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  • Automotive
    Tips for Crossing Water in Your Jeep Wrangler

    Tips for Crossing Water in Your Jeep Wrangler

    4 Helpful Tips for Giving Your Car a Glossy Finish

    4 Helpful Tips for Giving Your Car a Glossy Finish

    4 Common Mistakes To Avoid With Car Restorations

    4 Common Mistakes To Avoid With Car Restorations

    Signs That It Might Be Time To Get a New Car

    Signs That It Might Be Time To Get a New Car

    Mercedes-Benz Charging Network

    Mercedes-Benz to Launch Global Branded High-Power Charging Network in North America

    Ways To Surprise Your Partner Who Loves Cars

    Ways To Surprise Your Partner Who Loves Cars

    5 Important Tips for Every New Jeep Owner

    5 Important Tips for Every New Jeep Owner

    The Best Ways To Increase the Value of Your Car

    The Best Ways To Increase the Value of Your Car

    Why Jeeps Are Awesome for Off-Roading Adventures

    Why Jeeps Are Awesome for Off-Roading Adventures

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    • Mercedes-Benz
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  • Business
    Los Angeles implemented a new tax on luxurious real estate to finance affordable housing and combat homelessness

    Los Angeles implemented a new tax on luxurious real estate to finance affordable housing and combat homelessness

    Working shorter hours: 38 companies in the USA are testing the 4-day week

    Working shorter hours: 38 companies in the USA are testing the 4-day week

    World’s largest trial in the UK: 86 percent want to keep 4-day week

    World’s largest trial in the UK: 86 percent want to keep 4-day week

    Rewarding “Good” Companies—How the Economy for the Common Good Wants to Change the World

    Rewarding “Good” Companies—How the Economy for the Common Good Wants to Change the World

    Redistributing 11 billion dollars: Colombia’s left-wing president wants to fight poverty with a wealth tax

    Redistributing 11 billion dollars: Colombia’s left-wing president wants to fight poverty with a wealth tax

    Ban or regulate: The world searches for a way to deal with cryptocurrencies

    Ban or regulate: The world searches for a way to deal with cryptocurrencies

    Bolivia: Less poverty and booming economy through nationalisation of mineral resources

    Bolivia: Less poverty and booming economy through nationalisation of mineral resources

    “Creating Prosperity Together”: How the social economy model saved the English city of Preston

    “Creating Prosperity Together”: How the social economy model saved the English city of Preston

    Amazon continues to destroy new goods and returns 

    Amazon continues to destroy new goods and returns 

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    • Fashion
      Essential Tips for Planning a Great Fashion Show

      Essential Tips for Planning a Great Fashion Show

      Signs That Your Tuxedo Doesn’t Fit Right

      Signs That Your Tuxedo Doesn’t Fit Right

      Make a Bold Style Statement With These Wide-Leg Pants

      Make a Bold Style Statement With These Wide-Leg Pants

      Power Your Winter Workouts With The Best Zip Hoodies for Men

      Power Your Winter Workouts With The Best Zip Hoodies for Men

      The Ultimate Watch Buying Guide

      The Ultimate Watch Buying Guide

      Outdoor Enthusiasts, Take Note: These Watches Are as Tough as You

      Outdoor Enthusiasts, Take Note: These Watches Are as Tough as You

      Our 7 Favorite Field Jackets for Tackling Fall Weather

      Our 7 Favorite Field Jackets for Tackling Fall Weather

      The Best Leather Jackets for Guys – No Matter Your Budget

      The Best Leather Jackets for Guys – No Matter Your Budget

      Campus-Ready Backpacks for Storing *All* the Books

      Campus-Ready Backpacks for Storing *All* the Books

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      • Food & Drink
        Cheese Tortellini in Creamy Marinara

        Cheese Tortellini in Creamy Marinara

        Unusual Products That Come From Animals and Their Uses

        Unusual Products That Come From Animals and Their Uses

        Tips for Creating a Homemade Wine Cellar

        Tips for Creating a Homemade Wine Cellar

        How the wine you choose can help you have an eco-friendly home

        How the Wine You Choose Can Help You have an Eco-Friendly Home

        Rum and Cola Holiday Ham

        Special Centerpieces for Holiday Celebrations

        ChefsGiving 2020

        This Holiday Season, How about Cooking for a Cause?

        Iced Cold Moscow Mule cocktail with lime and pomegranate

        Holiday Spirits: The Cranberry Smash Moscow Mule

        The Most Beautiful Liquor Bottles in the World

        The Most Beautiful Liquor Bottles in the World

        Tao Group Virtual Chef Experience

        Entertain Your Guests Virtually This Fall ?

