By Faye Mccorry, CVI Data Analyst Case Manager
On August 29th, Goodwill’s Village CVI program hosted “Healing Our Community,” an event to bring awareness to the continued gun and community violence in Tucson, provide resources for those impacted, and provide a space for folks to honor and share about their loved ones lost to gun violence. This event came to fruition thanks to Jayla G., who lost one of her best friends to gun violence in the summer of 2025. Jayla is a Village Program participant and was also involved for support of her best friend’s mother and family. She has worked tirelessly to bring awareness to gun violence in Tucson. She gave a powerful speech during the event, noting that 326 lives have been lost to gun violence in Tucson between 2020 and 2025. We were joined by community organizations providing resources, including Emerge, Homicide Survivors Inc., Boys to Men Tucson, and Pima Prevention Partnership, among many others, with food provided by GAP Ministries, and a photobooth by All Frills Photos. The event had a great turnout of community members who have been impacted by gun violence, and who said they were grateful for such an event to bring folks together and find support. During the event there was a space for people to honor their lost loved ones by hanging a star with their name, and others shared their stories with the crowd. We also raffled off gift cards, and a movie bundle, and ended the event with a screening of The Sandlot, with popcorn donated by Cinemark. We are grateful for everyone who participated, and we look forward to continuing to address and reduce gun violence, while building stronger relationships with our community.
