Latest news with #Shields'
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Yahoo
Why Black Parents Need to Talk to Their Kids About Guns
When TeKesia Shields founded Mother's Against Gang Violence in 2016, it was a group for parents to learn how to recognize signs that their child might be involved in gang activity. The organization was born out of Shields' desire to reflect on her own mistakes. In 2016, she found out her 17-year-old son was in a gang when he was arrested for robbery. A year later, he was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Wanting to prevent other mothers from finding themselves in a similar position, Shields continued to build MAGV as a grassroots organization alerting parents about how gangs recruit kids, while also going back to school for her criminal justice degree so she could effectively advocate for her incarcerated son. In the nearly a decade since MAGV's launch, the group has expanded to offering healing circles, burial service support, justice system navigation and compassion training through Emory University. They've served dozens of families in the metro Atlanta area. But gun safety training wasn't really on Shields' radar until someone from the Georgia Safe Child Initiative contacted her about hosting a firearm safety and storage fundamentals workshop for her organization. 'It's not something I know a lot about, so when they reached out, I thought they should come to family engagement [meetings],' she said. Each week, MAGV hosts sessions to discuss ways to prevent kids from getting caught up in gangs and provide support for parents who have lost a child to gun violence or incarceration. While gang members are frequently caught with stolen or untraceable ghost guns — firearms without serial numbers — for most kids and teens, the only guns they have access to are in their home. According to the Children's Safety Network, a lot of gun-owning parents falsely assume their kids don't know where or how to access their firearms. Unsecured and easily accessible firearms in the home can quickly become a tragedy when curious kids are unaware of the dangers they pose. Unintentional injury is a leading cause of death for Black children and teens in Georgia over the age of one. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most children are killed or injured with a gun that was already in their home. Last year in Georgia, there were 20 unintentional shootings by children, resulting in nine deaths. This year, three children in Georgia — all under 10 — have unintentionally shot and injured themselves or a sibling with a firearm. A report from the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions found that Black kids have a gun death rate 18 times higher than white kids of their same age group. Gun deaths include accidents, homicides, and suicides, but children are most likely to access that gun at home. Pew Research estimates a quarter of Black adults own a gun, and in Georgia — where nearly 50% of adults are gun owners — there are hundreds of thousands of Black gun owners across the state. 'Everyone knows how curious children are. They're gonna ask questions, they're going to touch things, they don't understand the dangers of firearms. So it's our duty as firearm owners to bring them up to speed and educate them on this topic,' said Justan Mosley, founder of Big Smoke Armament, and a certified firearms instructor. Mosley, and his mentor Rashid McCall, conducted firearm safety training and a storage fundamentals workshop Monday hosted by Mother's Against Gang Violence during the group's weekly family engagement session. Mosley and McCall encourage parents who own a gun to talk to their children about firearm safety as soon as they are able to understand, so they won't go looking for information from unreliable sources. They also stressed that the conversation should be ongoing to reinforce the rules and to answer any questions kids may have. 'In Georgia, there are no specific laws determining how you should store your firearm, but in the event that a child does obtain a firearm and commits a crime or a negligent event occurs, you will be held liable,' Mosley said. Mosely and McCall also advised parents to get connected with local gun clubs that host safety workshops and shooting practice. Both instructors are members of the Bass Reeves Gun Club, the Atlanta chapter of the National African American Gun Association, which was honored earlier this year by the state legislature for its firearm safety programming and distributing over 1,000 gun locks with Project ChildSafe. 'Training, training, training is the key to confidence, to properly securing our weapons systems, and is the key to ensuring the next generation understands this technology,' McCall said. Project ChildSafe also has educational materials and videos for parents and kids of all ages on firearm safety and the importance of safe gun storage. They also partner with police departments to offer free safety kits that include a cable lock and safety instructions; their local partners are Atlanta Police, East Point Police, Fulton County Sheriff's Office, Hapeville Police, and South Fulton Police. After the workshop, Shields told Capital B Atlanta that she hopes to host more safety training sessions and find a way to get their youth involved in additional firearm safety programs. Set an example by always handling and storing firearms safely in front of your kids Always point the muzzle in a 'safe direction' meaning if it accidentally goes off no one will be hurt Keep your finger off the trigger until you intend to shoot Unload, clean and store firearms immediately after returning home Store firearms in a safe or lock box that is not easily accessible Keep the firearms in a locked room for an additional layer of protection The key to the safe shouldn't be hanging up in the kitchen The code shouldn't be your child's birthdate Keep ammunition locked and stored separately from firearms If your child gains access to the gun, they won't be able to fire it Use an external lock or a cable lock to prevent the gun from being fired when it's not in use Under federal law, a gun purchased from a licensed seller must come with a cable lock; however, this does not apply to guns purchased from a gun show or a private seller. Have age-appropriate conversations with your kids about firearms Younger Kids When you see a gun, stop and don't touch it Leave the area and go tell an adult Teens Don't touch a gun without an adult present Always assume a gun is loaded and can fire Never point a gun at another person The post Why Black Parents Need to Talk to Their Kids About Guns appeared first on Capital B News - Atlanta.
