There are events in your life that shake you to your core and, when sudden and unexpected, you’ll never forget where you were when you heard the news. September 6, 2018 is one of those days in my life. I first met Whitney in high school show choir, and we’ve been friends ever since. We went to the same high school, college, and even graduate school. We are Delta Zeta sorority sisters, we were roommates and bridesmaids. Despite living in different cities for the last 11 years, we’ve remained part of a close knit group of friends who have helped either other through some tough times, so this has been no exception. 

I was sitting at work when my husband called me to ask if Whitney was okay. He’d seen Waller’s Facebook post asking for prayers for Whitney, that she’d been shot at Fifth Third Bank in Cincinnati. The hours that followed were a blur as I got in touch with our close friends and her family members to find out what had happened and if she was going to be okay. 

We all know how that story ends for Whitney, but what impact did it have on me? For a number of years, gun violence has been an increasing concern on my radar, but one I’d done nothing about. My husband and I are not gun owners and I have never been comfortable around guns. This feeling has only amplified as I had two daughters. I grew more uneasy with the seeming rise in gun violence and all the media coverage around it that was coupled with the inaction by anyone in a position of political power. After Whitney’s shooting I immediately started researching organizations I could join to fight gun violence, but didn’t make it very far before Whitney called me. She had an idea and wanted me to be a part of it, and Whitney/Strong was born. 

Aside from the mission behind Whitney/Strong, there is a reason I signed on so quickly. Whitney and I have a very long history, so I know that she is one of the most intelligent, motivated, persistent and kind people that I know. If she doesn’t know something, she will learn it; if she doesn’t know someone that she needs to know, she will find a contact to introduce her. She will not give up until she makes a difference in this space, and I’m proud to work alongside her to achieve this.

Whitney/Strong stands out as different amongst our peers because we are dedicated to our bipartisan approach. Our board is made up of individuals from the far left and far right sides of politics, and we encourage each other to think differently with our approach to ending lives lost to gun violence. Some may look at our board and say we don’t have the political or non profit experience to be successful. They may say that we should have joined one of the existing organizations fighting gun violence, and expand on the work they have already done. But we wanted to do things a little differently. The topic of gun violence is polarizing, and to make a difference in this space, we have to find a way to come together and find solutions.