Statement of the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute in response to the January 2nd homicide of Jucelena Gomes:

While the United States has recently seen its largest increase in the rate of homicide in modern history, every life taken by homicide is an enormous tragedy that impacts an entire community. Unfortunately, just hours into the new year, Boston experienced its first homicide of 2022. This act of violence has taken the life of a teenager who had so much life ahead of her. Meanwhile, others were wounded, and many more are suffering from the violence that occurred.

We want to extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the victims and recognize that every act of violence causes harm to the wider community. Every homicide leaves behind survivors whose pain and grief endures long after the world has moved on, after the new year begins and we start counting all over again. For every homicide victim, there are at least 10 immediate family members impacted. Even as homicide rates reportedly decline, the survivor rate increases daily.

We grieve with families dealing with an unimaginable sense of loss. And, we stand ready to guide families in the right direction for services to help bury their loved ones with dignity and respect.

The Louis D. Brown Peace Institute’s mission is to serve as a center of healing, teaching, and learning for families and communities impacted by murder, trauma, grief, and loss. If you have experienced the murder of a loved one, you deserve to be supported with humanity and compassion, regardless of the circumstances. We have been an integral partner to the City of Boston and have developed best practices in serving families and communities impacted by murder for 27 years. We offer resources to families seeking support. Learn more at LDBPeaceInstitute.org

Lawmakers press bill on funding police alternatives

The grant program would be run by a board composed of representatives from specific nonprofit organizations, along with the secretary of the Department of Mental Health. The nonprofits include the Greater Boston Association of Black Social Workers, the Massachusetts Peer Support Network and the Western Massachusetts Learning Community.

One board member “shall be a consumer of services of the Massachusetts Office of Addiction and Recovery,” the bill’s text reads, while another “shall be a consumer of services of the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute,” which works to support victims of crime and trauma and their families.

 

Read the full article in Daily Hampshire Gazette

The Jewish Artist Beit Midrash Comes to Boston

Laura Conrad Mandel, executive director of Jewish Arts Collaborate (JArts), recalls the Jewish Artist Beit Midrash began with a conversation she had with Among the exhibits in the show is Tabb’s “Women of Valor Tzedakah Boxes.” She dedicates the boxes to two women—Ruth Messinger and Clementina Chery—who exemplify the mandate written on the tzedakah boxes to “Be the Change.” Messinger has embodied the Jewish value of tikkun olam (“repairing the world”) through her work with the American Jewish World Service. Chery founded the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute in 1994 shortly after her 15-year-old son, Louis, for whom the institute is named, was murdered in Dorchester.

 

Read the full article in Jewish Boston

Stop the plague of child homicide with counseling, education and healthcare

As we begin a new year, we mourn the loss of those murdered. Just like the 43,368 families mourning the loss of a loved one’s life taken by gun in 2021, I honor the memory of my own son, Louis D. Brown, who was killed in a fatal crossfire shootout 28 years ago this month. Louis was only 15 years old. Since then, I have led the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute, principled in Louis’ commitment to the community, and to bring much-needed healing to families like mine.

After two decades, there is still a lot of work to be done, especially as we reflect on how we are keeping our children safe from homicide and gun violence.

 

Read the full article on WGBH

Louis D. Brown Peace Institute eyes moving headquarters to Westville St.

The city’s Department of Neighborhood Development (DND) is preparing to issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a vacant, city-owned lot on Westville Street that could become the new home of the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute, now located in Fields Corner.

An Institute spokesman, Chris Keohan, confirmed that it will participate in the RFP process, and if successful in that endeavor, will be submitting a proposal for a new headquarters and community center on a long-vacant site across from the old John Marshall School, now the UP Academy Dorchester. He couldn’t say much more, he said, as the Institute has not secured the property just yet.

 

Read the full article in The Dorchester Reporter

Art D’var: Shemot

When I look at mixed media artist Caron Tabb’s “Woman of Valor 1,” a piece that riffs a traditional tzedakah box, I see the many facets of the burning bush in the burnt nest of the piece. I see the literal burnt wooden pieces that create the nest, Caron’s homage to Chaplain Clementina Chery, mother of 15-year-old Louis D. Brown, who was killed in Boston in 1993 by a stray bullet on his way to an anti-gun-violence meeting. And although Tina’s nest has been burnt with the death of her teen son, she has found strength in her search for justice to ensure that other families don’t have the same fate.

