Blog 80
SIGN UP for Writing Heals—a program to pay family members to tell their loved one’s stories
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP Thanks to funding from the Independence Public Media Foundation, we have launched a program to empower families to share the life stories of loved ones they’ve lost to gun violence. It’s called “Writing Heals,” and we guide family members on how to craft personal, positive narratives about their relatives. Families ARE PAID $200 […]
A mother’s view: Trying to Heal Philadelphia with the power of music
On a sunny recent Saturday afternoon in the courtyard of City Hall, music reverberated around Center City. When passersby rushed to see where the melodies were coming from, they got more than a concert. It was an event called Hearing Philadelphia, a concert meant to remember the souls lost to murders through sound, songs, spoken […]
A mother’s view: How many young men in this photo are still alive?
I’m sitting here looking at a picture I haven’t seen in years. It’s of my son, Niam, and his friends when they were much younger. And when all of them were still alive.My son was murdered in 2017, and since this picture was taken, three other young men in this picture have been murdered as […]
A mother’s view: What others think of you and your family doesn’t reflect who you are
During the holidays, it came to me that even as people come together to love, enjoy, and celebrate together, some of us didn’t want to. A mother, father, sister, brother, child still crying over a loved one who was murdered made us not want to face others. The easiest thing was to hide. But at […]
A mother’s view: As the holidays approach, we must learn to smile again
The daylight starts disappearing earlier in the day, the air gets colder and invitations start piling up for gatherings we always thought would be a joyous celebration. The calculation is different for those of us who lost a loved one. The grief never really stops, but it doesn’t mean you’re not allowed to laugh during the […]
A mother’s view: After my mom’s surgery and sister’s death, I learned about compound grief
This summer was one to remember, and I couldn’t help but be reminded of another summer, 2017, when I lost my son, Niam, to gun violence. It turns out, life keeps moving after you experience a trauma like that, with all its good but also all its heartbreak. This was the summer that introduced me […]
A mother’s view: Losing a child to murder is like being inducted into a club nobody wants to join
As of today, Philadelphia has had an alarming 167 murders this year, which is better than last year, but still nightmarish. This means that 334 parents and even more family members are left with the responsibility of burying a loved one. Unfortunately, these families have been inducted into an emotional rollercoaster that will last the […]
Police recorded 27 murders in Philadelphia in July; here are the victims’ names
Philadelphia Police recorded 27 homicides during July 2024, which is a increase compared to June, which had 23. Here are the names and ages of those who were killed, plus when and where. But we know they are not just names. Please contact us at [email protected] if you are a family member so we can properly […]
Police recorded 23 murders in Philadelphia in June; here are the victims’ names
Philadelphia Police recorded 23 homicides during June 2024, which is a decrease compared to May, which had 21. Here are the names and ages of those who were killed, plus when and where. But we know they are not just names. Please contact us at [email protected] if you are a family member so we can properly […]
Police recorded 21 murders in Philadelphia in May; here are the victims’ names
Philadelphia Police recorded 21 homicides during May 2024, which is a decrease compared to April, which had 19. Here are the names and ages of those who were killed, plus when and where. But we know they are not just names. Please contact us at [email protected] if you are a family member so we can properly […]
A Mother’s View: How I celebrated Mother’s Day this year
A Mother’s Day Message: To my grieving mothers going through the motions of trying to understand and still living through the pain of losing a child. I was thinking on Mother’s Day that the world set aside this day to honor us, but what happens when you are grieving the loss of your child? People […]
Police recorded 19 murders in Philadelphia in April; here are the victims’ names
Philadelphia Police recorded 20 homicides during April 2024, which is a decrease compared to March, which had 20. Here are the names and ages of those who were killed, plus when and where. But we know they are not just names. Please contact us at [email protected] if you are a family member so we can properly […]
A Mother’s View: Gun violence survivors get little attention—but one has a message
Think back to Sept. 5, 2018. It was a bright, sunny Wednesday in Germantown and everyone was outside chilling on the 6300 block of Cherokee Street. They were just talking and kicking it where they had been for hours. Then around 7 p.m. a white SUV, maybe a Jeep, rolled past and shots came flying […]
Police recorded 20 murders in Philadelphia in March; here are the victims’ names
Philadelphia Police recorded 20 homicides during March 2024, which is a decrease compared to February, which had 26. Here are the names and ages of those who were killed, plus when and where. But we know they are not just names. Please contact us at [email protected] if you are a family member so we can properly […]
A Mother’s View: Speak up, Philadelphia! Detectives need you to talk to find these fugitives
As the parent of a murdered child, your heart is already broken. But as the months turn into a year, and that turns into years, it multiplies the pain to know the killer continues to roam the streets as a free citizen living his best life. On July 5, 2024, it will be seven long […]
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