REAL TALK Acknowledgments and Special Thanks  

Thank you to the SAVESNet members at South High School and Linden McKinley STEM Academy. Your writings are personal and brilliant. Your desire to reach out to younger students, share your wisdom and help them be successful is a wonderful gift to this generation.  

Thank you to the Columbus Foundation’s Richard C. & Nanciann Kaufman Ninde Fund, Franklin County’s Office of Homeland Security & Justice Programs and the Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services for providing the program and project support that allowed this book to become a reality.

To our editor, Mia McPherson, thank you for your unending patience and ability to transform a wide mix of writings into a piece of inspiring and cohesive literature.  To Brian Holscher for his graphic expertise and to Karl Sturdivant for his brilliant interpretation of this work into an engaging and attractive cover, thank you.  To Studios 3 Multimedia for the website design.  Thank you to Dawn Wallace for reviewing early copies of this book and giving invaluable feedback.

To the entire SAVE staff for their enthusiasm and ideas for the book.  To Mario Martin and Rosetta Perry for working closely with their students to bring about inspiring, creative, and heartfelt writings.  Thank you to Diane Sorenson for her photography and Tracy Thornton for the book title. To Christine DeChicco for coordinating the resources and people needed to bring the book to print.

To the principal of South High, Dr. Johnetta Wiley and Linden McKinley STEM Academy, Ms. Tiffany Chavers, and to their faculty and staff for their dedication to the students and support of the SAVESNet program.

To Columbus City Schools for allowing SAVESNet in the schools and for supporting the violence prevention efforts of their students. Thank you. To the SAVE Board and volunteers who give their time and expertise to further the SAVE mission and support the youth of our community. Thank you!