If you missed parts 1-3 of this discussion, go here to listen to them.  

But you don't need to listen to them before hearing this one.  Listen below. 

I was not happy with the way this discussion went.  We got sidetracked and didn't really address the question.  

I do not personally believe that guns, or any weapons, bring about peace.  The police are killing Black folks, our children are killing each other, children are walking into their schools  and opening fire, killing teachers and other children.  That is NOT peace.  

Dr. Boyce Watkins says that more Black people were killed by gun violence in Chicago in one weekend than died of coronavirus in the entire state of Illinois.  

That Trump idiot is promoting the "us and them" mentality.  That does NOT bring about peace.  

It's obvious:  to end violence, we must be nonviolent.  

To create a peaceful world, we need to work together for everyone's benefit.  

These are my opinions.  I want to hear yours.  Please leave your comments below and please join us for Part 5, which will broadcast in the beginning of August.  

Please share this with your networks and please leave your comments below.  Thanks.  

Go here for "Does Black History Really Matter?".  

Dawn Butler: It’s Time We Stopped Downplaying Racism in the UK

Dawn Butler MP

I found this article by Dawn Butler MP very interesting.  I agreed with a lot of what Dawn Butler said, but disagreed with other things.  She raises some important points. 

Butler states that, as a young person, she was told by her brothers never to phone the police - if there were a problem or an incident, she should phone her brothers instead.  This reflects many Black people's reality.  She then recounts an incident in which, threatened by a white neighbour, first with a brick and then later with a knife, she calls the police, who turn up and arrest her brother.  And she states, "That is why I was always told never to call the police".

Having said this, when I was threatened with a baseball bat by a (Black) neighbour, I called the police and was impressed by the swiftness of their response.  However, after their initial visit, I heard nothing further.  I eventually wrote to my MP, Harriet Harman, about this, and she helped me, as she has done many times over the years.  After that, the police finally took action, but it was too late as the evidence had disappeared.

I would have expected Dawn Butler to know, and recommend, that we contact our MPs for help if necessary, if the police have not taken appropriate action.  Of course, some MPs are more responsive than others.

And of course, I should not have had to do this in order to get an appropriate response from the police.

Butler also states that people have told her "people say to [her] that racism isn’t as bad in the UK as it is in the US".  I have had Black people say the same thing to me.  This is a stupid and naive response.  Having lived in both countries, I would argue that racism in the two societies is both better and worse in some regards.  Racism and racist attitudes, practices and behaviours in the UK and in the U.S.A. are different and not necessarily able to be compared.  They are like apples and bananas.  But they are also the same.  Racism in both countries, and others, is the fruit of centuries of white supremacist conditioning and racist violence.

The reason so many people, Black, white and members of other races, have taken to the streets daily here in London and the UK is that they know, as we all know, that racism is a problem and is sometimes lethal.  Racist attitudes and actions by the police in this country have been involved with deaths in police custody of Black people including, for example, Joy Gardner, Smiley Culture and Cynthia Jarrett, to name but three, not to mention a whole host of other incidents such as the killing of Stephen Lawrence and the mishandling of it by the police.

We discussed some of this in my radio broadcast, "How Can We Create a Peaceful World?". 

At the moment, two documentaries about institutionalised racism in Britain are available for screening:  Justice for Joy on All 4 and Sitting in Limbo on BBC iplayer.  I watched part of Justice for Joy yesterday morning and Sitting in Limbo yesterday evening. Sitting in Limbo covers the recent "Windrush scandal" caused by the "hostile environment" towards immigrants that began under a Labour government and was fulfilled by successive Tory governments.   It focuses on Anthony Bryan, one man who was threatened with deportation after living here his whole life.  Be warned:  I was even more stressed and upset after watching these two documentaries.  It is a commentary on the current state of affairs that Joy Gardner's family have never achieved justice regarding her death.

And a reminder:  Baroness Lawrence, when she entered the House of Lords, stated that the police in Britain are characterised by institutional racism and institutional corruption.

