In cooperation with local school districts in the Silicon Valley, the Whatever Foundation had arranged to present assemblies about Jason’s Network. The goal was to reach as many students as possible, provides them with some entertainment along with the message about why this kind of a network was important to kids of all ages. The assemblies were set up at five different high schools in the area. At each school two assemblies were given, one for the students at the high school, and the second for middle school students who were bused over or walked there, depending on their proximity to the high school.
Jason and the Whatever Foundation people decided to give the first presentation at Merriam High School, since they knew they would have a very friendly audience. The assemblies featured Jason as the main speaker, along with several numbers performed by Daniel’s band. Several of the band members would also do short speeches about their own real experiences with predators, family conflicts, and drug addiction.
The assemblies were a good test for Daniel and the Second Chance All Stars in front of large audiences of their peers. They would get a fair idea of how their music would be received on their upcoming tour from the way that the audiences responded to their performance. This was an excellent chance to try out and troubleshoot different tunes they were considering for the tour as well as practice the band’s set up and take down at the different locations. The Whatever Foundation had contracted with the same company that was handling the sound for their upcoming tour. The sound company was very enthusiastic about doing the performances. It gave them a chance to work with Daniel’s band before the tour along with some extra income. The sound company management even discounted their fee due to the nature of the assemblies.
Now the Merriam High first assembly was about to start. It was being held in one of the gymnasiums rather than the auditorium so that the entire student body could all attend at once. While they were coming into the gym, many of them realized that they were in for a real treat. After all, how many high school assemblies featured a band, with soundman and lighting? As soon as the last of the students had filed in to the bleachers, Jason went to the microphone and announced: “Merriam High School, put your hands together for Daniel Holmes and the Second Chance All Stars!”
On that cue, the band played their opening number that they were planning to use on tour. It had an extra long introduction that briefly featured each band member and then went into a fast and hard driving song, “Be With Me Tonight”. The title of the song was sung by the entire band in harmony followed by verses sung by Daniel. Then Daniel, Nick and Jonathan took solos. At the end of each solo the chorus riff “Be With Me Tonight” would be sung in the background to unify the song and set up the next solo. A quick eight bar drum solo followed by a bass vamp led to the return of the main song. At the end of the arrangement, the chorus riff was repeated over and over, building the excitement level up again. The song ended with a very difficult instrumental coda that the band had spent months working on. When the music finished, everyone gasped for a few seconds and then the audience broke out into enthusiastic applause and cheers. Daniel introduced the band members during the applause.
Jason stepped back up to the microphone. “Merriam High School’s own Daniel Holmes and the Second Chance All Stars.” This brought another round of applause and cheers from the audience. “Good morning! My name is Jason Hunter and I am here today along with my friends in the band to provide you with some good entertainment but also tell you about something very important: a new network of students in our community designed to help protect you from predators and others who would harm you. It’s called Jason’s Network but it really is your network, because it’s designed for you to use whenever you spot anything in your neighborhood or among your friends that is inappropriate behavior. While there are already processes in place for reporting abuse with your teachers, counselors, school administrators, police and firefighters, this usually doesn’t happen until the abuse has become so serious that an adult notices it and reports it.
“In most of these cases, the abuse has been going on for some time. Often the abused person is afraid to report it until it reaches a crisis stage. Jason’s Network is designed to provide a way to inquire about it or report it without having to first make a formal charge. You can do this through our website, or using our smart phone app or even calling our helpline telephone number. Throughout this assembly we will be telling you more about how to participate in the network.”
Jason paced around the stage as he was talking. “You wouldn’t think so from watching us on stage here, but everyone up here has had a time in our lives when we had to deal with predators on a personal basis. We have come here to tell you a little of our own life stories so you can realize that no one is immune from this and that everyone needs to be on the alert for abusive situations.
“Our first speaker today is Eric Acosta. Not only is he an accomplished bass player for the band, he is a championship swimmer on our water polo team. But that wasn’t always the case! Please welcome Eric!”
