Children paraded through the streets with colorful signs and music calling for an end to the violence in Camden, New Jersey. 64 children participated in the event, many of which, have lost parents that year due to violence within the city. Sponsored by the Saving Grace organization, the children were able to also to engage in a afternoon of fun activities.
Saving Grace was founded by Nyzia Easterling after her husband was shot to death in 2003. The death of Easterling’s husband left her a single mother. Saving Grace provides after-school programs and grief counseling services for children whose family members have been victims of violence.
“How many will go to college, how many will have the opportunity coming from the city of Camden? Somebody has to put that drive and passion into the children now so they can want to take over the city, want to be better in life. So, I decided since I know how hard it was I wanted to partner with the parents and the guardians and city officials to save our young people here in the city,” Easterling told NBC10Philadelphia.