Greenville activists fight gang violence

01/26/2012

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GREENVILLE, SC (FOX Carolina) - Community activists hit gang activity and bullying head-on Thursday night. 

Greenville County Intervention Specialist Dexter Reaves and Think Twice Founder Traci Fant held a gang summit with parents and students hoping to keep kids on the right track.  They said they hope these take the path to be successful and fall to peer pressure. 

"We are just trying to get the message that gangs are not the good way to go," said Fant.  

"The main thing is to encourage the kids to stay away from negative gang violence and any negativity.  We want them to be more positive in their communities," said Reaves.  

Former Clemson quarterback Woody Dantzler also stressed the importance of love in the household.  He says that's what's leading most young people to the streets.  

If you would like a seminar similar to this, call Reaves at the Greenville County School System.

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Upstate non-profit aims to end domestic violence

01/26/2012

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GREER, SC (FOX Carolina) - An Upstate group is hoping to put a stop to domestic violence one family at a time.

Think Twice held a special "sun-dresses and khakis" affair, at the Abash in Greer, in connection with Safe Harbor, a group that provides housing for battered women.

Participants enjoyed a food and music, but the real reason everyone showed up, is a heavier topic.

Some at the event have been affected by domestic violence; others were showing support for battered women.

A special guest speaker, Shaundra Adams, is the mother of Cherica Adams, who was murdered by former NFL star, Rae Carruth, a man whom with she was in a relationship.

Cherica was pregnant at the time, and her unborn son survived. Now 11 years old, he is mentally handicapped.

Cherica's mother says domestic violence starts with a mindset, and she says it can be stopped.

"[Victims] stay and continue to take the abuse and then they internalize it and think that there is something wrong with them and it starts a vicious cycle that can run deep," said Adams. "It goes generation to generation, so having a place that you can go and have someone you can talk to about the abuse is of utmost importance."

The director of Think Twice, Traci Fant, who has dealt with this issue of domestic violence herself, now she strives to make sure other women don't go through what she went through.

"I was in an abusive relationship before and recently lost a friend to domestic violence," said Fant. "So after losing her I saw the real need of us to raise awareness and do things to help the organizations that are here to help all women in the Upstate." 

Money was raised for Safe Harbor and Think Twice, through ticket sales and donations. It will go to help women dealing with domestic violence.

http://www.foxcarolina.com/story/15138504/upstate-non-profit-aims-to-end-domestic-violence?client
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