On Saturday, June 22, we hosted the "Try Love" gun violence awareness event, a powerful and heartfelt gathering that brought our community together during June, Gun Violence Awareness Month. We are deeply grateful for the incredible support we received from everyone who attended. Your presence and engagement made the day truly special and underscored the importance of addressing this critical issue.
We encouraged the community to join the #TryLove Commitment, a pledge to intentionally spread love and kindness daily to help break the cycle of violence. We believe that small acts of compassion can make a big difference, and we invite all our readers to take the commitment as well. Together, we can create a more peaceful and supportive environment for everyone.
We want to extend our heartfelt appreciation to the dedicated volunteers and everyone who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to make this event possible. Your hard work and commitment are the backbone of our efforts, and we couldn't have done it without you.
A special thank you goes to the esteemed men who participated in our engaging panel discussion. Your willingness to share your experiences and insights shed light on the complex factors contributing to gun violence and inspired us all to take action. Your voices are invaluable in our collective effort to make a difference.
As we reflect on this event, we are filled with hope and determination. We have realized new ways to serve our community, and we look forward to sharing more information in the coming months. Together, we will continue to spread love, promote understanding, and work toward a safer, more compassionate world.
Thank you to our sponsors and partners:
City of Lexington - Government
Ezekiel AME Zion Church
Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity - Davidson County
Thelma Smith Foundation South Branch
Mr. Donnie Holt & Males Only Service Club
Larencia Bethea “Reiki Ren”
To all of the panelists:
Facilitator: Mike “The Barber” Winston
Damien “Dizz” Hammie
Henry Munoz
Joseph Stafford
Lahmi Simmons
Michael Clinton Jr
Saro Vay
Volunteers:
Bernardo Bridges
Carla Holt
Cassie Mcmillon
Damion Tingle
Darryl Leflore
Deshawn Leggett
Glenn McCray
Harrie Cooper
Janice Richardson
Karen Taylor
Katrina Hairston
Nyshawn Pearson
Philip Taylor
Rashad Beard
Samuel Robertson
Shemika Cassell Evans
Tasha Melton
Tina Hargrave
Tony Moses
Planning Team:
Angela McDuffie
Antonio Dawkins
Jennifer Corbett
Miranda Holt
A special thank you to:
Cory Holt (for taking time out to provide input during the early stages of planning)
April Apdapainter Reich (for providing encouragement)
Teshia Mae (Cakes by the Pound) for providing a delicious lemon pound cake
All of the community who came out to support
DJ: Antoine Jackson
Videographer: Coccaro Smith
A few additional acknowledgments who helped make the event a success:
Sky High Entertainment
Comer Sanitary Service
Team Rental
Lineworx
Davidson Speed Printing