The Carry Their Light Project

Today, I had the honor of speaking with the incredible young people in the Laurel Police Department Youth Academy about conflict resolution, making positive choices, and the power of walking away from violence.

I want to sincerely thank the Laurel Police Department for trusting me with the opportunity to pour into the next generation. It means more than words can express to be able to share my experiences and remind our youth that one decision can change the course of their lives—for better or worse.

Every conversation matters. Every young person deserves someone who believes in them before they believe in themselves. If we can teach our youth how to resolve conflict without violence, communicate through adversity, and recognize their value, we’re not just preventing violence—we’re building stronger families, safer communities, and brighter futures.

This work isn’t about recognition. It’s about reaching one more young person before the streets do. I’ll continue answering the call wherever it’s needed because our youth are worth every investment we make in them.

Thank you again to the Laurel Police Department for your commitment to empowering the next generation. Together, we can continue creating pathways to hope, healing, and opportunity.

PROJECT RISE is more than a program—it’s a commitment to changing lives.

Throughout the entire school year, we walked alongside high school boys identified as being at risk, providing mentorship, violence prevention education, leadership development, life skills, and consistent support. This summer, we continued that commitment with an intensive six-week program designed to keep our young men engaged, empowered, and connected to positive opportunities.

Through the powerful collaboration of Operation West Laurel, Our R.O.O.T.S. Foundation, and The Carry Their Light Project, we’ve witnessed firsthand what happens when a community invests in its youth instead of giving up on them.

The impact has been undeniable. PROJECT RISE has played a meaningful role in reducing youth violence by creating safe spaces, strengthening relationships, promoting accountability, and helping young men make decisions that lead to brighter futures. Together, we’re building leaders, interrupting cycles of violence, and creating lasting change throughout the Laurel community.

This is what prevention looks like. This is what partnership looks like. And this is only the beginning.

Some people talk about change. Others get on a plane, show up, and help build it.

This week, I traveled from Delaware to Los Angeles to attend the 2-day Giffords Community Violence Intervention Conference—joining advocates, policymakers, researchers, and community leaders from across the country who are committed to ending violence before it starts.

As the Founder & Executive Director of Carry Their Light Project, I understand that the answers to public safety aren’t found in politics alone—they’re found in investing in people, creating opportunities for young people, supporting families, and strengthening the organizations doing the work every single day.

I’m proud to represent Delaware on a national stage, ensuring our communities have a voice in conversations that shape policy, funding, and the future of violence prevention. Every relationship built here, every lesson learned, and every strategy shared is something I’ll bring back home to continue serving our youth and neighborhoods.

This is bigger than one conference. It’s about building a movement where prevention is prioritized, communities are resourced, and every young person has the opportunity to thrive instead of merely survive.

The work doesn’t stop when the conference ends. It starts when we bring it home.

Delaware, we’re just getting started. 💙

From Delaware to Los Angeles. ✈️

Grateful to be attending the 2-day Giffords Community Violence Intervention Conference here in LA, where leaders, advocates, and organizations from across the country are coming together to share strategies that save lives and strengthen communities.

Representing Delaware with pride and continuing to pioneer the work through Carry Their Light Project. Every conversation, every connection, and every lesson learned is another step toward creating safer neighborhoods, supporting our youth, and breaking cycles of violence.

This isn’t just about being present—it’s about bringing knowledge back home and turning it into action. The mission continues.

The Pullup4Peace Conference reminded us that lasting public safety is built through partnership, lived experience, and bold leadership.

Our Executive Director, Dr. Lauren J. Footman, EdD was honored to join Darryl "Wolfie" Chambers from Center for Structural Equity, Cammerin Norwood from Our Roots Foundation, and Kaligah Parker from The Carry Their Light Project in conversations with regional and national leaders advancing community violence intervention. Together, they shared Delaware's work while learning from practitioners across the country, including leaders from the Center for Structural Equity, GVI Support & Outreach, and Leaders in Transition.

As Delaware continues to strengthen its statewide public-private approach to community violence intervention, opportunities like this allow us to exchange ideas, elevate promising practices, and bring innovative strategies back to our communities.

Thank you to everyone who made this gathering possible. Together, we are building safer communities through collaboration, accountability, and community-led solutions.

What a weekend. 🙏🏾

It was an honor to serve as a guest speaker at the 2nd Annual Pull Up 4 Peace in Atlantic City. Being surrounded by community leaders, advocates, families, and young people all working toward a future free from violence was truly inspiring.

Every conversation, every handshake, and every story shared reinforced why this work matters. Through The Carry Their Light Project, our mission remains the same: to uplift our youth, support healing, and create opportunities that transform lives.

Thank you to everyone who organized the event, invited me to speak, and continues to show up for the community. This weekend was a reminder that change happens when we come together with purpose.

The work doesn’t stop here—we’re just getting started. 💙✨

Happy Father’s Day to the men who lead with love, protect with strength, and guide with purpose.

Today we honor the fathers, father figures, mentors, and guardians who show up—even when it’s hard—and continue to pour into the next generation. Your presence is a form of light that never goes unnoticed.

To the dads who are no longer physically here, your legacy still speaks. Your love still guides. Your light is still carried forward in us.

From all of us at Carry Their Light Project — we celebrate you, we thank you, and we honor you today and every day.

Happy Father’s Day. Your light lives on.

Today, we celebrate Juneteenth—a day that honors freedom, resilience, and the enduring strength of those who came before us.

On June 19, 1865, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued, enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, finally learned they were free. Juneteenth stands as a reminder that freedom, justice, and equality must be protected and pursued for every generation.

At The Carry Their Light Project, we believe that remembering our history helps us build a brighter future. By educating, empowering, and uplifting our communities, we continue the work of creating hope and opportunity for the next generation.

Today, we honor the past, celebrate progress, and recommit ourselves to a future where every light has the chance to shine.

🖤❤️💚 Happy Juneteenth!

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