“He would want us all to step up and be the leaders that we can be.”

On Thursday, September 8th, “Precious Lives” host Eric Von died of a heart attack. He was 58. In addition to being a journalist, Eric was a beloved community leader who touched many people along his path. Executive Producer Brad Lichtenstein spoke with three men Eric mentored, all of whom have become leaders in their own right: James Causey, a writer with the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel; Jermaine Reed, the director of Fresh Start Family Services and host of “Fresh Start Today” on WNOV; and Keyon Jackson-Malone, a community advocate and producer with WNOV. They spoke about the influence Eric had on their lives, as well as the profound impact he had on our city.

For more, please see James Causey’s tribute to Eric in the Journal-Sentinel.

At a community event to support young black men, the crowd paused for a balloon release in Eric’s honor. Photo courtesy of Aisha Turner | Precious Lives

“Precious Lives” host Eric Von passed away on September 8th. Photo courtesy of the 371 Productions website.