Making good decisions highlight of speech by former gangsta rapper in Gainesville

Students and parents were delivered a strong message about preventing and alleviating violence in schools and the community by a former gangsta rapper who served time in prison on robbery charges.

The message was delivered during the 25 ^th annual Stop the Violence Back to School Rally held Saturday at Santa Fe College. The messenger was Project Pat, formerly affiliated with Three 6 Mafia and the older brother of Juicy J, co-founder of the Memphis-based gangsta rap group considered by many to be one of the pioneers of Southern rap.

"Let the word fall on good ground and the ground is your spirit," said Project Pat, 51, who whose government name is Patrick Earl Houston. "Words matter. We need to stop talking negatively about the kids. We talk in anger to the kids and we need to walk in love. You can't train them in fear."

Project Pat is now committed to his Go Foundation, a non-profit prison ministry that has helped thousands of people give their lives to God.

He is involved with Christian rap music and was featured on a song called "All Glory To God" with rapper Dee-1.

He gave away copies of the book "The Tongue: A Creative Force" by Charles Capps during his appearance at the rally Saturday.

Back to School 'Stop the Violence' rally turns 20

What people say can either be a blessing or curse, so people must be mindful of what they say, especially to their children, Project Pat said.

"When you are talking negatively, those are curses," Project Pat said. "Ask God to give you the wisdom on how to speak to your children.”

Though the rally has grown from giving away 100 backpacks filled with school supplies to giving away 5,000 backpacks, it’s message about preventing and alleviating violence in schools and the community has remained the same, said Pastor Karl “The Rev.” Anderson of Upper Room Ministries of Greater Gainesville, founder of People Against Violence Enterprises Inc. (P.A.V.E.) and longtime organizer of the rally.

"It has been a great journey," Anderson said. "I decided to create this rally due to the school shootings that occurred in the nation."

The Columbine High School Massacre in Colorado on April 20, 1999, that resulted in the shooting deaths of 12 students and one teacher, and 21 other people being injured by gunshots, sparked his desire to do something to prevent school violence locally, Anderson said.

"I wanted to be proactive instead of reactive," Anderson said. "Throughout the years, we've had many themes during the rally such as school fights, school bullying and cyberbullying. In the most recent years, we've been addressing gun violence."

Project Pat was the perfect speaker for this year’s rally, Anderson said.

"When I'm looking for speakers I look at their story," Anderson said. "He [Project Pat] has a powerful testimony. He made music that involved violence and drugs and he made some bad decisions along the way. But he gave his life to the Lord and has gained a new focus and has done prison ministry across the country."

He hopes parents and children will learn the power of making better decisions after listening to Project Pat's speech, Anderson said.

"Making bad decisions lead to bad consequences," Anderson said. "Think about doing something before you do it. When you remember that, it can resolve conflicts before it gets too far."

A 25th anniversary gala will be hosted by P.A.V.E. at 6 p.m. Aug. 24 at the Gainesville Women's Club at 2809 W. University Ave.  Tickets are available at pavingpeace.org, Anderson said.

Melissa White, a member of Upper Room Ministries, attended the rally with her 3-year-old daughter and to support of her church family.

The rally is a great reminder to parents about the impact they have on their children's lives, White said.

"More parent involvement will help stop the violence in schools," White said.

There were free haircuts given to children, performances by Christian rap artists and dozens of vendors disseminating information about resources available through the school district and in the community. Also, gift cards to Chick-fil-A and Foot Locker were given away.

"He [Anderson] takes on a lot, so it's amazing to see him do events like this," White said.

Besides Project Pat, other speakers included Gainesville Mayor Harvey Ward, Gainesville City Manager Cynthia Curry, and John Alexander, director of Government Affairs and Community Relations with the city.

Other speakers also included Brian Kramer, state attorney for the Eighth Judicial Circuit, Ed Book, chief of the Santa Fe College Police Department and interim Gainesville Chief of Police Nelson Moya.

"Do your part and stay involved," Moya said to the parents in the audience. "Be in their business so we don't have to be."

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Making good decisions highlight of speech by former gangsta rapper in Gainesville