Philadelphia Eagles Running Back Brings Antiviolence Message to South Philly High
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - He may not be making much of a difference on the playing field this season, but Eagles' running back Ronnie Brown is trying to be a positive influence off the field.
Brown has been in the news lately because the Eagles tried to trade the seldom-used running back to Detroit -- only to have the deal called off when Eagles doctors found a brain tumor in Jerome Harrison of the Lions (see related story).
Today, Brown was at South Philadelphia High School, bringing his "23 Ways to Stop Youth Violence."
"Things aren't always easy. No matter where you come from, no matter what type of environment you grew up in, you still have a chance to be successful, and I think that's the biggest message," he told KYW Newsradio.
The presentation included a film depicting a history of school gunfire. It had an effect on freshman Saniyyah Speach.
"The part where they showed that they were shooting in the school, it made me think that they really need to... people need to just think before they do," she said.
The environment at South Philly High has improved in recent years after its much-publicized racial and ethnic conflicts. Principal Otis Hackney says the challenge after Brown's presentation is to continue to get students to buy in.
"We don't always have the right stuff or have the right answers. They'll tell us what works for them," Hackney said.
Reported by Mike DeNardo, KYW Newsradio 1060