Eric came up to the microphone. After the applause died down he began, “Before I came here to the Silicon Valley and Merriam High, I spent the worst year of my life as a victim of abuse. My stepfather was a very mean and cruel person, and he had it out for me! He made my life a living hell and I was afraid to do anything about it. Part of his abuse was his refusal to provide me with proper clothing, food, or even the most basic allowance. He made me wear only swim trunks at home and called me his ‘swimmer boy’. Some of my so-called friends at school dropped me because I didn’t have any money or much in the way of clothing. That really hurt! I didn’t want to say anything to my teachers at school because I figured if I did, I would be taken out of school. At the time, attending school was my only escape from the miserable life I was leading.
“As the months went by my stepfather became more and more abusive. One day I made the mistake of confronting him directly by myself, and was viciously assaulted by him. This caused me to go into a state of shock and depression where I shut out the rest of the world and refused to tell any other adult what was had happened to me. It was only because of the intervention of two other teenagers, Jason and Daniel, who were strangers at the time, that I was rescued from that life of misery and terror. They made it their business to help me out, take me away from that abusive environment, and look after me when I really needed some advice and new friends.
“If there had been a Jason’s Network for me at that time, I would have had a place to go to put an end to the abuse I endured much earlier. I want to encourage all of you to participate in the network. Maybe someday you can help out another kid like me!”
At first the audience was stunned by what Eric had just revealed about himself. Here was a talented, athletic, and normally shy fellow student telling them that he was at one time a victim of abuse. Then Eric’s water polo team members began a chant of “Eric, Eric!” which was quickly picked up by the rest of the audience. Finally they stood and applauded for him. It was a very emotional moment for Eric.
Jason returned to the microphone. “Thank you, Eric, for sharing your story. As you just heard, abuse can happen to anyone, and it’s often not someone who you would expect to be a victim of it. I want you to know that Jason’s Network isn’t just about abuse — another important area of concern is family counseling. I’d like to bring up the drummer of the band, and someone who has a lot of important information to tell you about this topic, Tim Wilkinson.”
“Just like Eric, I have had some rough times over the past years,” Tim began. “It all started when my parents divorced. My fathered disappeared from my life and my mother became involved with another man who I didn’t get along with at all! A lot of anger and frustration built up inside me, and I took it out on everyone else, my mom, my friends, my classmates at school, and my teachers. I admit it today, I was a real jerk at times. I did everything I could think of to protest my miserable life — breaking curfew, drinking, and doing drugs — it wasn’t a pretty scene!
“Things got so bad that one day my mother checked me out of school here and sent me away to a boot camp for teens. At the camp, I continued to fight authority anyway I could. I had to endure all kinds of punishment and was nearly killed by those people, some of whom are now in jail! If it wasn’t for the intervention of my girlfriend, Teresa Barnwell, and later Jason Hunter and Daniel Holmes, I know I wouldn’t be here speaking to you today!
“The point I want to make to you is that most of the things that happened to me could have been prevented through simple family counseling. All of the name calling, defiant acts, misunderstanding and lack of trust could have been defused with the help of a trained and impartial counselor. Instead of breaking down barriers in our family relationships we spent years building them up! Eventually my parents and I figured this out on our own, but only after years of hurt feelings, isolation, and mistrust.
“There is no need for this to happen to you. Family problems are nothing new in our society. You can choose to do something about it instead of remaining in a miserable, uncommunicative existence. This is another important feature of Jason’s Network — access to all sorts of counseling programs in our community. I urge you to participate for just this reason alone. There are all kinds of resources available to you; you just have to find them and make contact. Your life may depend on it someday!”
After Tim finished talking, there was more applause. The students were again surprised at the frank talk they were receiving from fellow students. Jason returned to the microphone. “Thank you, Tim, for sharing your experiences with us. Tim has become an incredibly talented drummer. You will hear this in the next number performed by the band, which features some great drum solos by Tim. While the band is performing, we will be passing out handouts with information about Jason’s Network and how you can participate in the network. Now get ready to ‘Blast Off’ with Daniel Holmes and the Second Chance All Stars.”
The band played a series of simple chords, the outer structure for a series of drum fills and breaks. Then the song moved into a dance groove beat anchored by two note syncopated figures in the bass line and intricate cymbal work from the drum set. Out in the gym, student helpers were passing out folder informational brochures about Jason’s Network and how to participate and join the network. Jason monitored the student helpers, and when they were finished passing out their brochures, he signaled Daniel to end the music.
