Quis for Life Is Helping To Eradicate Gun-Violence in Pinellas County and Florida

Quis for Life was born from the death of 20-year-old Marquis Rory Scott, a former Northeast High School football All-Star. The gun violence that resulted in his demise inspired his family to create the organization in honor of Marquis’ life — and to push back against the relentless wave of deaths stemming from gun violence.

With a mission “to plant the seed of personal accountability for the safety of our community into the hearts and minds of all living therein, especially those most likely to use gun violence as a means to solve conflict, and to eradicate school violence and increase student readiness to learn and end community gun violence in the African American community and beyond,” Quis for Life has touched thousands of youth and families throughout Pinellas and Florida.

Using the Black St. Pete Pledge, The Five Keys to End Gun Violence Among Youth, and The St. Pete Youth Pledge, the organization offers tools for eradicating the deadly use of handguns. Partnering with organizations, including Faith in Florida, Moms Demand Action, and The Well for Life, Maress Scott, the father of Marquis and the organization’s executive director, has brought the message of anti-violence to impacted communities throughout the region.

“We are so grateful to have received this Social Opportunity Works Fund grant from Pinellas Community Foundation,” says Scott, who has spread the mission by bringing pledges to schools, community centers, and other locations throughout Florida.

The grant supported the addition of over 10 trainings for at-risk youth in schools and recreation centers, along with helping to supply thousands of printed pledges. The trainings reached over 476 youths and nearly 100 parents, allowing them to sign the pledge against gun violence while agreeing to adopt a nonviolent lifestyle.

“Our goal: not one more life lost. Quis for Life and Pinellas Community Foundation are saving lives,” Scott adds.