Honoring Victims and Co-victims* of Violence: An Urban Mini-Summit
The Eastern PA Conference Urban Commission will sponsor an Urban Mini-Summit on urban violence on Saturday, Sept. 25, at 10 AM to 12 PM, via Zoom video-conferencing. That date has been the National Day of Remembrance for Murdered Victims since 2007.
The commission is engaged in an ongoing exploration of the crisis, causes and consequences of urban violence, a scourge that is worsening in Philadelphia and other cities. That exploration began with a two-part, solutions-oriented Urban Summit, April 24 and May 1. Even more than that summit, the Sept. 26 event includes a focus on urban youth, since they are increasingly the victims of lethal violence in our cities—on both sides of the weapon.
The title “mini-summit” refers to the scope and brevity of the two-hour event. Another mini-summit is scheduled for Nov. 20, with details yet to be determined.
The Rev. Myra Maxwell, Co-chair of the Urban Commission and Pastor of Trinity UMC Philadelphia, will moderate the upcoming program. She directs the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office Crisis Assistance Response and Engagement for Survivors of Homicide (CARES) Unit.
Other presenters include:
Ayanna Greene, CARES Unit Program Manager and Assistant Supervisor.
Maxayn Gooden, Co-victim, Founder and President of Woman of Valor Mentoring Program and the Jahworld Memorial Scholarship Foundation, named in memory of her murdered son. She will speak on “Youth and Traumatic Loss.”
The Rev. G. Lamar Stewart, Chief of Community Engagement, Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, will speak on “Traumatic Loss and Law Enforcement.” He is the pastor of Taylor Memorial Baptist Church in Philadelphia and a former police officer.
Shakina Deshazor, Administrative Manager, Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office Crisis Assistance Response and Engagement (CARES) Unit, will speak on “From Co-Victim to Advocate.”
Lisa Christian, Director of Counseling, Anti-Violence Partnership of Philadelphia, will speak on “Faith and Counseling Support.”
Maxwell and most of the presenters identify as co-victims or co-survivors of homicide, persons who have lost a loved one to homicide, including family members and friends.
Another highlight of the program will be presentation of a short video documentary, “Our Philadelphia,” about grief and the aftermath of gun violence from the perspective of teenagers.
To attend the mini-summit on Zoom: Register Online Now!
*Co-victims, or co-survivors, of homicide are persons who have lost a loved one to homicide, including family members and friends.