I have seen white police officers take a knee in recognition of the horrendous slaying of George Floyd.  I have been very moved by this.  But even when they enter the force with good intentions, police trainees are entering a hostile environment with a culture of institutional racism and institutional corruption.

There are examples of big racist incidents in this country, as well as small ones.  As Butler says, we need to call out racism when we see it.  And this will benefit everyone.

We can change things.  Each and every one of us can make a difference.  

Go here for the Blogging Carnival for Nonviolence 2020.

Go here for more about the Blogging Carnival for Nonviolence 2020 and how you can submit your blog post. 

How Can We Create a Peaceful World?

On my "Success Strategies" radio show, we asked the question, "How Can We Create a Peaceful World?". 

In Part 1, we talked about recent events, including the killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor.  We are all in shock about these incidents, especially as we watched George Floyd being killed before our eyes on TV.  Go here for Part 1, which links to Parts 2 and 3. 

Part 2 contained my recent interview with Carthenia Jefferson, one of the sistas from Black Women for Positive Change.  Carthenia is a member of the Birmingham, AL Black Nurses' Association and the National Black Nurses' Association.  She spoke about events they have held in the past for the Week of Nonviolence, and plans for this year under the covid-19 lockdown.  Go here for Part 2. 

In Part 3, we talked specifically about solutions.  We also talked about the fact that this is a global problem, it is not just about the U.S.  People in the UK have been demonstrating on a daily basis since the televised killing of George Floyd.  I talked specifically about the deaths of Cynthia Jarrett, Smiley Culture and Stephen Lawrence, and the shooting of Cherry Groce, all of which occurred in the UK. 

The Independent Police Complaint Commission have found that there is 'no evidence of a criminal offence' in the death of Smiley Culture, and that he stabbed himself to death while police were in attendance at his home.  Does this sound logical to you?  Anyway -   

Are the police the problem?  Do we need to abolish police?  And, if so, what can we put in their place?  How can we put more power into the hands of ordinary citizens?  And how can Nonviolent Communication (NVC) help us to transform these situations?  

Go here for Part 3. 

Go here for the Blogging Carnival for Nonviolence 2020. 

Many thanks to Naimah Latif for inviting me to host my show on her Blogtalk Radio channel, "The Female Solution".  See you again next month! 

Please listen to the programme and please leave your comments below.  Please also share this with your networks.  

Stop the Violence, Stop the Killing

Phillip Spruill, 11-Year-Old Boy, Commits Suicide

        

If you have been reading my blog posts, you know that I am passionate about ending the violence.  Ending the violence within the Black community.  Ending the violence within Black families.  Ending the violence against our young people.  Ending the violent acts our young people are committing against themselves and each other.  Ending police violence against members of the Black community.

I want to see an end to all violence experienced by everyone, everywhere all over the world.  And my community - the global Black/African community - is my priority.

Below are some news stories I have seen recently.  You may have seen them, too.  Each and every one of these stories breaks my heart. Bullying is something that blights children's lives.  In some cases, bullying has cost children their lives.  And it can be prevented. 

As you know, if you are familiar with my work, I am very solution-focused.  Nonviolent Communication (NVC) is one highly effective method of PREVENTING violence.  See below for more information about NVC.

Let's end the violence together.

9-Year-Old Girl Commits Suicide after Months of Being Bullied at School. 

11-Year-Old Boy Commits Suicide after Being Bullied about His Weight

11-Year Old Boy on Life Support after Suicide Attempt

Alabama Police Set Up and Falsely Arrested 1000+ Black Men

And now for some good news:  

Black Father Helps Teen Son Build Business - At his son's request, this father dropped a case about racial bullying within the classroom.  Instead, they built a new business.  Well done!

Let's talk solutions!

Nonviolent Communication 9 (NVC) is based on EMPATHY.  Go here for books about NVC and nonviolence. 

Go here for more NVC Resources.

Celebrating Coretta Scott King with Dr. Barbara Reynolds

Dr. Barbara Reynolds of Black Women for Positive Change on Coretta Scott King - mother, organiser, campaigner, and widow of Dr. Martin Luther King.

See also:  "MLK on Why Black Is Beautiful".

