Page 16 - 7-1-15 Friday's Edition

Feature
Ex-Inmate Shares His Story To Stop Teen Violence
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
Alonzo Reaves is a prime example of how a wrong deci- sion can change a life forever. He was recently released from the Florida State Prison system after serving 25 years.
Growing up in the Panhan- dle, Reaves lived with his grandmother in Greensville, Florida. As he became a teenager, he fell in with the wrong crowd and said he took advantage of not having any structure in his life.
He recalls that in the time leading up to the murder, he and the victim kept bumping heads. He was coming home from work on December 23, 1988, and had a knife in his possession.
“He walked up on me and I
stabbed him. I was scared and didn’t know what the outcome was going to be. It was hard going to prison at such a young age.”
But, at 15, he suddenly found himself tried, convicted, and sentenced to prison. By June 30, 1989, Reaves began a life sentence. He was released on June 2, after serving 26 years.
Now, 26 years later, Reaves wants to prevent other young men from making the same mistake he did. “I want to try to keep them from doing the things I did, being a follower.
“No one pulled me aside and told me how to handle situa- tions. I was incarcerated be- cause I didn’t know how to deal with problems. I have gone on a personal campaign to help pro- tect our young people from vio- lence, especially at the hands of
ALONZO REAVES ... wants to help stop the violence
people they either live around or come in contact with at some point in their lives.”
To accomplish this goal, Reaves has started a program he refers to as “Stop Teenage Violence.”
“AsItrytoputmyownlife back together, I realized that I have to be careful not to set the wrong example. I have learned to always put God first, and if I can turn my life around, then others can do the same.”
During his incarceration, his mother died following a lengthy illness, his grandparents died, and the world changed around him.
The parole Commission re- leased him to a Halfway House in Tampa. Now, he is trying to fit into a world that is far differ- ent from the world he left at 15. During that time, there were no
cell phones, no Internet, and no social media.
But, at 42, Reaves is confi- dent that not only will he sur- vived, but he can help someone else along the way. He spends his time feeding the homeless, helping the elderly, working with churches, and doing com- munity service.
Reaves said he will be in Tampa for about a year. But he credits his father, 9 sisters, 3 brothers, uncles, aunts and cousins are very supportive.
“The power of forgiveness was tough for me, but now that I’ve accomplished that, I realize that what’s missing among the young people today is they don’t know how to forgive, all they know is anger and revenge.” He hopes to change that by men- toring teenagers and youth adults in the community.
County To Host Financial Webinars
Hillsborough County Exten- sion will host two personal fi- nance webinars on July 23 and August 12. The series is free and part of an initiative to encour- age and assist people to save money.
Online registration is re- quired to participate in the fol- lowing sessions: 1, 2, 3’s of Smart Money Moves Thurs., July 23, noon to 1 p.m.
Personal money manage- ment does not have to be over- whelming. We will discuss strategies to protect your assets, grow your money, and avoid money wasters. Register at: http://bit.ly/wisemon.
Veterans Council To Honor Service Members
The Veterans Council of Hillsborough County, Inc. will conduct its quarterly Field of Honor Ceremony at Veterans Memorial Park, 3602 U.S. 301 N. in Tampa. The ceremony will take place at 11 a.m., on Satur- day, July 11.
This special event will honor service members in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard who lost their lives during the past three months while engaged in Oper- ation Inherent Resolve and Op- eration Freedom’s Sentinel. A quarterly event, it will be hosted by the Veterans Council of Hillsborough County.
Ye Mystic AirKrewe will perform a flyover in the missing man formation, followed by a rifle salute and playing of “Taps” by the Riverview De- tachment of the Marine Corps League. In addition, the POW/MIA Chair of Honor will be on display.
This event is open to the public and all are encouraged to attend to show support for serv- ice members.
For more information on the Veterans Memorial Park and Museum, call (813) 744- 5502 or contact the Hillsbor- ough County Department of Veterans Services at (813) 246- 3170.
PAGE 4-B FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2015