When I lost my nephew Keondre to gun violence in 2021, my whole life came crashing down. At only 18, Keondre was senselessly shot multiple times. He went into the neighborhood deli, and he never came out. 

I raised Keondre from the time he was four years old—he was like a son to me.  I remember his bright spirit. How he was always helping me with my bags, joining the community clean-up crew, tutoring his younger cousins, teaching kids how to play basketball. Keondre was a stellar student. He had no prior criminal trouble. He was a light that brought joy to others, raised by a village of aunts, uncles, and family friends who loved him. Yet that could not keep him safe. 

I am not alone in this. Far too many parents are losing their children to this numbing violence. Everyday there is another report of a fatal shooting of a young person. Of another bullet that has destroyed countless lives. The pain of these losses will stay with me for the rest of my life. But with support, I have found ways to cope. 

To talk through my feelings in-depth, I turned to Safe Horizon for grief counseling. I was introduced to a social worker who I could call anytime. She has always been there whenever I need her and her genuine interest in my healing has built a relationship that makes me feel safe knowing that she is here for me. 

The pain of these losses will stay with me for the rest of my life. But with support, I have found ways to cope. 

Grief counseling has helped me so much that I find myself offering what I have learned to others. In addition to counseling, my social worker helped me access victim services for help with funeral expenses and more. I want others who have lost loved ones to gun violence to know this kind of support is available, free of charge. 

I learned that it’s OK to reach out for help when you are hurting.   

We have to take care of ourselves so that we can keep fighting for our community. Because I got the support I need, I have the strength to keep going.   

I will never get Keondre back, and that will never stop hurting. But, with help, I can regain some of the joy that he, and his memories, brought to my life.