Community leaders challenge ‘traditional’ masculinity to prevent deaths
- Mark Parker
- 2 hours ago
- 4 min read
The silence surrounding male mental health is often a survival mechanism for those plagued by trauma. A growing coalition of community leaders hopes to mitigate that stigma before it results in additional deaths.
Concerned stakeholders from across Tampa Bay gathered on Saturday to address the youth mental health crisis - nearly one in four teens have considered suicide - and a persistent rash of youth violence. The event, organized by Keshawn’s Korner and the Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County, brought families together for a day focused on prevention, healing, and hope at the Lake Vista Recreation Center in South St. Petersburg.
Riquesha Fuller founded Keshawn’s Korner, a local nonprofit named after her son, who died by suicide in 2023 at 21 years old. The annual Six Thirteen Block Party continues honoring Keshawn Fuller’s memory.
Saturday’s third-annual event featured mental health and suicide prevention resources, wellness activities, community support services, and a special panel discussion on teen violence. Maress Scott, whose son Marquis was murdered in 2019, was one of four speakers.
“When a person values his life and himself, he’ll value other people,” Scott told Power Broker Magazine. “So, events like these are very important to recreate that sense of community. That really does help a young person trying to find his identity.”
Scott founded the nonprofit Quis For Life after his son fell victim to gun violence at 20 years old. He believes that feeling valued by the surrounding community can help struggling youth, who typically return the appreciation.
A burly former college football player, Scott said the event's keynote discussion emphasized the need for men of all ages to express their feelings. He was joined onstage by B.J. Daniels, a former University of South Florida standout who went on to win a Super Bowl; Brian Lamar Stokes, a therapist and social worker; and Antonio Brown, founder of the Competitive Readers Coalition, a nonprofit that empowers youth through literacy, mentorship, and education.
The panelists, in response to questions from the crowd, told male attendees that they “have permission to cry” and feel the same emotions as their female counterparts, Scott said. He also noted the impact of unresolved trauma.
“We are all walking around with nervous systems that have been affected, one way or another, by what has happened in our environment, whether it’s violence or domestic problems coming up in the home as a youth,” Scott explained. “Subconsciously, we have a nervous system that’s responding to stimuli.”
He stressed the importance of regulating rather than responding with emotion, which leads to arguments, violence, and death. Scott said sharing your thoughts and feelings also enables others to do the same, underscoring the benefits of community conversations like the one held on Saturday.
Jerome Kynard, who oversees the Juvenile Welfare Board’s Fatherhood Collaborative, helped organize the event. He said the engaging panel discussion highlighted the role that men, particularly fathers, play in supporting youth mental wellness.
“With the recent issues with all guns in the community, the ‘Teen Takeovers,’ and senseless shootings, I just thought it was really important to raise awareness about men’s mental health,” Kynard said. “And the role that fatherhood plays in gun violence in our communities … so we can at least begin a conversation or initiate some kind of change.”
The panelists, each with differing experiences and backgrounds, shared similar stories regarding the intersection of mental health, suicide, and violence, Kynard said. He, like the panelists, encourages men to embrace therapy.
“If there’s anything I can say, it’s talk to someone to make sure your mental health is in check before you make rash decisions,” Kynard added. “What you’ll find is that having a person you can talk to, that you build trust with, really makes a difference.”
Scott echoed that sentiment. He said many people have undiagnosed mental health conditions, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) stemming from adverse life experiences.
While he preached love and forgiveness after his son died, Scott secretly blamed himself, he said. “Not understanding what is happening to you can be torture in itself - and it could also be something that keeps you alone and ashamed to share it, to the point where you might think, unfortunately, that the only way out is to take your life.”
Scott, who thought he needed to “save everyone else’s kid because I lost my own,” found strength through friendship and his faith. He now works to provide hope through Quis for Life.
The best and worst thing about the nonprofit, Scott said, is its ongoing relevancy. The title for his annual gun violence awareness walk on Sept. 19 is Pain Across the Bay, which signifies the number of affected families from throughout the region who are searching for support.
“There are a few of us who have been in it for a period of time and found a way to cope with the loss,” Scott said. “You need someone who’s been there. You need someone to show you what you can do next, and how you can survive.”
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, immediate help is available. Call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for free, confidential, 24/7 support.
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