Forbes
24-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Claressa Shields Shares What It Takes To Win Outside The Boxing Ring
Claressa Shields, Undisputed Heavyweight Champion and Mixed Martial Artist Heavyweight Undisputed Champion Claressa Shields' power and resilience are undeniable. Shields has arguably 'been that girl' in her arena as a four-time undisputed boxer and 17-time world champion who earned a gold medal at 17 at the 2012 Olympics. Nevertheless, as a woman in the boxing industry, she has had to go up against opponents like unfair pay and double standards in sports marketing. Having won the gold twice and countless championship titles before turning 30 this month, Shields is now training herself as a businesswoman and entrepreneur outside of the ring and strategizing ways to help other women in the sport reach the million-dollar mark for their talent. Born and raised in Flint, Michigan, Shields strongly desired to win and create a new life for herself and her family. In 2024, parts of her life were depicted in the autobiographical motion picture The Fire Inside, directed by Rachel Morrison, starring Ryan Destiny, and screen-written and produced by Barry Jenkins. Through the film, people get to step into a flashback of Shields' life while on her journey of overcoming adversity to become who she is today, the greatest woman boxer of all time. When asked where she draws her power, Shields said, 'I come from a strong family and line of powerful women. I'm inspired by representation, too. When I was growing up, I looked up to Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Anne Wolf, and Laila Ali. They showed me that women could be successful in sports.' Having created a successful career, Shields became the first woman boxer to earn $1 million in 2022 in a two-fight deal with British broadcaster Sky Sports. Three years later, she was still fighting for equal opportunities and was paid similarly to her male counterparts. She has also scored sponsorships and partnerships with brands such as Bose, Dicks Sporting Goods, Celsius, Everlast, and Ethika. "I'm a 17-time world champion, the only four-time undisputed champion in boxing three different weight classes. If you watch boxing, and you watch me, you know that my skills are unmatched," said Shields. In 2023, CBS reported, "TV and streaming deals are 10 to 20 times more lucrative for men than women, according to Shields' promoter, Dmitriy Salita. Male boxers make about $3 million per fight while female fighters just recently started getting seven figures for a night in the ring, while some earn more and many make much less." On February 2, Shields sold out an arena of x people in her hometown of Flint, where she defeated Danielle Perkins and became the first-ever women's undisputed heavyweight champion and the only three-division undisputed champion, male or female, of the four-belt era. That night, she earned $1.5 million. However, as one of the few women to cross the million-dollar threshold, Shields wants more money, opportunities to be on high-profile fighting cards, and advancement among her peers in the sport. "I want bigger paydays, bigger opportunities, and to be able to fight on some of these main cards with the men - even if it's being a co-main event. I'm fighting for women boxers' recognition for their accolades and greatness. I've been taking huge strides and bringing a couple of girls along with me, so we are getting somewhere, said Shields. In addition to that, she aspires to fight on a big card. "I would love to fight on the undercard of Terence Crawford versus Canelo Álverez in September co-main event TV opener." In the meantime, instead of asking for what's next, she's creating it. "When negotiating something and you don't get it, you must create it. If you want wealth, and they won't give you opportunities, create your own wealth. Figure out different avenues to make your own money," said Shields. With two Olympic gold medals, world titles, and nothing left to prove, Shields is creating new revenue streams by leaning into her creativity while building her personal brand. As her brand grows, Shields believes that access to opportunities in boxing and outside of the sport will present themselves. "There's nothing else I can do inside boxing to earn an equal pay day as the men. I've done everything as a 17-time champion and four-time undisputed boxer in the history of the sport. I fought for a million dollars a couple of times. I must keep good at my brand outside the ring and become a big star. People respect