Go here for more Black history blogs.

Please share this with your networks and please leave your comments below.  Thanks.

Young Woman Shot by Cops inside Her Own Home

This 28-year-old Black woman, Atatiana Jefferson, was shot by the police in her own home and died instantly.  A neighbour, James Smith, had reported seeing something, and now the neighbour is blaming himself.  No, it seems to me that the fault lies squarely with the police.  


This is one more reason why we need nonviolence and Nonviolent Communication (NVC).  NVC is changing lives all over the world.  And this is one more reason why I hold the annual Blogging Carnival for Nonviolence.  

CBS News say this is causing "outrage", and of course, it is.  

Jefferson's family are demanding answers.  

Please leave your comments below and please share this with your networks.  Thanks.  

A Little More about NVC and Me

I have already talked a little about my personal journey in A Little about NVC and Me and Why I Am Committed to Nonviolence.  

I started to explore Nonviolent Communication (NVC) around 2003, and it had a profound effect on me.  

Go here for the Blogging Carnival for Nonviolence 2019.   And go here for information on how you can submit your blog post. If you have ever given empathy to, or received empathy from, someone, at home or at work, or in any context, please blog about it and share your experiences with the world. 

As I have said before, Violence Begins at Home.  I grew up in a family in which I experienced an enormous amount of verbal violence on a daily basis, as well as some physical violence.  My mother was (and is) severely mentally  ill, and never received any treatment for her condition, which was, and remains, undiagnosed.  

I was subjected to constant, daily bullying and undermining for many years.  Nobody helped me or supported me, apart from my piano teacher, who was very kind.  But other than her, the people around me gave me the message that I did not matter.  I did not count.  My feelings and needs did not count. 

I carried these internal messages for many years.  When we receive the same messages repeatedly - be they positive or negative messages - we internalise them.  That is the way the human mind works.  And, as we live in a racist society, we are subjected to daily negative, racist messages, and we internalise them.  This is why we experience so much self-hatred, and why we find it so difficult to work together and to trust each other.  

I am unravelling my self-hatred and replacing it with self-love, but I still have work to do in this area.  Of all the methods I use, and share with my students, NVC has had the most profound effect on me.  NVC is based on EMPATHY. 

As I said in Why I Am Committed to Nonviolence, our self-talk continues to affect us.  

Children and young people who are exposed to violence in the home are more likely to become involved with violence outside the home.  And, as part of the legacy of slavery, our families often use violence - both physical and verbal violence.  I am sure my mother was profoundly affected by the racism she experienced on a daily basis when she was a young person. 

Of course, violence affects every community.  But my community - the global African community - is my priority.  

In order to address the violence affecting the young people in our communities, we, as adults, first need to address our own patterns of behaviour - including our self-talk. 

The violence affecting our young people has to stop.  This has to stop.  If you agree, comment "Yes!" below.  

Please share this with your networks.  And please submit your blog post to the Blogging Carnival for Nonviolence 2019.  

 

You’re Fired! Company Terminated Employee Who Called Cops On Black Man at Swimming Pool

white woman at swimming pool

Some of us may be glad this happened.  At least, some kind of justice has been done.  A white woman was fired from her job after she phoned the police when a Black man wore socks at a swimming pool.  But it really should not have come to this. 

This is just the latest of similar stories about places such as Starbucks and Denny's. 

We are not allowed to hold meetings at Starbucks.  Nor can we stop at a gas station to buy drinks for children after a nonviolence demonstration.  Not without some white employee calling the cops on us.  But at least we can wear our socks in the pool. 

It should never come to this.  We MUST Learn to treat each other with respect. 

Niecy Nash received some very interesting responses to the spoof telephone helpline she created for racists. 

See also:  White Woman Calls Cops 911.  

And then there's the Ryanair incident.  (Warning:  this contains offensive language.)  Yep, we definitely gotta avoid flying anywhere with Ryanair. 

And remember the nail shop incident? 

This nonsense really has to stop. 

Go here for more from the Blogging Carnival for Nonviolence 2018. 

