Shaka Senghor
When: Saturday, October 20, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. sharp
Where: Capital Area Distict Library, 401 S. Capitol Avenue, Lansing, MI
What: Showing the award-winning film “THE INTERRUPTERS” and after the showing of the documentary, speaker Shaka Senghor
Why: To discuss violence and how to stop it.
LANSING, MI — Capital Area District Library on Saturday, October 20, 2012 at 2:00 pm, will be showing a documentary film. It is sponsored by The New Citizens Press Community Action Network (TNCP CAN), dedicated to stopping violence in the Greater Lansing area. Made in 2011, the award-winning film “THE INTERRUPTERS” tells the moving and surprising stories of three Violence Interrupters who try to protect their Chicago communities from the violence they once used themselves (not rated; some violence and very strong language). Following the film, members of TNCP CAN will lead a discussion. The speaker will be Shaka Senghor.
Senghor is a writer, mentor and motivational speaker whose story of redemption has inspired youth and young adults at high schools and universities across the nation.
He grew up on the Eastside of Detroit but left home around the age of 13 or 14 and was lured into the drug trade by older hustler in the community. At age 14, his brother shot another brother. At 15, his childhood friend was murdered and at 16-years-old his older brother was shot. At 17, he was shot 3 times standing on the corner of his block. In the next 14 months, Senghor’s life spun dangerously out of control, he shot 4 people culminating in the death of the 4th person and was subsequently sentenced to 17-40 years in prison and served a total of 19 years.
While serving nineteen years in prison, Shaka discovered his love for writing. He is the CEO of Drop a Gem Publishing, founder of the Live In Peace Digital and Literary Arts Project, and a recipient of the 2012 Black Male Engagement (BME) Leadership Award.
He has written six books, including a memoir about his life in prison, which is expected to be released soon. He is the author of the highly addictive detective series “Crack: Volume 1” and “Crack: Volume 2”, and most recently published a book of his writings entitled “Live in Peace: A Youth Guide to Turning Hurt into Hope”, a companion piece to his mentoring program.
Shaka has worked with youth at the Detroit Job Corps, Detroit high schools and Tri-County Educational Center. He has lectured at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, the University of Michigan, Fordham University, Wayne State University, Marygrove College, and Pace University.
Shaka speaks the truth about the oppressive conditions of the ‘hood and the not-so-glamorous side of the streets. He communicates in a way that compels his audience to see the hope and humanity of a discarded generation shaped by the crack epidemic, the fall of the auto industry and the rise of the prison industrial complex.
Senghor said, “I was one month into my 19th birthday at the time I went in and missed out on every aspect of growing up. I never had a childhood sweetheart, never went to a prom, never graduated or attended college on campus. All the things young people look back on when they get older I missed out on.”
“I never think about taking it all back because I believe life happens in divine order. What I think about is how to use my past to help someone in the present create a better future. My message to youth is to think before you act. One second can change your life for a lifetime and once you pull the trigger you can not take it back. And once you take a life you can never restore it.”
For more information about this event, please call 517-372-8466 or email tncpcan@gmail.com.
This was printed in the October 7, 2012 – October 20, 2012 Edition