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        • Health
          More States OK Postpartum Medicaid Coverage Beyond Two Months

          More States OK Postpartum Medicaid Coverage Beyond Two Months

          California Confronts the Threat of ‘Tranq’ as Overdose Crisis Rages

          California Confronts the Threat of ‘Tranq’ as Overdose Crisis Rages

          Our 300th Episode!

          Our 300th Episode!

          As Medicaid Purge Begins, ‘Staggering Numbers’ of Americans Lose Coverage

          As Medicaid Purge Begins, ‘Staggering Numbers’ of Americans Lose Coverage

          Health Care Coalition Jockeys Over Medi-Cal Spending, Eyes Ballot Initiative

          Health Care Coalition Jockeys Over Medi-Cal Spending, Eyes Ballot Initiative

          How a Medical Recoding May Limit Cancer Patients’ Options for Breast Reconstruction

          How a Medical Recoding May Limit Cancer Patients’ Options for Breast Reconstruction

          Cardiovascular Disease Is Primed to Kill More Older Adults, Especially Blacks and Hispanics

          Cardiovascular Disease Is Primed to Kill More Older Adults, Especially Blacks and Hispanics

          Newsom and Democratic Lawmakers at Odds Over Billions in Health Care Funds

          Newsom and Democratic Lawmakers at Odds Over Billions in Health Care Funds

          Many People Living in the ‘Diabetes Belt’ Are Plagued With Medical Debt

          Many People Living in the ‘Diabetes Belt’ Are Plagued With Medical Debt

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          • Lifestyle

            The History and Meaning of Memorial Day

            Ways To Make Your Partner Feel Loved and Appreciated

            Ways To Make Your Partner Feel Loved and Appreciated

            Values and principles, even when faced with temptations, challenges, or potential negative consequences.

            Acknowledging Racism within Familial and Social Circles: An Examination of Cognitive Dissonance and Socio-Cultural Factors

            Definition of ethics

            The Interconnectedness of Racial Opinions and Ethics

            Sacrifice States: the US Nuclear Sponge

            woman with gun near thief at night in parking lot

            Why it’s Important to know Your 2nd Amendment Rights

            Tips for Growing a Fuller and Healthier Beard

            Tips for Growing a Fuller and Healthier Beard

            Fulfilling Side Hustles for Good Money in 2023

            Fulfilling Side Hustles for Good Money in 2023

            5 Tips on How To Run Your First Charity Event

            5 Tips on How To Run Your First Charity Event

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            • Politics
              OpenSecrets releases report on out-of-state donations’ rising role

              OpenSecrets releases report on out-of-state donations’ rising role

              Independent Sen. Krysten Sinema continues using liberal platforms to fundraise for 2024 reelection campaign

              Independent Sen. Krysten Sinema continues using liberal platforms to fundraise for 2024 reelection campaign

              Watchdog bites Ron DeSantis for alleged “soft money” campaign finance violation

              Watchdog bites Ron DeSantis for alleged “soft money” campaign finance violation

              Press Release: Over 30,000 White House financial disclosures to be made public in first for transparency and accountability

              Press Release: Over 30,000 White House financial disclosures to be made public in first for transparency and accountability

              Pro-Ron DeSantis super PAC to inherit state-level PAC war chest to support presidential run

              Pro-Ron DeSantis super PAC to inherit state-level PAC war chest to support presidential run

              Definition of ethics

              The Interconnectedness of Racial Opinions and Ethics

              Spyware firm NSO Group continues lobbying efforts to resume business-as-usual in the U.S.

              Spyware firm NSO Group continues lobbying efforts to resume business-as-usual in the U.S.

              Joe Manchin vows to block “radical climate agenda,” rakes in oil and gas industry contributions

              Joe Manchin vows to block “radical climate agenda,” rakes in oil and gas industry contributions

              Adam Schiff heads into California’s 2024 U.S. Senate race with a sizable cash advantage

              Adam Schiff heads into California’s 2024 U.S. Senate race with a sizable cash advantage

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              • Real Estate
                Ways To Invest in Real Estate With No Experience

