Gun Violence

On December 19th, host Elyse Max opens our hour as she speaks with Jessica Hicklin.  Jessica was incarcerated at the age of 16 for murder and sentenced to 100 years. Yet, because of a Supreme Court ruling that deemed charging minors with life without parole as cruel and unusual punishment, she was released in 2022 after serving 26 years. She’s currently the Chief Technology Officer at UnlockED Labs, an organization that focuses on educating incarcerated people to ensure a stronger future.

https://www.unlockedlabs.org/

UnlockEd (the solution) is the first prison education platform created by incarcerated students for incarcerated students.

We’ll play the calendar in the middle of our hour.

During the second half of our show, Rosilyn Temple joins host Craig Lubow to talk about gun violence.  Rosilyn is the founder and executive director of KC Mothers in Charge.  They will talk about the systemic causes of gun violence, what is being done about it, and what should be done about it.

About KC Mothers in Charge:  https://www.kcmothersincharge.org/what-we-do

On a cold November night in Kansas City, a concerned single mother stood afraid and alone on a dark street. She had been trying to contact her son, Antonio “Pee Wee” Thompson, all day and to no avail, so she drove to the apartment complex where he had recently moved. She knocked but received no answer; she asked maintenance to let her in, but they couldn’t. She called 911…and waited. When the first responders emerged from his apartment, her worst fears were confirmed: Pee Wee was gone. Her son had been murdered on Thanksgiving eve, 2011.

In early 2012, Rosilyn Temple learned about Mothers in Charge, Inc., founded in Philadelphia by Dorothy Johnson-Speight, PhD, MHS, LPC, who lost her son to homicide in 2003. Johnson-Speight led her through the process of building a Kansas City chapter. In 2013, Rosilyn Temple launched Kansas City Mothers in Charge (KC MIC) as a program of Kansas City’s Ad Hoc Group Against Crime and later, the organization received funding from the Kansas City Missouri Police Department (KCPD) to move into its own office space and expand its programs and services.

On Jaws of Justice, we examine how to find justice in our society.  Justice will not be served until those who are unaffected are as outraged as those who are.

Calendar for the week of December 19th:

• The Kansas City Chapter of Missouri Citizens United for the Rehabilitation of Errants has a monthly virtual meeting. MO CURE advocates for the human rights of prisoners in Missouri prisons and jails as well as those who have returned to society.   For info call Keith Brown El at 816-377-2873.
• You can find Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense events at https://momsdemandaction.org/events/.  Open to all, Mothers and others!
• TUES, Dec. 20^th, 6 – 8 PM, State Office Open House for Clemency for Amber, Missourians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, 3151 Olive ST, KCMO, RSVP 816-931-4177.
• TUES, Dec. 20^th, 5 – 7 PM, Survivors Will Heal, Support group for shooting survivors will meet at the Robert J. Mohart Multipurpose Center, 3200 Wayne AVE, KCMO, for more info, contact [email protected] or phone 816-912-2601
• FRI, Dec. 23^rd 11 AM – 3 PM is the 3rd Annual Christmas Celebration at The Truman Event Center. Christmas at the Crossroads is Shelter KC’s annual celebration of Christmas serving adults experiencing homelessness. This premier holiday event offers fun, food, and fellowship with carnival-style booths, a traditional holiday meal, care package giveaways, and more. 601 East Truman Road, Kansas City, Missouri.  Volunteers are needed, please contact Shelter KC Administrative office at 816- 421-7643.
• A list of services, meals, and hot lines are available at https://lawrenceprogressivecalendar.blogspot.com/

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and Happy Kwanzaa, thanks to all our listeners, stay close to your dial and stay well!

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