Tina Chery is an inspirational leader not just because she seeks peace in our community. She’s an inspiration because she believes in love and support for all who have been involved in gun violence, the victim AND the perpetrator, a sentiment that is central to finding true justice and peace in a community.

 

Read the full article in Jewish Boston

Art as a Call to Action

At the core of Tabb’s Beacon Gallery exhibit is tzedakah, the Hebrew for “charity,” derived from the root word tzedek, meaning justice or righteousness. In Judaism, tzedakah is a religious imperative, even for those who have little to give. Tabb’s exhibit includes two tzedakah boxes inspired by the work of Ruth Messinger, former president of American Jewish World Service, and chaplain Clementina Chéry, co-founder and CEO of the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute (named in memory of her 15-year-old son killed by an act of gun violence). They are striking visualizations of the power of using one’s voice to bend the arc of justice.

Read the full article in Jewish Boston.

Louis D. Brown Peace Institute Celebrates Annual 21st Survivors of Homicide Victims Awareness Month Closing Ceremony

ICYMI: Watch the Transforming Narratives of Gun Violence launch event

BOSTON, MA – On Monday, December 20, the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute (LDBPI) hosted a virtual ceremony to commemorate the closing of the 21st Survivors of Homicide Victims Awareness Month (SHVAM). This holiday month was filled with events centered around peace, healing, and transforming the narrative around gun violence. 

In 2000, SHVAM was enacted with a purpose to educate the public and policymakers about the impact of murder on families and communities – that purpose is more prevalent to this day. Homicide rates in the United States are steeply rising, and 2020 saw the highest increase in homicides rates within the country in the past 100 years. 

“Each homicide leaves behind survivors who must navigate the process of grief and loss,” said Danielle Bennett, LDBPI Policy and Network Manager. “These friends, family neighbors, and community members need resources to provide a critical sense of stability and support regardless of circumstances.” 

The closing ceremony recognized the growing impact of LDBPI. As of October 2021, the organization has served 452 survivors in Boston.

“Survivors of homicide victims are everywhere,” said Alexandra Chéry Dorrelus, LDBPI Co-Executive Director. “Research says that for every homicide victim, there are at least 10 immediate family members impacted, and this doesn’t include extended family members, friends, classmates, or teachers. We know this also doesn’t acknowledge the families suffering on the other end of that homicide.” 

At the beginning of SHVAM, LDBPI honored Rahsaan Peters, this year’s recipient of the Inform, Influence, and Impact award. Peters is a compassionate and dedicated advocate in this work of serving families of homicide victims and his community. Peter’s ability to make connections, collaborate and meet the family’s needs far exceeds the call of duty. In view of his advocacy within his role at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and the ground work with survivors, Louis D. Brown Peace Institute is proud to recognize Peters as the 2021 recipient of the Inform, Influence, Impact Award.

“The services we provide are crucial to all who contribute to transforming the narrative and response to homicide: health institutions, educational and community organizations, the media, arts etc.,” said Chaplain Clementina M. Chéry, LDBPI President & CEO. “When we envision peace and healing, it needs to come from a sustainable and fruitful environment. That is why we are dedicated to igniting a national movement that supports survivors in their path to healing from murder, trauma, grief and loss.”

To learn more about the Survivors of Homicide Victims Awareness Month, visit the website at LDBpeaceinstitute.org.

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About the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute 

The Louis D. Brown Peace Institute (LDBPI), founded in 1994, after the murder of 15 year old Louis D. Brown, serves as a Center of Healing, Teaching and Learning for families and communities impacted by murder, trauma, grief and loss. The vision of the LDBPI is to create and sustain an environment where all people are valued and all families can live in peace. Additional information is available at www.LDBpeaceinstitute.org.

How one college in Boston is helping fight gun violence

Emerson is teaming with Massachusetts General Hospital and a community organization to try to change the narrative.

The stories of gun violence in the United States never seem to subside. Four students slain inside a Michigan school. More than 40 shot in Chicago on Thanksgiving weekend. Nearly 19,000 gun-related deaths in America this year.

In Boston, the brutality might not be as rampant as in other major U.S. cities, but the pain is just as strong.

Read the full article in University Business.

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Daily Events

10:00 – Louis D. Brown Peace Institute holds a virtual ceremony to mark survivors of Homicide Victims Awareness Month. Participants include Congresswoman Pressley and state Sens. Chang-Díaz and Collins. Rahsaan Peters, a violence recovery advocate/coordinator at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, receives the institute’s Inform, Influence and Impact Award – Facebook