PeTika Tave shared her message with people at an MLK Day event in Downtown Jacksonville Monday. Her struggles as a child inspired her to write three books.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — On MLK Day people in Jacksonville united against gun violence.
At an event this afternoon at the Prime Osborn Center, PeTika Tave, spread her message on every corner of her vendor table were words of affirmation.
“Tell them, “Hey you’re great just the way you are!” she said.
Tave is an author, her books contain messages for children.
“[Tell] They [children] are not the images on a tv screen, so they don’t compare themselves to what they see,” Tave said.
She has three books with affirming messages for children. She wants the books to spark conversations between parents and their kids.
“Learn about their friends and their peers where they’re spending their time. And if they’re doing all of those things, then guess what, we can make sure that they’re making positive choices. And then they don’t get caught up in gun violence,” she said.
Tave struggled with childhood obesity. She has lost more than 200 pounds.
Her experience and years of teaching in Duval County Public Schools inspired her to write.
“I wanted to empower parents to talk to children to make sure no one suffered from feeling like they were we’re not enough,” she said.
A fourth book is on the way, written by her daughter, Zandria Bastian.
“I come with all of her to all of these different events and I love doing this with her,” Bastian said.
Tave’s message rubbed off on those closest. Together the mother/daughter duo hopes their message spreads to keep kids healthy and safe.
“Because it only takes one bad choice to ruin your life,” Tave said.
Bastian’s new book is coming out March 16. It will be about helping parents talk to their children about who their friends are.
