Losing a sibling to gun violence changes you forever. It reshapes how you see the world, how you love, and how you survive. For me, the loss of my little brother, Donta Wesley Scriber, was not just heartbreaking, it was life altering.
Donta wasn’t just my younger brother, he was my only little brother, one of only two boys in our family, and someone I felt deeply responsible for. I introduced him to so much in life and made sure he knew how to carry himself as a young man. I wanted to protect him, guide him, and prepare him for the world. He had a loving, charismatic spirit that filled every room he entered. He was the one who could always make our mother smile, who kept us laughing with his random jokes, his infectious energy, and his crazy dance moves. He loved his family deeply, and his presence was a gift we never took for granted.
When gun violence took him from us far too soon, it shattered my family and broke something inside of me. I was devastated beyond words. I lost my faith. I lost my sense of direction. In my grief, I turned to alcohol, trying to numb a pain that felt unbearable. Watching my family suffer while feeling powerless to change what had happened was one of the darkest periods of my life.
But in that darkness, something else began to grow.
Witnessing firsthand the devastating impact of gun violence on my family and my community awakened a deep sense of purpose within me. I realized that while I couldn’t save my brother, I could fight to prevent other families from experiencing the same pain. His loss became a wake up call and an urgent reminder that our youth need guidance, support, and real alternatives before they become trapped in the same cycle of violence.
Driven by the desire to honor Donta’s memory and ensure that his life was not lost in vain, I committed myself to giving back to urban and inner-city communities. I do this not only through mentorship, education and advocacy, but also by coaching youth basketball and flag football, using sports as a powerful tool to teach discipline, confidence, teamwork, and accountability.
We have developed and successfully run an 8-week summer program that combines athletics with life skills development. This program includes a nutrition component, where participants receive education on healthy habits along with access to fresh fruit, reinforcing the importance of caring for both body and mind. Through these efforts, we provide young people with consistent support, positive role models, and safe spaces to grow.
At Push The Peace, our mission extends beyond sports, music, and mentorship. We actively address the root causes of violence while supporting those directly affected by it. By creating a supportive environment and equipping youth with the tools and skills needed to navigate challenging circumstances, we work to break the cycle of violence and create safer, more resilient communities.
This mission is deeply rooted in the memory and spirit of my little brother, Donta Wesley Scriber. With heavy hearts but unwavering determination, we dedicate Push The Peace to his life and to the countless young lives lost to senseless gun violence. In his honor, I strive to be a beacon of hope, turning pain into purpose, grief into action, and loss into lasting change, so future generations can thrive free from the threat of violence and full of promise.