WASHINGTON -- On December 14th, 2012 six-year-old, Dylan Hockley, 19 of his classmates, and six educators were killed at Sandy Hook School in Newtown, Connecticut.
It was a day we will forever mourn, but grief has inspired change.
Since then, Dylan’s Mom has made it her life’s mission to empower teachers, students, and parents to bring school shootings to an end.
Nicole Hockley, Co-Founder of Sandy Hook Promise, and a team provide tools and training for teachers, students, parents and schools across the country to prevent gun-related deaths due to crime, suicide and accidental discharge so that no other parent experience the senseless, horrific loss of their child.
Sandy Hook Promise is empowering students because they know that kids are the eyes and ears - they know the signs and are empowered to “Say Something”, that change is possible.
Every year Sandy Hook Promise has a Gala in Washington, D.C. to raise awareness among Senators, Members of Congress, Donors and VIPs to ensure that the good work they are doing continues.
This year, they thought they would bring their infamous PSA, “Evan” to life on stage with a group of local Theater Students, but what they all got was so much more.
Molly Herson, Allie O’Connor, Callia Chuang, Eli Blanks, Valeria Morales, Gabriel Caraballo, Sarah Kathryn Makl, Sammy Strent, Max Gerecht and Fin McCahill, Led by Theater Unlimited Director, Christopher Gerken, Music Director Jay Besch and empowered by Nicole and the Sandy Hook Promise “Say Something” campaign, they learned the signs of someone who needs help:
- Students who are chronically socially isolated or pushed out
- Those who are bullied and/or bullies
- Kids who have withdrawn
- Bragging about access to weapons or guns
- Someone who posts signs of deep depression, desperation or hate
- Students who are fascinated with self-harm or cutting
- Those who give away their belongings or things that are seemingly important
The students wrote individual monologues based on those signs and worked through them artistically with Mr. Chris, while ensuring they were on point with sign off from Nicole and the leadership team at Sandy Hook Promise. The creation of those monologues was authentic, challenging, revealing and often emotional.
The students also were honored with the opportunity to perform a Sandy Hook Promise version of "You Will Be Found" with the permission of the composers of Dear Evan Hansen that featured some of the highlights of the organization’s success in the “social media” section of the song.
Today, inspired by Sandy Hook Promise and fueled by the March for our Lives movement the students are taking what they learned from a unique performance opportunity and are launching SAVE Clubs (Students Against Violence Everywhere) at their schools like Walt Whitman High School in Montgomery County and across the DMV.
The experience has changed them and has the power to make a positive and real impact on our future and safety.
