Meet Tyra “Norky” Lewis- Advocating for a safer St. Louis

Tyra “Norky” Lewis was seven years old when she witnessed her mother’s boyfriend get murdered in their living room. This moment, along with countless others in her youth, shattered her childhood, forcing her to mature much too quickly. “Violence for me didn’t start in the community—it started at home,” Tyra explains. While growing up in this environment, Tyra had to make tough decisions, even ones she was not particularly proud of, simply to survive.  

“That’s the game that I know,” Trya explains. “Yeah I know it, but do I want to know it? No. But how else am I gonna eat? Because we were hungry.”

When Tyra was first introduced to SHOW ME PEACE (SMP) by another member, she was met with the support and stability she was seeking. “SMP makes you feel welcome, makes you feel loved,” Tyra explains.  

Her experiences are a testament to the importance of this program and reflect her dedication to creating safe spaces. “We need programs like SMP to help people because a lot of times they don’t know that these resources are available,” Tyra explains. “They don't know that there’s help and that someone will listen.” 

Recognizing her own struggles during her youth, Trya hopes that younger generations can evade this cycle of violence. “Peace is everything and all of our children deserve to grow old and live life without the fear of violence.”