                Ways To Invest in Real Estate With No Experience

                How To Make Your Rental Property More Eco-Friendly

                How To Make Your Rental Property More Eco-Friendly

                Things To Consider Before Investing in Real Estate Overseas

                Things To Consider Before Investing in Real Estate Overseas

                Incredible Areas in Florida To Buy a Vacation Home

                Incredible Areas in Florida To Buy a Vacation Home

                Helpful Home Staging Tips for Virtual Tours

                Helpful Home Staging Tips for Virtual Tours

                Ways To Decorate and Design a Lake House

                Ways To Decorate and Design a Lake House

                Challenges To Managing a Rental Property

                Challenges To Managing a Rental Property

                The Best Landlord: How To Show Tenants You Care

                The Best Landlord: How To Show Tenants You Care

                The Best Locations To Invest in a Second Home

                The Best Locations To Invest in a Second Home

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                • Automotive
                  Tips for Crossing Water in Your Jeep Wrangler

                  Tips for Crossing Water in Your Jeep Wrangler

                  4 Helpful Tips for Giving Your Car a Glossy Finish

                  4 Helpful Tips for Giving Your Car a Glossy Finish

                  4 Common Mistakes To Avoid With Car Restorations

                  4 Common Mistakes To Avoid With Car Restorations

                  Signs That It Might Be Time To Get a New Car

                  Signs That It Might Be Time To Get a New Car

                  Mercedes-Benz Charging Network

                  Mercedes-Benz to Launch Global Branded High-Power Charging Network in North America

                  Ways To Surprise Your Partner Who Loves Cars

                  Ways To Surprise Your Partner Who Loves Cars

                  5 Important Tips for Every New Jeep Owner

                  5 Important Tips for Every New Jeep Owner

                  The Best Ways To Increase the Value of Your Car

                  The Best Ways To Increase the Value of Your Car

                  Why Jeeps Are Awesome for Off-Roading Adventures

                  Why Jeeps Are Awesome for Off-Roading Adventures

                  Trending Tags

                  • Mercedes-Benz
                  • Mustang
                • Business
                  Los Angeles implemented a new tax on luxurious real estate to finance affordable housing and combat homelessness

                  Los Angeles implemented a new tax on luxurious real estate to finance affordable housing and combat homelessness

                  Working shorter hours: 38 companies in the USA are testing the 4-day week

                  Working shorter hours: 38 companies in the USA are testing the 4-day week

                  World’s largest trial in the UK: 86 percent want to keep 4-day week

                  World’s largest trial in the UK: 86 percent want to keep 4-day week

                  Rewarding “Good” Companies—How the Economy for the Common Good Wants to Change the World

                  Rewarding “Good” Companies—How the Economy for the Common Good Wants to Change the World

                  Redistributing 11 billion dollars: Colombia’s left-wing president wants to fight poverty with a wealth tax

                  Redistributing 11 billion dollars: Colombia’s left-wing president wants to fight poverty with a wealth tax

                  Ban or regulate: The world searches for a way to deal with cryptocurrencies

                  Ban or regulate: The world searches for a way to deal with cryptocurrencies

                  Bolivia: Less poverty and booming economy through nationalisation of mineral resources

                  Bolivia: Less poverty and booming economy through nationalisation of mineral resources

                  “Creating Prosperity Together”: How the social economy model saved the English city of Preston

                  “Creating Prosperity Together”: How the social economy model saved the English city of Preston

                  Amazon continues to destroy new goods and returns 

                  Amazon continues to destroy new goods and returns 

                  Trending Tags

                  • Fashion
                    Essential Tips for Planning a Great Fashion Show

                    Essential Tips for Planning a Great Fashion Show

                    Signs That Your Tuxedo Doesn’t Fit Right

                    Signs That Your Tuxedo Doesn’t Fit Right

                    Make a Bold Style Statement With These Wide-Leg Pants

                    Make a Bold Style Statement With These Wide-Leg Pants

                    Power Your Winter Workouts With The Best Zip Hoodies for Men

                    Power Your Winter Workouts With The Best Zip Hoodies for Men

                    The Ultimate Watch Buying Guide

                    The Ultimate Watch Buying Guide

                    Outdoor Enthusiasts, Take Note: These Watches Are as Tough as You

                    Outdoor Enthusiasts, Take Note: These Watches Are as Tough as You

                    Our 7 Favorite Field Jackets for Tackling Fall Weather

                    Our 7 Favorite Field Jackets for Tackling Fall Weather

                    The Best Leather Jackets for Guys – No Matter Your Budget

                    The Best Leather Jackets for Guys – No Matter Your Budget

                    Campus-Ready Backpacks for Storing *All* the Books

                    Campus-Ready Backpacks for Storing *All* the Books

                    Trending Tags

                    • Food & Drink
                      Cheese Tortellini in Creamy Marinara

                      Cheese Tortellini in Creamy Marinara

                      Unusual Products That Come From Animals and Their Uses

                      Unusual Products That Come From Animals and Their Uses

                      Tips for Creating a Homemade Wine Cellar

                      Tips for Creating a Homemade Wine Cellar

                      How the wine you choose can help you have an eco-friendly home

                      How the Wine You Choose Can Help You have an Eco-Friendly Home

                      Rum and Cola Holiday Ham

                      Special Centerpieces for Holiday Celebrations

                      ChefsGiving 2020

                      This Holiday Season, How about Cooking for a Cause?

