From A Gang To God

 

Tag line:

 

“In the gangsta lifestyle, you end up one of three ways: JAIL CELLS, WHEELCHAIRS, or GRAVEYARDS. It all depends on the choices we make.”

                                                                   -Ronald Baldridge

Synopsis:

 

Harsh inner city living, the realities of poverty, and the powerful need to overcome both – these are the factors that often fuel the disparities and rage of the urban ‘gangsta .’ Ronald Baldridge should know. In the late 70’s, he and his brother were growing up under the devoted teachings of a struggling, single mother in the hard and often racially-divided streets of Memphis’ North Side. As Ronald matured, he found himself at the crossroads between continued destitution and the allure of crime and violence. Continued struggles, racist attitudes, a fierce disregard of a biased law system and those elected to enforce it made Ronald’s decision clear. Street philosophy worked; motherly fortitude didn’t. And on that path, Ronald found new direction and status in the guise of a brotherhood called the Gangsta Disciples.

On July 7, 1985, a botched robbery attempt and two bullets would take away Ronald’s ability to walk. It would also force him into an unshakeable bond with the embodiment of all he had come to hate, a white police officer named Steve Grisham. Lieutenant Grisham was determined to save Ronald’s life and preserve his future and was relentless in his pursuit of Ronald. 

Finally, after passing years, several unforgiving lessons and losses, with a hounding police lieutenant bent on friendship, and threemore bullet wounds, twenty four operations and several broken bones later Ronald found a new family, a new life, and a new mission: to help those dying in the shadow of the urban nightmare find life in the wide open arms of faith. “ From  A Gang To God” is one man’s journey from self-destruction to destiny. Visit my website to purchase the book @ Amazon.com,myspace.com/pianoorg,and yourbook.com.

From A Gang To God

 

Tag line:

 

“In the gangsta lifestyle, you end up one of three ways: JAIL CELLS, WHEELCHAIRS, or GRAVEYARDS. It all depends on the choices we make.”

                                                                   -Ronald Baldridge

Synopsis:

 

Harsh inner city living, the realities of poverty, and the powerful need to overcome both – these are the factors that often fuel the disparities and rage of the urban ‘gangsta .’ Ronald Baldridge should know. In the late 70’s, he and his brother were growing up under the devoted teachings of a struggling, single mother in the hard and often racially-divided streets of Memphis’ North Side. As Ronald matured, he found himself at the crossroads between continued destitution and the allure of crime and violence. Continued struggles, racist attitudes, a fierce disregard of a biased law system and those elected to enforce it made Ronald’s decision clear. Street philosophy worked; motherly fortitude didn’t. And on that path, Ronald found new direction and status in the guise of a brotherhood called the Gangsta Disciples.

On July 7, 1985, a botched robbery attempt and two bullets would take away Ronald’s ability to walk. It would also force him into an unshakeable bond with the embodiment of all he had come to hate, a white police officer named Steve Grisham. Lieutenant Grisham was determined to save Ronald’s life and preserve his future and was relentless in his pursuit of Ronald. 

Finally, after passing years, several unforgiving lessons and losses, with a hounding police lieutenant bent on friendship, and threemore bullet wounds, twenty four operations and several broken bones later Ronald found a new family, a new life, and a new mission: to help those dying in the shadow of the urban nightmare find life in the wide open arms of faith. “ From  A Gang To God” is one man’s journey from self-destruction to destiny. Visit my website to purchase the book @ Amazon.com,myspace.com/pianoorg,and yourbook.com.

From A Gang To God

 

Tag line:

 

“In the gangsta lifestyle, you end up one of three ways: JAIL CELLS, WHEELCHAIRS, or GRAVEYARDS. It all depends on the choices we make.”

                                                                   -Ronald Baldridge

Synopsis:

 

Harsh inner city living, the realities of poverty, and the powerful need to overcome both – these are the factors that often fuel the disparities and rage of the urban ‘gangsta .’ Ronald Baldridge should know. In the late 70’s, he and his brother were growing up under the devoted teachings of a struggling, single mother in the hard and often racially-divided streets of Memphis’ North Side. As Ronald matured, he found himself at the crossroads between continued destitution and the allure of crime and violence. Continued struggles, racist attitudes, a fierce disregard of a biased law system and those elected to enforce it made Ronald’s decision clear. Street philosophy worked; motherly fortitude didn’t. And on that path, Ronald found new direction and status in the guise of a brotherhood called the Gangsta Disciples.

On July 7, 1985, a botched robbery attempt and two bullets would take away Ronald’s ability to walk. It would also force him into an unshakeable bond with the embodiment of all he had come to hate, a white police officer named Steve Grisham. Lieutenant Grisham was determined to save Ronald’s life and preserve his future and was relentless in his pursuit of Ronald. 

Finally, after passing years, several unforgiving lessons and losses, with a hounding police lieutenant bent on friendship, and threemore bullet wounds, twenty four operations and several broken bones later Ronald found a new family, a new life, and a new mission: to help those dying in the shadow of the urban nightmare find life in the wide open arms of faith. “ From  A Gang To God” is one man’s journey from self-destruction to destiny. Visit my website to purchase the book @ Amazon.com,myspace.com/pianoorg,and yourbook.com.

From A Gang To God

 

Tag line:

 

“In the gangsta lifestyle, you end up one of three ways: JAIL CELLS, WHEELCHAIRS, or GRAVEYARDS. It all depends on the choices we make.”

