Taking place: Community gatherings emerge around the Credible Messenger Reporting Project 

When we were planning the Credible Messenger Reporting Project, we imagined many valuable outcomes beyond the productions themselves, from building trust to network and skill development.

But thanks to the teams behind the first three projects, we are seeing intimate and important gatherings and discussions coming together as well.

Credible Messenger Maxayn Gooden produced “The Lasting Impact.”

Last month, a crowd of community members gathered to watch the in-person premier of the short documentary “The Lasting Impact: The Emotional Scars Gun Violence Leaves Behind,” sharing the stories of three co-victims of gun violence who worked together to show the long-lasting effects loss can have on friends, family and community members.

The documentary features Credible Messenger producer Maxayn Gooden, co-producer Taj Devore-Bey and Sahir Copper. You can watch the complete video on our site now and check out coverage of the event from CBS3: Philadelphians Personally Impacted By Gun Violence Come Together To Share Coping Strategies As Epidemic Worsens

Get your tickets now: “Never Ending Emotions” to premiere on Rittenhouse Square

Credible Messenger community journalist Kimberly Kamara collaborated with a professional partner and a video producer to create “Never Ending Emotions,” a series of interviews addressing the emotional rollercoaster of life-changing events that can follow the murder of a family member and discussing possible solutions to gun violence in Philadelphia.

You can watch the trailer on our home page now and then get your tickets to attend the premiere on Friday, August 20 at The Philadelphia Ethical Society on Rittenhouse Square. More info at: Eventbrite

Learning how to live: Mothers in Charge members discuss "The Path Forward"

Dr. Dorothy Johnson-Speight visits the grave of her son Khaaliq Jabbar Johnson, who was shot and killed following a parking space dispute in 2001.

A new short documentary called “The Path Forward” presents a conversation among four mothers who lost sons to gun violence in Philadelphia and who share intimate experiences from first getting the news to learning how to survive.

The discussion is moderated by Dr. Dorothy Johnson-Speight, founder and national executive director of Mothers in Charge, a nonprofit violence prevention organization based in Philadelphia. Her 24-year-old son Khaaliq Jabbar Johnson was shot and killed following a parking space dispute in 2001.

Mothers in Charge is now screening the film at in-person community events, you can watch the trailer on our web site now and we will share the video on our site in its entirely when events are complete.

Three members of Mothers in Charge took part in the conversation, including Aleida Garcia, Vernetta Santiful and Ruth Donnelly. The women began by discussing the early stages of their grief, starting with how they learned their sons had been killed.

About the Credible Messenger Reporting Project

National partnerships emerging

Stay tuned