By: Julianna M. Klose
barry-news@mail.barry.edu
Lieutenant Joseph Schillaci is as 24-year veteran of the Miami-Dade Police Department, regular on the A&E series “The First 48” and has been featured in his own one-hour crime special “Miami City Vice.” But rather than turning inward based on the crime he has seen, he has turned his experience outward, sending a proactive message to South Florida communities and youth.
He brought his message to Barry University Sunday, Nov. 23 as part of the university’s Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The month ends tomorrow [Wednesday, Dec. 3] with a full day of programming for human rights ending with the "Shatter the Silence" vigil.
barry-news@mail.barry.edu
Lieutenant Joseph Schillaci is as 24-year veteran of the Miami-Dade Police Department, regular on the A&E series “The First 48” and has been featured in his own one-hour crime special “Miami City Vice.” But rather than turning inward based on the crime he has seen, he has turned his experience outward, sending a proactive message to South Florida communities and youth.
He brought his message to Barry University Sunday, Nov. 23 as part of the university’s Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The month ends tomorrow [Wednesday, Dec. 3] with a full day of programming for human rights ending with the "Shatter the Silence" vigil.
In his presentation, Schillaci addressed members of Barry fraternities, sororities and a handful of Miami Shores youth, urging them to stop verbal violence and thus, a cycle that often ends in physical violence.
“There are many studies on violence and where it stems from,” he said. “And, over 90 percent of violence stems from what comes out of our mouths.”
He used his own experiences, both professional and personal to relate to youth of all ages. According to Schillaci, verbal violence often results in low self esteem, and can thus lead to a range of other issues, including domestic violence. By preventing this verbal violence in youth college-aged or younger, it could prevent further physical violence in the home or elsewhere.
“I have lived with domestic violence, and I have lived with that abuse,” he said. “My presentation was based on bullying with family and friends, and how it doesn’t just start on the playground…A lot of these kids think they know this – don’t be a bully – but I use exercises to raise their level of awareness.”
And, despite the age range in the audience, Schillaci’s made his message personal.
“Joe has a way of engaging each participant,” said counselor and co-organizer Alison Morris, “he brings a lot of his stories to the personal level.”
When addressing college students, Schillaci uses examples such as the Virginia Tech massacre to bring his message to life.
“People love to say these instances are isolated,” he said. “But, from what I have seen, they are not isolated. These are people that have been raised in abusive environments.”
Schillaci’s message emphasizes alternatives to violence – saying sorry, speaking kindly, walking away – as well as unconditional love.
“He told stories of sitting down at the scene with offenders right after the scene of a crime and asking, ‘what’s your story,’” Morris said. “It’s the first time many of these people have been asked that.”
Schillaci says it is often the answer to this question that led him his message against bullying.
“I take the audience through a journey, and part of that journey is asking what your story is. From my experience asking this, you’ll hear answers like, ‘I shot that girl in the face because she picked on me, she called me names.’”
Schillaci’s anti-bullying presentation was part of month-long programming held in collaboration with Women in Distress to raise awareness of domestic violence issues and prevention at Barry and in the greater community. This year, organizers have expanded the month’s focus to open programming to youth outside the Barry community. In addition to Schillaci’s presentation, organizers also partnered with Counseling Ministry of South Florida to make presentations against violence and bullying for local church youth groups.
The month comes to an end with a Human Rights Forum and candlelight vigil to “Shatter the Silence” Wednesday, Dec. 3. For a full schedule of tomorrow's events, please click here: http://www.barry.edu/domesticviolence/details.aspx?ID=14463
“There are many studies on violence and where it stems from,” he said. “And, over 90 percent of violence stems from what comes out of our mouths.”
He used his own experiences, both professional and personal to relate to youth of all ages. According to Schillaci, verbal violence often results in low self esteem, and can thus lead to a range of other issues, including domestic violence. By preventing this verbal violence in youth college-aged or younger, it could prevent further physical violence in the home or elsewhere.
“I have lived with domestic violence, and I have lived with that abuse,” he said. “My presentation was based on bullying with family and friends, and how it doesn’t just start on the playground…A lot of these kids think they know this – don’t be a bully – but I use exercises to raise their level of awareness.”
And, despite the age range in the audience, Schillaci’s made his message personal.
“Joe has a way of engaging each participant,” said counselor and co-organizer Alison Morris, “he brings a lot of his stories to the personal level.”
When addressing college students, Schillaci uses examples such as the Virginia Tech massacre to bring his message to life.
“People love to say these instances are isolated,” he said. “But, from what I have seen, they are not isolated. These are people that have been raised in abusive environments.”
Schillaci’s message emphasizes alternatives to violence – saying sorry, speaking kindly, walking away – as well as unconditional love.
“He told stories of sitting down at the scene with offenders right after the scene of a crime and asking, ‘what’s your story,’” Morris said. “It’s the first time many of these people have been asked that.”
Schillaci says it is often the answer to this question that led him his message against bullying.
“I take the audience through a journey, and part of that journey is asking what your story is. From my experience asking this, you’ll hear answers like, ‘I shot that girl in the face because she picked on me, she called me names.’”
Schillaci’s anti-bullying presentation was part of month-long programming held in collaboration with Women in Distress to raise awareness of domestic violence issues and prevention at Barry and in the greater community. This year, organizers have expanded the month’s focus to open programming to youth outside the Barry community. In addition to Schillaci’s presentation, organizers also partnered with Counseling Ministry of South Florida to make presentations against violence and bullying for local church youth groups.
The month comes to an end with a Human Rights Forum and candlelight vigil to “Shatter the Silence” Wednesday, Dec. 3. For a full schedule of tomorrow's events, please click here: http://www.barry.edu/domesticviolence/details.aspx?ID=14463