Support for Our Community in the Wake of Gun Violence

Dear Emerson community,

This is a day when it can be impossibly hard to show up and to act as though everything is normal. The news of violence upon violence over these past two weeks, most recently at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, can feel like too much for a human body to bear. I don’t yet have the words, but I do feel compelled to reach out to each and every one of you to acknowledge that you may very well be hurting, angry, scared, or numb. And to whatever extent you can extend gentleness to yourself and others today, please do. 

Perhaps a meeting needs to be postponed. Perhaps a project will get done late. Perhaps today simply won’t go as planned.It’s all okay.  

If you could use some space to breathe, to do some brief grounding practices, and to gather together with members of this community, I’ll offer a space for breathing and connection tomorrow (Thursday) from 12:30-1:00 pm. More details will be posted on EmConnect soon and the zoom link to access the gathering is here:

Topic: Space for breathing and connection in the wake of gun violence
Time: May 26, 2022 12:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)  
https://emerson.zoom.us/j/92453251623?pwd=YkdRK0RidGhPSjB5YTVENHo2UEx3Zz09

The need for action is fierce, urgent, and undeniable – and a small but critical part of that action will be to care gently and deeply for ourselves and for those around us as we grieve the unthinkable. At our vigil for Buffalo and Laguna Woods last Friday, we shared a poem written by Marcus Amaker, Poet Laureate of Charleston, South Carolina, called “Give Yourself Some Flowers.” This poem, written by Amaker after a mass shooting in his own city, is but one reminder for us in these days. 

If there are ways I can support you, please do not hesitate to reach out: julie_avisrogers@emerson.edu.

Rev. Julie Avis Rogers
Director of Religious and Spiritual Life & Campus Chaplain at Emerson College