                                                                   -Ronald Baldridge

Synopsis:

 

Harsh inner city living, the realities of poverty, and the powerful need to overcome both – these are the factors that often fuel the disparities and rage of the urban ‘gangsta .’ Ronald Baldridge should know. In the late 70’s, he and his brother were growing up under the devoted teachings of a struggling, single mother in the hard and often racially-divided streets of Memphis’ North Side. As Ronald matured, he found himself at the crossroads between continued destitution and the allure of crime and violence. Continued struggles, racist attitudes, a fierce disregard of a biased law system and those elected to enforce it made Ronald’s decision clear. Street philosophy worked; motherly fortitude didn’t. And on that path, Ronald found new direction and status in the guise of a brotherhood called the Gangsta Disciples.

On July 7, 1985, a botched robbery attempt and two bullets would take away Ronald’s ability to walk. It would also force him into an unshakeable bond with the embodiment of all he had come to hate, a white police officer named Steve Grisham. Lieutenant Grisham was determined to save Ronald’s life and preserve his future and was relentless in his pursuit of Ronald. 

Finally, after passing years, several unforgiving lessons and losses, with a hounding police lieutenant bent on friendship, and threemore bullet wounds, twenty four operations and several broken bones later Ronald found a new family, a new life, and a new mission: to help those dying in the shadow of the urban nightmare find life in the wide open arms of faith. “ From  A Gang To God” is one man’s journey from self-destruction to destiny. **Visit my website to purchase the book @ Amazon.com,myspace.com/pianoorg,and yourbook.com.

We  Provide training for youth in areas of Respect, Values, and highlight the diversity of all people within our communities throughout our city, county and country. To recognize the differences among children of single parents homes, and how those differences affect performances and relationships in schools and communities.  Build skills to improve communications across cultural lines, which will play a huge part in our extinguishing these myths and stereotypes associated with single parent mothers. It is our plight to provide resources, information, activities and experience for our youth in the interest of promoting, informed, empowered, and productive organization. Teach young boys they can have dreams and achieve those dreams with faith, determination, education, love and methods of thinking outside the box on pursuing them with the newest technology in computers, software, educational materials and adapt equipment for those with spinal cord injuries. P.I.A.N.O. Inc. members  want to prevent at risk boys from experiencing these things because of the poor choices of selling drugs, gangs involvement and teen violence. We now work with at risk boys of single mothers in the alternative schools, help get boys out of gangs and speak at other juvenile facilities, Churches, hospitals, and parenting seminars to prevent them from these experiences .

Bringing the two programs together to teach young people what its like to live with a disability from the consequences of choices as well as allowing those with disabilities to be able to give back to the young boys by talking with them as mentors over the phone and one on one.

 

Accomplishments: P.I.A.N.O. Inc.  have in the past partnered with  educators, politicians, law enforcement agencies, doctors, teens, churches and several Memphis City and County schools.  We’ve spoken to crowds of 2 to 2,000 people at one time. P.I.A.N.O. Inc. has spoken in Grand Rapids Michigan radio station RBC Ministries "Words To Live By", (June 2000).  Members of P.I.A.N.O. Inc. consultant group  have spoken on various radio stations AM 640-WCRV (2000), AM 990-The Light (1996), K-97-On Point a talk show (2003), FM 101.1 (1998). P.I.A.N.O.Inc. Consultant Group have appeared at the Red Ribbon Festival, in Middleton, Tennessee with Lt. Gov. John Wilder and Chief of Police Monroe Jordan (November 2004). Spoke to Youth for Christ (November 2004).

 

 Mr.Baldridge have facilitated youth conferences; Bridges, Memphis, TN (February 2006), Youth Villages, Arlington, TN (June 2002), The Regional Medical Center spinal cord peer counseling (1988-2000), and the Y-DAC youth detention facilities (February 2002).

 

 CEO Ronald Baldridge :The television station WREG-Channel 3 produced a 30-minute special about me called “Beating The Odds” (April 1996).   Ronald was featured in a front-page newspaper article for the Commercial Appeal by Wendy C. Thomas, “Could A God Love Me” (August 2004), featured in a front –page newspaper article Tri-State Defender by Wiley Henry, “Redemption” (May 27-31,2006), featured in Proud Magazine “From A Gang to God”(December 2005), and the Spirit of Memphis magazine “A Wonderful Change” by Katrena Mitchell (October 2005) and his life story has been told in several countries including Phillipines,Far East Korea, Chile, Canada, Caribbean's, Turkey, Nigeria, South Africa, Guatemala.

 

 Ronald was the recipient of numerous awards from Juvenile Court (1999-2005),

 

K-97 radio Peace Achiever of the Month for March (2003), FM Hot 107(1997), The Tom Joyner Morning Show, “Real Father Real Men” contest (June 2001), and the prestigious Nobel Prize called The Jefferson Award created by Jacqueline Kennedy Onasis, former Senator Robert Taft, Jr., and Sam Beard of the Commercial Appeal (April 14,2005), Tri-State Defender 50 Men of Excellence November 20 ,2009 as well as Recognized by the House of Representatives from Tennessee November 15th 2009

 

 Ronald has  wrote a book on his life “From A Gang To God” myspace.com/pianoorg, FaceBook ,Yourbook.com, Amazon.com, I AM bookstore Prescott Baptist Church 961 Get Well .  For more information or speaking engagements please call.

 

P.I.A.N.O. INC.  Consultant Group   P O Box 613439      Memphis, Tn. 38101

 

Motivational Speakers • Anti-Gang Consultants • Spinal cord Peer Counselors

 

Recipient of the prestigious Nobel Prize Jefferson Award, by Jacqueline Kennedy Onasis

 

Office: 901.644.5791 • Fax: 901.522.8683 • [email protected], business E-mail:[email protected]

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