Be What a Bullet Can’t Be uses the process of filmmaking to activate art and mindfulness interventions to reduce the culture of violence in Memphis.

In 2018, Grounded piloted an arts and mindfulness program in the Shelby County Juvenile Detention Center, which resulted in a 54% reduction in violence.

With the goal of transforming places of fear into places of healing, Grounded initiated a series of more than 100 community walks, which informed the creation of a film script. This practice served to bridge our work from the Juvenile Detention Center to Crosstown High XQ Super School and to South Memphis.

We are currently producing a short film, music, art installation, book, and implementation guide directed at building authentic leadership and assisting in the development of formerly incarcerated young people.

Goals of this work include providing formerly incarcerated teens with opportunities for mentoring, employment and leadership development.