When Linda decided to attend a Mothers United for Justice rally organized by the Zakat Foundation earlier this month, she looked forward to connecting and sharing stories with other women like her who had lost children to violence. Having lost three of her sons, two to gun violence just 20 days apart, Linda has learned to find comfort in connecting with other mothers.
However, Linda was also there to tell people about READI Chicago, the program she said is helping her two remaining sons work toward a safer future.
“READI Chicago has been a great opportunity for my kids—I really believe it’s going to help our neighborhoods,” Linda said. “I’m seeing it keep these guys off the street and be a support system for young people who don’t have that anywhere else.”
After losing three children in three years, Linda felt relieved when a READI Chicago outreach worker whom she had grown up with reached out to say he had a job lined up for Linda’s son Nishawn—one that would help keep him safe and off the street. Seeing how supported and successful Nishawn was in READI Chicago, Linda asked if her other son, Darron, could join as well.
Now, almost two years after Nishawn first began READI Chicago, he is operating a successful lawn-care service with another former READI Chicago participant. Darron works a second job, in addition to his subsidized employment through READI Chicago, and Linda is continuing to connect with and support other mothers who have experienced loss.
“The rally started off as a call-to-action to demand justice for these parents and their lost children, but it ended up being this large support group instead,” said Reality, a READI Chicago Englewood outreach worker who spoke at the rally, along with Sen. Dick Durbin and many of the mothers in attendance. “Seeing that can be rare because a lot of times people feel so isolated—that nobody understands what it’s like to lose a child. Here though, it was all mothers supporting each other.”
Linda was one of several mothers of participants in READI Chicago who attended the rally. Anthony, another member of the READI Chicago Englewood Outreach team, said it was a no-brainer to invite the mothers of slain READI Chicago participants to join the Englewood team at the rally.
“When we convince a guy to participate in READI Chicago, we don’t only engage them—we engage their family and community, as well,” Anthony said. “That support doesn’t stop—we maintain those relationships.”
