Michael Brown, Eric Garner and Tamir Rice are just a few of the many victims of gun violence. (Photo: Funders for Justice)
“Enough is enough,” says Dr. Daisy Harmon-Allen, president of the Chicago chapter of the National Black Nurses Association, which is hosting a town hall on violence.
You can make a difference this weekend by joining forces with nurses from coast to coast who are trying to do something about violence, including shootings, cyber bullying, dating abuse and related factors such as low self-esteem.
“Enough is enough,” says Dr. Daisy Harmon-Allen, president of the Chicago chapter of the National Black Nurses Association, which is hosting a town hall at 10 a.m. Saturday at Liberty Baptist Church. The number of people killed in Chicago rose from 82 during the first quarter of 2015 to 141 for the same period this year, according to the police.
“This town hall meeting is an effort to bring more awareness to the impact gun violence has on families, communities and healthcare workers; while providing a opportunity to discuss ways we can bring an end to this disheartening social dilemma,” Harmon-Allen said.
The Chicago group is one of 95 NBNA chapters that are kicking off a national Violence Reduction initiative on Saturday to address this public health crisis. Activities range from moments of prayer to God’s Girls Got S.W.A.G., a daylong event focusing on Safety, Wellness, Attitudes and Glamour for 10 to 18-year-old girls at the Lee Heights Community Church in Cleveland.
The number of people killed in Chicago rose from 82 during the first quarter of 2015 to 141 this year. (Photo: iStock)
“Violence has reached epidemic proportions in the U.S.,” said Dr. Eric J. Williams, NBNA president. “More than 30,000 people are killed by gun violence. One in four women will be subject to intimate partner violence. Hundreds will commit suicide.”
“Reduction in violence of all forms — domestic violence, bullying in the work place, verbal and mental violence, sexual assault against girls on college campuses and human trafficking — must end.”
Here’s where you can get involved this weekend:
Akron, Ohio
Stop the Gun Violence – Pray Where you are
Cincinnati
Closing the Health Gap Health Expo Violence Reduction Initiative
Durham, N.C.
A Call to Action: Preventing Violence in our Community
Houston
Stop Look Listen Anti-Violence Information Series
Los Angeles
Pittsburgh
Stop the Violence Annual Health Fair
Washington, D.C.
For more on the history of this healing profession, see “Black Nurses: Healing Their Community” at FierceforBlackWomen.com.
Nurses are addressing violence against girls and boys, self-esteem and cyber-bullying. (Photo: Funders for Justice)
About Fierce Fridays — Tips for Weekend Well-Being
We each cherish those precious days off at the end of the week, but increasingly those of us who are charter members of the sisterhood of the stressed and overworked are losing our Saturday and Sunday leisure time to weekend work and domestic duties.
To make sure that you do something every weekend that’s just for you, we’ll be sharing a little advice to make those 48 hours a great time to recharge your batteries, bring a little good news and fun into your life, or discover a quick and easy way to improve your health.