                      Iced Cold Moscow Mule cocktail with lime and pomegranate

                      Holiday Spirits: The Cranberry Smash Moscow Mule

                      The Most Beautiful Liquor Bottles in the World

                      The Most Beautiful Liquor Bottles in the World

                      Tao Group Virtual Chef Experience

                      Entertain Your Guests Virtually This Fall ?

                      Trending Tags

                      • Health
                        More States OK Postpartum Medicaid Coverage Beyond Two Months

                        More States OK Postpartum Medicaid Coverage Beyond Two Months

                        California Confronts the Threat of ‘Tranq’ as Overdose Crisis Rages

                        California Confronts the Threat of ‘Tranq’ as Overdose Crisis Rages

                        Our 300th Episode!

                        Our 300th Episode!

                        As Medicaid Purge Begins, ‘Staggering Numbers’ of Americans Lose Coverage

                        As Medicaid Purge Begins, ‘Staggering Numbers’ of Americans Lose Coverage

                        Health Care Coalition Jockeys Over Medi-Cal Spending, Eyes Ballot Initiative

                        Health Care Coalition Jockeys Over Medi-Cal Spending, Eyes Ballot Initiative

                        How a Medical Recoding May Limit Cancer Patients’ Options for Breast Reconstruction

                        How a Medical Recoding May Limit Cancer Patients’ Options for Breast Reconstruction

                        Cardiovascular Disease Is Primed to Kill More Older Adults, Especially Blacks and Hispanics

                        Cardiovascular Disease Is Primed to Kill More Older Adults, Especially Blacks and Hispanics

                        Newsom and Democratic Lawmakers at Odds Over Billions in Health Care Funds

                        Newsom and Democratic Lawmakers at Odds Over Billions in Health Care Funds

                        Many People Living in the ‘Diabetes Belt’ Are Plagued With Medical Debt

                        Many People Living in the ‘Diabetes Belt’ Are Plagued With Medical Debt

                        Trending Tags

                        • Lifestyle

                          The History and Meaning of Memorial Day

                          Ways To Make Your Partner Feel Loved and Appreciated

                          Ways To Make Your Partner Feel Loved and Appreciated

                          Values and principles, even when faced with temptations, challenges, or potential negative consequences.

                          Acknowledging Racism within Familial and Social Circles: An Examination of Cognitive Dissonance and Socio-Cultural Factors

                          Definition of ethics

                          The Interconnectedness of Racial Opinions and Ethics

                          Sacrifice States: the US Nuclear Sponge

                          woman with gun near thief at night in parking lot

                          Why it’s Important to know Your 2nd Amendment Rights

                          Tips for Growing a Fuller and Healthier Beard

                          Tips for Growing a Fuller and Healthier Beard

                          Fulfilling Side Hustles for Good Money in 2023

                          Fulfilling Side Hustles for Good Money in 2023

                          5 Tips on How To Run Your First Charity Event

                          5 Tips on How To Run Your First Charity Event

                          Trending Tags

                          • Politics
                            OpenSecrets releases report on out-of-state donations’ rising role

                            OpenSecrets releases report on out-of-state donations’ rising role

                            Independent Sen. Krysten Sinema continues using liberal platforms to fundraise for 2024 reelection campaign

                            Independent Sen. Krysten Sinema continues using liberal platforms to fundraise for 2024 reelection campaign

                            Watchdog bites Ron DeSantis for alleged “soft money” campaign finance violation

                            Watchdog bites Ron DeSantis for alleged “soft money” campaign finance violation

                            Press Release: Over 30,000 White House financial disclosures to be made public in first for transparency and accountability

                            Press Release: Over 30,000 White House financial disclosures to be made public in first for transparency and accountability

                            Pro-Ron DeSantis super PAC to inherit state-level PAC war chest to support presidential run

                            Pro-Ron DeSantis super PAC to inherit state-level PAC war chest to support presidential run

                            Definition of ethics

                            The Interconnectedness of Racial Opinions and Ethics

                            Spyware firm NSO Group continues lobbying efforts to resume business-as-usual in the U.S.