Please leave your comments below, and please share this with your networks.  Thanks.

Interview with the Archbishop of York

John Sentamu, the Archbishop of York

The Rt. Rev. John Sentamu, Archbishop of York, is the first Black Church of England Archbishop to be ordained within the United Kingdom.  

Here, he talks about the importance of nonviolence for him as a Christian.

Z:  How are you personally affected by the violence in the world today?   

JS:  Saddened (and angry!) because:

• Violence seems so often to be a knee-jerk reaction to either fear of personal threat or manipulation by vested interests combined with social media.
• Targeted violence designed for maximum collateral damage hitting bystanders to the arguments, often those who have least resilience
• Even more collateral damage to society in general – disruption of governance, daily life, resources with an undermining of trust, truth and community.  
    

Please can you give me one or two examples of how you practise nonviolence in your own life?

Jesus said, “blessed are the peacemakers”. Making peace means action, not passivity. With that in mind, I try to give young people a goal to aim for: that is God’s Kingdom. You can find some of the components in Matthew’s Gospel, Chapters 5 – 7. But we humans need more than good advice and good examples, so I also share with them the good news about Jesus Christ himself, who is the Prince of Peace. He gets to work within us, putting right what is wrong and through the Holy Spirit giving us dness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Surely this is how we all want to live?  

Many parents are struggling with issues around violence today. Young people are shooting and stabbing each other – I am sure you are aware of the fact that violence is increasing, both in London and across Britain. What practical advice or suggestions can you offer to parents about how to protect their children from violence, and how to prevent violence? 

• encourage them to have a circle of trusted friends who are not all like them
• be interested in their interests, feelings, hopes and don’t work so hard there’s no time for children
• relax together. Don’t put children under so much pressure – positive support is better than negative sanctions
• surround them with adults, other than family, who will be protective of them, who they can learn to trust and go to when they get to the “asserting independence” phase of their lives (role of godparents!)
• watch age-appropriate news and other programmes with them
• encourage them to read stories – a wonderful way of learning about the world, universe and everything else (especially themselves) and to see things in perspective.
• there are some excellent books for children and young people about difficult topics, eg the children’s version of I Am Malala with lovely illustrations, and Michael Morpurgo’s books.

Please add any further remarks you would like to make.

Because of my Christian faith, for me, it is a privilege to belong to a church family that breaks down barriers between people of different places, cultures, backgrounds. I want young people to be able to celebrate diversity whilst also knowing we all belong together - different, but one family, sisters and brothers together.

+Sentamu Ebor 

Go here for more blogs from the Blogging Carnival for Nonviolence 2018.  

Go here for NVC resources.  

Please leave your comments below and please share this with your networks.  Thanks.  

White Woman Calls Cops 911

Shopping While Black News:  A white woman has called the police on 911 when a group of Black/African American anti-violence protesters stopped to buy drinks at a gas station.

In yet another instance of racist stupidity, the white woman, identified as "Brenda", called the cops when a group of anti-violence protesters, many of them children, ended their demonstration outside a gas (petrol) station in North Charleston, South Carolina.  The demonstrators planned to buy drinks for the children there.  Let's hope they did not spend any money at the gas station. 

Go here for more info.

As far as I am aware, the demonstrators were not arrested, as were several people in two different Starbucks several months ago.

Shopping while Black is becoming increasingly interesting.

Go here for more blog posts from the Blogging Carnival for Nonviolence.

Please leave your comments below, and please share this with your networks.  Thanks.

Six-Year-Old's Encounter with Gun Violence

Merkel Taylor, recovering from head wounds

If you read or follow my blogs, you know that I am committed to nonviolence and Nonviolent Communication (NVC).

Go here for the Blogging Carnival for Nonviolence 2018.

Markel Taylor, 6, was being driven to football practice by Marlow Parker when he was attacked.

This little boy was shot in the head, which has led to serious long-term issues for him and his brother. They are still living with the aftermath of this horrific incident and the trauma it caused.

Go here to read more.

This case is currently subject to legal proceedings, so not much information is available at this time.  But this is an example of what can happen when we resort to using violence. 

