My recent trip to Canada held one major surprise and the image, vivid after more than two weeks, of a kid in a red shirt. I returned from a meeting-packed three days in Winnipeg, where I keynoted two conferences (one at Winnipeg University’s “Thinkers’ Conference”), participated in panels, shared thoughts with people working with at […]
Galvanizing the Civic Sector to Reduce Gun Violence
The debate over gun violence swirls in state houses and in Congress. Heated discussions surround: • Ensuring universal background checks and closing gun show loopholes; • Banning assault weapons; • Banning multi-magazine clips; • Giving federal authorities the ability to trace guns; and • Increasing the availability of mental health services. Citing the many American […]
The Soft Stuff is the Hard Stuff
“I’d rather be wanted for murder than not wanted at all,” a juvenile murderer said to me when I served as Commissioner of Youth Services in Massachusetts. This frightening statement throws into sharp relief the fundamental need shared by all of us, namely that we must be seen as important in someone’s eyes, claimed, “beloved.” Kids disconnected from […]
Violence Prevention: Going into the Fire
Less than a month ago, this nation again commemorated the tragedy of September 11, 2001. We saw once again the photos of flames consuming the World Trade Towers, citizens running to escape the conflagration and collapse of buildings, people covering their mouths with handkerchiefs to keep from breathing in the ashes. We recall the anguish […]