                            Spyware firm NSO Group continues lobbying efforts to resume business-as-usual in the U.S.

                            Joe Manchin vows to block “radical climate agenda,” rakes in oil and gas industry contributions

                            Joe Manchin vows to block “radical climate agenda,” rakes in oil and gas industry contributions

                            Adam Schiff heads into California’s 2024 U.S. Senate race with a sizable cash advantage

                            Adam Schiff heads into California’s 2024 U.S. Senate race with a sizable cash advantage

                            Trending Tags

                            • Real Estate
                              Ways To Invest in Real Estate With No Experience

                              Ways To Invest in Real Estate With No Experience

                              How To Make Your Rental Property More Eco-Friendly

                              How To Make Your Rental Property More Eco-Friendly

                              Things To Consider Before Investing in Real Estate Overseas

                              Things To Consider Before Investing in Real Estate Overseas

                              Incredible Areas in Florida To Buy a Vacation Home

                              Incredible Areas in Florida To Buy a Vacation Home

                              Helpful Home Staging Tips for Virtual Tours

                              Helpful Home Staging Tips for Virtual Tours

                              Ways To Decorate and Design a Lake House

                              Ways To Decorate and Design a Lake House

                              Challenges To Managing a Rental Property

                              Challenges To Managing a Rental Property

                              The Best Landlord: How To Show Tenants You Care

                              The Best Landlord: How To Show Tenants You Care

                              The Best Locations To Invest in a Second Home

                              The Best Locations To Invest in a Second Home

                              Trending Tags

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                              Survivors of Gangs and Gun Violence, These Women Now Help Others Navigate Grief

                              by Staff Writer
                              February 1, 2023
                              in Health
                              Survivors of Gangs and Gun Violence, These Women Now Help Others Navigate Grief
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                              By Cara Anthony

                              When April Roby-Bell joined the Gangster Disciples in middle school, the street gang treated her like family when she felt abandoned by her own. She was looking for love, acceptance, and stability.

                              “They trained us as little kids. How to own your ’hood, own your street: ‘This is my territory,’” Roby-Bell said.

                              The experience also taught her tough lessons about life and death at an early age. At least half of the friends she grew up with are now dead. “At times, it became hard because you just get tired of fighting,” she said. “I probably should have been dead a long time ago.”

                              At 42, Roby-Bell isn’t defending territory for a gang anymore. Instead, she is standing up for the families in the southern Illinois communities of East St. Louis and neighboring Washington Park who want their children to be able to go outside to play without fearing for their lives. As a survivor of the violence, Roby-Bell serves as a source of strength for others. Those traumatized by gun violence call her for counseling. She has planned funerals for victims. And, for years, she has presided over burials of both strangers and friends. She sleeps with her phone by her side, so she doesn’t miss a cry for help.

                              Nearby, Larita Rice-Barnes, 47, also carries a phone that doubles as a lifeline for grieving families. And Terra Jenkins, 50, receives similar calls. She typically checks her phone throughout the day, replying to messages from locals and nearby funeral homes.

                              As young women, all three ran with street gangs around East St. Louis and its surrounding communities. Today, Roby-Bell works for a school district mentoring high school students. Jenkins is an outreach leader for a local clinic, and Rice-Barnes is a published author who spends countless hours volunteering and running two nonprofits.

                              Still, their battle scars and faded tattoos recall their past. Because of those experiences on the front lines, some people trust them more than they do the police. The women fill in the gaps for a community fighting economic inequality, homelessness, health disparities, and gun violence.

                              “In East St. Louis, you’re into it with death,” Jenkins said. “Nine times out of 10, the position that I’m in, I just be involved with a whole lot of death because I’m at the morgue.”

                              Jenkins, who goes by “T-baby Ooh-Wee,” said she stumbled into the work of helping people. In the late 1980s as a teenager, she joined the Gangster Disciples, commonly referred to as “GD.” As time went on, she became a leader in the organization, a queen who called the shots.

                              She turned her grandmother’s basement in neighboring Washington Park into a barbershop. Her business became a therapeutic space for clients who confided in Jenkins while she trimmed their hair.

                              “Just like the beauty shop, the guys want to talk,” Jenkins said. “They couldn’t talk to their homeboys, so when they sat in my chair they started talking to T-baby. They started talking about their problems. I mean the big gangsters, they’re crying. They’re just spilling their guts to me.”

