INDIANAPOLIS — It was a meeting dedicated to saving lives, a "summit" of Indianapolis community organizations looking at the connection between suicide and bullying.
"I had one son who was murdered because he was praying by a car," said Callie Sanders, one of the organizers of Saturday's event. "At his funeral, I promised him I would do everything in my life until God called me home to make a difference in this city and that's why I do what I do."
Sanders created the organization Sisters Stand Together to mend her own broken heart, and in the process, she's healing and helping others. "We talked about bullying, we talked about suicide, we talked abuse, trafficking. We talked about things that are a part of bullying, like domestic violence," she said.
During Saturday's anti-bullying and suicide prevention summit, dozens of people addressed their internal struggles head on. The event gave youth and parents the space and opportunity to be honest, open and receptive to advise on how to find the light in life.
"We asked all those that have been bullied to hold up their hand or if you have contemplated suicide hold up your hands." said Sanders.
With each raised hand, the group recognized a person fighting to live and determined to thrive.