numbers," said Shields. She has amassed over a million followers on social media and began documenting her life outside the ring as an artist on YouTube. She's earning thousands of dollars as a creator on the platform and is focused on creating her own doors and table. "There have been months where I earn $5,500 on YouTube, and I knew that if I posted more, I could get up to $10,000," said Shields. To move the needle on her earnings, she said the key is to focus and silence the noise of others. "Focus on the positive. When you are entertaining negativity, it distracts you from your greatness," said Shields. Money management is another key focus for Shields. The investment to train, be promoted, and invest in your holistic well-being comes with a hefty price tag and financial discipline. "Money management is something many people lack in every category regardless of what sport you're in. Everything costs. Nobody works for you for free. Everyone gets paid - from publicists to hairstylists, makeup artists, lawyers, and managers," emphasized Shields. "When I make money, I save 75 percent and play with 25 percent." Being financially sound has allowed Shields to sustain herself at different levels of her career. Claressa Shields with members of her community outreach program. When she is not in the ring or building her brand, Shields finds time to give back through her non-profit organization, The Claressa Shields Community Outreach Program. Youth in the program learn to leverage the discipline and skill development from boxing and apply it to their daily lives to combat trauma and build mental fortitude. "I remember being told me that boxing wasn't for girls. I was 13 years old, yelling, 'I'm going to the Olympics in four years.' People laughed at me. I turned 17 and went to the Olympics, and I won a gold medal," said Shields. She often shares her story with youth to inspire them as they train their minds and bodies. Her message to others is, "Don't be afraid to be different or let people discourage you. Your dreams are not for other people to understand."
Yahoo
15-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
World champion Shields' doping suspension lifted
Three-weight undisputed world champion Claressa Shields has had her doping suspension lifted. The 29-year-old American tested positive for marijuana following her win over heavyweight Danielle Perkins on 3 February in Michigan. The Michigan Unarmed Combat Commission which provisionally suspended Shields' licence said she "provided evidence" on 6 March and that "her conduct no longer poses an imminent threat to the integrity of the sport, the public interest, or the welfare and safety of a contestant". Shields wrote on X: "Officially unsuspended! "But y'all a little quiet! Ya'll was real loud about me 'supposedly' smoking marijuana and being suspended! "No worries! And still an undisputed heavyweight champ." Although Shields' suspension was dissolved, the commission said that "does not close the enforcement action", meaning she may face further sanctions. She could be fined or have her victory over Perkins overturned as a no-contest. Marijuana is banned in competition by the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada). Shields denied using marijuana and said the tests showed only "trace" amounts. Boxing schedule and results 2025 Watch every Born to Brawl episode
BBC News
15-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
World champion Shields' doping suspension lifted
Three-weight undisputed world champion Claressa Shields has had her doping suspension 29-year-old American tested positive for marijuana following her win over heavyweight Danielle Perkins on 3 February in Michigan Unarmed Combat Commission which provisionally suspended Shields' licence said she "provided evidence" on 6 March and that "her conduct no longer poses an imminent threat to the integrity of the sport, the public interest, or the welfare and safety of a contestant".Shields wrote on X:, external "Officially unsuspended! "But y'all a little quiet! Ya'll was real loud about me 'supposedly' smoking marijuana and being suspended!"No worries! And still an undisputed heavyweight champ."Although Shields' suspension was dissolved, the commission said that "does not close the enforcement action", meaning she may face further sanctions. She could be fined or have her victory over Perkins overturned as a is banned in competition by the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada).Shields denied using marijuana and said the tests showed only "trace" amounts.