                              As time went on, she became a trusted friend and activist whom many in the city could call on in their times of need. While she still is considered an “OG,” or original gangster, she said, somewhere along the way the gang life she knew changed. Rival gangs started to talk less and shoot more.

                              “These kids act like their hands don’t work,” Jenkins said. “And they never had a fistfight in their life.”

                              They use guns instead, she added. “Then you ask them: What y’all mad for? And they don’t even know what they arguing each other for. It couldn’t be money because lately here, lately here, the killing, ain’t nobody getting robbed. A lot of these kids still got the money in their pocket, their jewelry on them,” she said. “It’s, like, over Facebook.”

                              Jenkins blames herself and her generation. “We dropped the ball,” she said. Now, she is trying to pick up the pieces.

                              Every case is different, Jenkins said, but most grieving families need empathy, money for the funeral, and practical help, such as a haircut for their deceased loved one or a space to hold a memorial service. Jenkins said she is an introvert but rises to the occasion when alerted to a need in the community. She gathers clothing, food, and basic essentials. She sits with families after the funeral is over — when the families are left alone to deal with the grief.

                              In Roby-Bell’s case, her life changed in 2009. That’s when her cousin Keyatia Gibson was gunned down in front of a liquor store in the city.

                              “It took a while for them to come cover her up,” Roby-Bell said. She added that her cousin’s two young children stood over her body. “And they saw that. And I watched the pain.”

                              A mother of three herself, Roby-Bell decided to change her life. She started going to church and turned her focus toward helping those in need. Two years ago, Roby-Bell opened Restoration Outreach Center, a church in Washington Park, where she often shares her story.

                              As a member of a gang “I hustled,” Roby-Bell said. “But I survived the worst season of my life. And I didn’t just survive for me. I survived for my three daughters.”

                              At her church, she often prays for the youngest members of her congregation. “We always cover them in prayer. We pray for their safety, for their life span,” Roby-Bell said. “I work in the schools, so I’m always praying for their future.”

                              But religion cannot always be their salve. When a child is caught in the crossfire, Rice-Barnes said, she chooses her words carefully when meeting with the grieving family. She doesn’t tell parents that their deceased child turned into an angel. That kind of rhetoric isn’t in her playbook.

                              “People need the ministry of presence,” Rice-Barnes said. “In most cases, they don’t need you to say anything. They just need to know that you’re there.”

                              Earlier this year, Rice-Barnes wrapped her arms around the family of 3-year-old Joseph Michael Lowe, who was killed by gunfire while in a car with his older brother. But as she deals with each family’s pain, she must grapple with her painful past, too.

                              During Rice-Barnes’ adolescent years, she had friends who were Gangster Disciples, but she spent most of her time with a rival gang, the Vice Lords. She lost two close friends to gun violence and had her own close calls. She feared for her life when a man held a gun to her head. And a few years later, she ended up flat on the ground in a field after someone in a nearby car started shooting.

                              “In the midst of running, I fell,” Rice-Barnes said. “I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t know if someone was standing over me.”

                              She walked away that day but carries the memory as she helps those who experience loss. “I’m still dealing with the devastation of what happened,” Rice-Barnes said. “In more recent years, I find myself telling those stories, but they were just packed down and suppressed.”

                              Rice-Barnes hosts rallies in East St. Louis to remember victims of gun violence, survivors, and their families. Her nonprofit Metro East Organizing Coalition brings residents together for conversations about solutions. Dozens of people showed up to a June event where Rice-Barnes reminded city leaders of the need for policy changes and programs that could potentially save lives.

                              Rice-Barnes’ nonprofit teams up with other crime reduction organizations to analyze data, so she believes her efforts have helped reduce crime in the past 18 months. Still, she knows the city has a long way to go. Yet the idea of giving up on this city isn’t an option for Rice-Barnes — or for Jenkins and Roby-Bell. The trio believe their community will thrive again, so they focus on the future.

                              “It doesn’t matter how you start, but it matters how you finish,” Roby-Bell said.

                              This story was produced by KHN (Kaiser Health News), a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues. Together with Policy Analysis and Polling, KHN is one of the three major operating programs at KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation). KFF is an endowed nonprofit organization providing information on health issues to the nation.

                              KHN (Kaiser Health News) is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues. Together with Policy Analysis and Polling, KHN is one of the three major operating programs at KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation). KFF is an endowed nonprofit organization providing information on health issues to the nation.

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                              This story can be republished for free (details).

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