Benedictine College to Screen Film "Youth Under Fire"

Thursday, January 11, 2018

What was originally scheduled as a Martin Luther King, Jr. Day observance has been rescheduled. The original presentation by Tyrone Flowers, founder and president of Higher M-Pact, was cancelled due to icy weather in January. He is now set to speak on Monday, March 26, at 7:30 p.m. in O’Malley-McAllister Auditorium on the college’s Atchison, Kan., campus. The event will feature a presentation from Flowers, who will then introduce the film, “Youth Under Fire,” a documentary which examines the factors that contribute to gang violence, gun violence and mass school shootings and features his personal story. The event is free and open to the public.

Flowers spent his childhood moving between foster homes, detention centers, reform schools, state youth facilities and hospitals. Although the system gave up on him, he was determined to succeed. He started with an Associate’s Degree from Penn Valley Metropolitan Community College. He went on to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology with a minor in psychology from the University of Missouri – Columbia and then a law degree from the University of Missouri School of Law.

Confined to a wheelchair due to gunshot wounds suffered when he was 17, Flowers has worked hard to make a difference in himself and in the community that nearly killed him. His motivation comes from two sources: faith in Christ and a desire to fulfill his God-given purpose. He became actively involved with community service organizations, agencies and institutions. He served on local, statewide and national committees and boards addressing the needs of inner-city youth and young adults. His personal experiences and his careful study of the juvenile justice system and various youth organizations inspired him to create Higher M-Pact, a nonprofit community-based organization dedicated to transforming today's high-risk urban youth into tomorrow's leaders. 

Flowers hopes to expand awareness of the underlying causes of violence in our communities and to strengthen the factors that contribute to violence prevention. Following the screening, the audience will have the opportunity to engage with him in a question and answer session. 

Flowers lives in Kansas City, Mo., with his wife, Renee.

Founded in 1858, Benedictine College is a Catholic, Benedictine, residential, liberal arts college located on the bluffs above the Missouri River in Atchison, Kansas. The school is proud to have been named one of America’s Best Colleges by U.S. News & World Report as well as one of the top Catholic colleges in the nation by First Things magazine and the Newman Guide. It prides itself on outstanding academics, extraordinary faith life, strong athletic programs, and an exceptional sense of community and belonging.  It has a mission to educate men and women within a community of faith and scholarship.