“Thank you, Daniel,” Jason said after the applause died down. “Our next speaker is a fabulous reed player on saxophone and flute. When he plays a solo, it is like he is telling a story through the notes of music. Today, Jonathan Kowalski has a different story to tell. This is about dealing with drug addiction and how it can affect you and your family. Jonathan,” Jason finished as Jonathan came up to the center microphone.
“I’m not much of a public speaker,” Jonathan began, “but when it comes to the topic of drug addiction, I have to speak out because of the way it nearly ruined my family. If someone you know is using drugs like methamphetamines or heroin, you have a real problem to face. The only cure is complete detoxification and rehabilitation of the addict. Otherwise there is nothing in your life that won’t be sacrificed in the pursuit of more drugs, your family life, your possessions, and even basic food on the table. The addict will be in denial that this is true even as they are pawning off possessions or spending the rent money on more drugs. Worse yet, the addicted person is often at the mercy of drug dealers in order to feed their habit.
“You cannot fight this alone. I found that out the hard way. If it wasn’t for my band mates like Tim and Daniel, and the help of Jason’s Whatever Foundation I would probably have become some burned out addict, homeless on the streets! I was very fortunate to have friends looking out for me. Not everyone has that luxury or access. Here is where Jason’s Network becomes a valuable resource for you. Through the network you can find out where to get assistance from people and organizations that are committed to helping drug addicts and their families cope with the problems of addiction and fight against predatory drug dealers. Take advantage of the network. Don’t sit there and do nothing if you see a problem in place or starting to develop. It doesn’t take much to save a life or to save a family. Take the first step by joining Jason’s Network.”
There was applause for Jonathan’s speech. Jason reminded the audience that, “The information you need to join the network is on the brochure you just received. Next I want to introduce you to another very special person in our community. Nick Feraducci is one of the most talented pianists I have ever heard perform. We brought in a grand piano for this assembly just so you could hear him perform. Many of you here at Merriam High School performed his Requiem for the Lost Children last year, a tribute to kids that were tortured and killed by two of the worst serial predators ever to operate in this area. Thanks to some last minute networking and some lucky breaks, Nick was spared the fate of the other kids that these men kidnapped. I asked Nick to play a solo for you to remind you how lucky we are that his incredible talents were not taken away from us by some predator.”
Nick and his piano were then placed in a spotlight. “Thanks, Jason,” Nick began. “Before I play Chopin’s Fantasie Impromptu for you, I want to remind you of a very important fact. Predatory behavior cannot exist in the open! These criminals can only operate under the covers of silence and apathy! If they can successfully keep their victims quiet about what they are doing, they win and society loses! Don’t let them succeed! Join Jason’s Network.”
Then Nick blasted into the complex and difficult opening passages of the Impromptu, inundating the assembly in a wall of sound. As always, Nick quickly captured the attention of the audience, and by the finish you could hear a pin drop, even in the echoing gym. And when Nick finished, the audience rose and gave him a standing ovation.
“That was Nick Feraducci,” Jason said when things had quieted down again. “This morning you have heard your fellow students discuss some very personal and turbulent times in their lives. You have heard them perform together in a great band that will be on tour this summer with the Biloxi Brothers. Most importantly, you have been given an opportunity to participate in a new program that will help to expose abusive behavior in our community and provide counseling services for individuals and families who are in need of assistance.
“The only way to truly begin to stamp this out is to have eyes and ears in every neighborhood in our community. That’s where Jason’s Network can play an important role. We need you to belong to the network so you have a way to report suspicious behavior. The network may ask you for more information if something is going down in your area. In most cases you will never need to use its resources. But the more eyes and ears we have out in the community, the more likely it is that suspicious behavior does get reported. Please join us in our quest to make your lives safer and better.
“Thank you for your attention this morning. We are going to end this assembly with one more number by the band. Daniel, tell us what you are going to perform.”
“Thank you, Jason,” Daniel replied. “This number we are about to play isn’t our usual closer, but since we are here at Merriam High and she is in the audience, we are delighted to close with the song ‘Diana’, written and dedicated to my love and steady girlfriend, Diana Miglione.”
The dedication brought an uproar from the audience. Diana turned blush red at the attention, but then settled into the groove of the song along with the crowd. At the end of the song, everyone cheered. The principal came on stage and the students were dismissed back into their classes.