The Nonviolence Institute in Providence is internationally known as a leader in violence prevention. While its focus is on combating youth gang violence, the Institute is also active in responding to other incidents, including the deadly shooting at Brown University.
Lisa Pina-Warren, executive director of the Nonviolence Institute, spoke with Ocean State Media political reporter Ian Donnis on Tuesday about the role her organization has played in assisting the victims of the Brown shooting.
Interview highlights
On how the Nonviolence Institute responded to the shooting
Lisa Pina-Warren: One of the things that we do is support victims, families, community members, hospital staff. We kind of have a good system in place now. When something like this happens at the hospital, we work together and coordinate so that families are informed, victims are supported.
Over the last few days, we filed victims’ compensation with families. We help to coordinate – with Brown – lodging, hotel stays, Uber rides, and things like that.
On her reaction to the shooting and her personal experience with death
Pina-Warren: It’s a reality check for me, myself, but I think for all of us… It’s like, what could we have done? Is there anything we could have done? I say, no, and that’s really scary because we don’t know if it can happen again.
When I’m able to sit by someone’s side while they’re grieving, that helps me grieve (my deceased loved ones). One of the things that I said to one of the dads at the hospital; his daughter had been shot and he was waiting for his older daughter to arrive, and we were just chatting and I told him how, when I lost my brother, that I felt like I couldn’t grieve at times because I was so worried in trying to be supportive to my mother that was grieving her son.
Grief impacts us all differently, but for me it is really being there during those most difficult times. I feel like I am blessed to be there.
On how the shooting will impact Rhode Islanders
Pina-Warren: I think for a long time this is going to be really heavy on our hearts. I have a lot of friends in the community (who) are saying children are expressing fear. I don’t know how it will change us, but I know that this is going to affect us for a very long time.
There is gonna be a long healing process for all of us. I have seen in the last few days the community coming together, no matter what your beliefs are. (People are) coming together to support those impacted by this horrific violence. I hope it doesn’t take another act of violence or mass shooting for the community to come together the way they are right now.
Ocean State Media’s Education & Community team compiled these resources for dealing with tragic events.
