NYer Of The Week: Life Camp Inc. Founder Helps Parents Who Lost Kids To Gun Violence
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Parents of children who share the same tragic fate are able to start healing thanks to the founder of one organization. NY1’s John Schiumo filed the following report.
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They are parents who share a tragic bond: each of them has lost a child to gun violence.
"It took me a long time to say that my son was murdered," says Oresa Napper-Williams.
Through Life Camp Inc., an organization that promotes positive alternatives to violence, mothers get together a least once a year. The organization's founder, Erica Ford, says events like healing dinners helps them move forward with their lives.
"Give them a vehicle to heal. Give them a vehicle to forgive. Give them a vehicle to move on with the things they want to do in their life,” says Ford.
"We always say this is a club that no one wants to be in, but we are here to support one another," says Shenee Johnson, one of the mothers who lost her son to violence.
The gathering is bittersweet, sad, emotional, but therapeutic.
"It's the strengthening factor to be around other parents and to see what they are going through and how they are dealing with it," says Napper-Williams.
Part of the healing process for these mothers is making sure others never have to suffer the same pain.
"To encourage them, to let them know there is still hope, and we can do a lot when we come together as mothers to stop the violence," says Jennifer Freeman.
"Look at what you do to a community when you take a life, especially a young life, and they don't get a chance to grow and be all that they can be," says Taylonn Murphy.
"We want the mothers to know that we are here for them, we understand their pain, we understand the journey they have to go through and we are here for every step of the way," says Ford.
For raising awareness and helping parents who lost children to gun violence heal, Erica Ford is the latest New Yorker of the Week.
For more information, call (917)361-4376 or visit lifecampinc.com.