Two local fathers have several things in common, but there’s one aspect of their lives they wished they didn’t share.
Jim Stewart, of Edmond, and Ben McAllister, of Oklahoma City, both had sons who died by suicide.
This commonality is one of the reasons they are involved with Heroes in Waiting, a local nonprofit that is pushing back against bullying and other societal ills that erode young people’s self esteem. Stewart, 72, is the executive director of Heroes in Waiting, and McAllister, 60, is a board member for the organization.
Stewart said the nonprofit started in September 2022 when the group was given an anti-bullying curriculum.
Angie Lapaglia, the organization’s communication strategist, said the curriculum was aging, so she and others helped rewrite it so that it would resonate with young people living in today’s fast-paced, social media-driven culture. They also added new research and best practices.
More: Nonprofit aims to connect 1,000 churches with Oklahoma foster families who need help