Turning Away From Violence

Violence is all too often seen as a justifiable response or understandable way to right past transgressions. However, while it may seem that we are hard-wired to seek revenge and to turn to violence when we feel wronged, this decision all too often sets off a cycle of retribution and escalating violence that’s almost impossible to stop.

After Roger Roper was shot and left paralyzed, he became obsessed with the desire for retribution. However, his love for his children and fear of how the ripple effect of violence could affect them drove him to reconsider those feelings of anger. With the support of the ‘WeLive’ program, Mr. Roper was able to turn his life around and focus on his own wellness rather than the all-consuming sense of hatred he had experienced. Now, as a Violence Interventionist for the Washtenaw Sheriff’s office, he’s helping others make the same difficult but necessary decision.

Derrick Jackson, Director of Community Engagement for the Washtenaw Sheriff’s also joins us to explain how retaliatory violence can devastate an entire community, and how his office is working to quell that violence with innovative initiatives like the ‘WeLive’ program. He explains how this program works and why it has been so effective and successful in helping people overcome their often-justified desire for revenge.

Together, these two inspirational men are making a meaningful impact on the overall wellness and safety of our communities and are eager to share advice on how we can all learn to turn away from violence.

Watch MI Healthy Mind this Sunday, & Let’s Talk About It!