Black Lives Matter: Death of Kevin Clarke

Did you know – it was reported Monday that Kevin Clarke, a young Black man, died in police custody in Catford, Southeast London after being detained by NINE police officers. 

Clarke had mental health problems.

One more reason Why I Am Committed to Nonviolence.

See also: Rashan Charles's Death.

Please leave your comments below, and please share this with your networks.  Thanks. 

The Week of Nonviolence 2017

Dr, Stephanie Myers

Listen below to find out: 

What is the background to the Week of Nonviolence?  How did it first come about?  

What are the goals of the Week of Nonviolence?  

What events are being planned for the Week of Nonviolence?  How to get involved?  

How does violence affect Black communities and other communities all over the world?  And what can we do to transform the culture of violence?  

I was joined by Dr. Stephanie Myers, Co-Chair of Black Women for Positive Change. 

The Week of Nonviolence was founded by Black Women for Positive Change in 2014 and is in its fourth year. 

Go here for more about the Week of Nonviolence 2017. 

Listen below for more.   Please share this with your networks, and please leave your comments below.  Thanks. 

Children and Knife Crime

Knives Taken from Schoolchildren

Let's talk about solutions.  

In the news today, we learn about the increase in children bringing weapons into school, particularly knives.  

This is in the news now, but it is something I have been very concerned about for some time.  I am particularly concerned about violence within Black communities, but this is something that affects ALL communities.  Listen below for more.  



Click here for my interview with Ike Lasater.  

Click here for more blogs from the Blogging Carnival for Nonviolence.  

Click here for blogs about how violence affects Black communities. 

Click here for Success Strategies for Black People.  

Youth and Adults Must Work Together to Stop Violence

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

Organizing for the Week of Nonviolence in Atlanta

William Kellibrew

Click here for more blog posts from the Blogging Carnival for Nonviolence 2016. 

The Black Women for Positive Change Atlanta, Georgia Week of Nonviolence focused on bringing awareness to violence prevention. Community members joined together to discuss the impact of violence and identify strategies for supporting a violence-free community.

The goal of the event was to support nonviolence and violence prevention in the Atlanta community.

We held the event at the Adamsville Recreation Center in Atlanta, Georgia. Two moms who have experienced their sons killed, as well as community members, were involved. 12 people attended.

Difficulties we experienced included finding a location, collaborating with local organizations, finding funding, and advertising the event without a huge network.

Having a co-chair was extremely beneficial.

Quality was more important than quantity at this event. Two mothers provided a glimpse into their experiences of losing their sons to violence. The conversation was extremely beneficial and the discussion about violence-prevention provided some relief to attendees and enabled us to look at solutions. It seems like there is commitment to continue next year’s event. 

Next year, we will start organizing earlier and utilize social media to share information about the event.   

 

On July 2, 1984, at age 10, William Kellibrew witnessed the murders of his mother, Jacqueline and 12-year-old-brother, Anthony, by his mom’s ex-boyfriend in their family living room.  The killer took his own life that day, but not before making William beg for his life at gunpoint.  Kellibrew struggled as a child, teen and young adult, but persevered to become a global leader on the issues he faced in his years of struggle including child sexual abuse, witnessing and experiencing violence and homicide as well as a multitude of victimizations and long-lasting effects related to trauma. 

Now, a global advocate for human, civil, children and victims’ rights, Kellibrew travels throughout the world sharing his story of courage and resiliency on the pathway to healing and on-going recovery.  

In 2011, Kellibrew was recognized by the White House as a ‘Champion of Change’ working to end domestic violence and sexual assault.  In 2013, he received the Voice Award from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration at Paramount Studios in Hollywood, CA for his work across the country as a peer/consumer leader.  In 2014, he accepted the Capitol Probe Award at the District of Columbia Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and in 2015 he received the U.S. Congressional Victims' Rights Caucus Eva Murillo Unsung Hero Award.  Kellibrew credits his grandmother, Delores, for being a model for humanity.  Follow Kellibrew on Facebook.com/willkelli and at www.williamkellibrew.com.