On March 28 and 29, VOICES hosted "Preparing for After: Planning for Effective Response Following Acts of Mass Violence" at Grace Farms, in New Canaan, CT. The trainings provided an overview of VOICES preparedness trainings that document best practices for community stakeholders in preparing for, responding to, and recovering from acts of mass violence.
The heartbreaking news of the recent suicides of two Parkland students and the father of a child who was killed in the Sandy Hook shooting is a sobering reminder of the profound long-term impact these tragedies have on families, survivors, and the community-at-large. At this somber time, we offer our sincere condolences to their families and friends as they try to come to terms with yet another unimaginable loss.
March is National Professional Social Work Month. Did you know that there are over 680,000 social workers in the United States? Social workers play an important role in advocating, educating and helping improve the lives of those they support. Our work at VOICES is fundamentally guided by social work practices and most importantly a steadfast commitment to providing continuity of care for the 9/11 community.
February 12 marks the tenth anniversary when we remember VOICES co-founder Beverly Eckert and the other 49 individuals and an unborn child who perished when Continental Flight 3407 crashed in Buffalo, New York. Beverly was traveling to Buffalo to attend a ceremony at Canisius High School.
As we begin the new year we would like to thank our donors and partners for your support in 2018! Thanks to your generosity Voices of September 11th continues our mission of providing critical support services and access to resources and mental health care for victims' families, survivors and responders.
We wish you and your family a joyous holiday season with peace, warmth, an joy in the New Year! Happy Holidays from our family to yours!
VOICES Resiliency Symposium: Knowledge to Practice, Pathways to Long-Term Healing was held on Sunday, September 9 in New York City. The event focused on providing a victim-centered approach to responding to acts of terrorism and mass violence and bridging the gap between research and practice.
As we gather to commemorate the 17th Anniversary - in New York City, at the Pentagon, in Shanksville, PA and in local communities, we remember the 2,977 precious lives lost on that tragic day. September 11 is also a day to remember all those who have been affected since. We pay tribute to the over 2,000 who have died of 9/11 related illnesses, and the over 40,000 survivors and responders who are currently in treatment for serious medical and mental health conditions.
As the 17th anniversary of 9/11 approaches, we invite you to visit VOICES 9/11 Living Memorial Project, commemorating the 2,977 lives lost and documenting the stories of survivors. As you reflect and remember, consider adding a personal reflection or story to our collection.
We hope you can join us at the beautiful and serene Grace Farms for our summer interns' annual community presentation. Our interns from New Canaan High School will present "Reflecting and Moving Forward: Stories of Resiliency After 9/11." The program is free and open to the public. The presentation will include a video that chronicles the stories of survivors and responders, highlighting their personal resilience and the relevance of 9/11 today.