Former Michigan State University basketball player Anthony Ianni will make a stop in St. Joseph Tuesday as part of his anti-bullying Relentless tour. Started by Ianni in 2013, Relentless is intended to raise awareness of autism and the problem of bullying. Ianna tells WSJM News he wants young people to be inspired.
“It’s also to go out there and advocate for students not only with special needs or autism, but to go out and advocate for kids who are bullied every day and to say to kids ‘you need to be careful what you say and do to others,’” Ianni said.
Ianni was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder at the age of 4 and was the victim of bullying as a child. He tells us he’s toured the country with Relentless, speaking to tens of thousands of students.
“I walk in the school, I show up, and I use a microphone,” Ianni said. “I don’t use anything else. I think that’s what kids really enjoy about the presentation is that it’s real and they can definitely apply to it because a lot of them have been in the same situations as me.”
Ianni’s St. Joe presentation will be held at 10 a.m. at Berrien RESA’s Lighthouse Education Center on Glenlord Road. He was invited by a local teacher. You can find out more about the Relentless Tour right here.
