Jennifer Rose-Ferris
Survivor, 10.27 Healing Partnership; Peer Mentor for HEART, Resilency and Justice Center
2025
I am a survivor of the LA Fitness mass shooting on August 4, 2009, in Collier, PA. While I wasn’t physically wounded, I now understand the mental wounds will last a lifetime. It took me almost 13 years to realize I wasn’t alone in this battle. A little over 3 years ago, I started connecting with other mass violence survivors and now understand the feelings I have surrounding that day are normal for the abnormal incident I was impacted by. Now that I know this, I’m determined to help support others and make sure they know they are not alone.
In 2024, I became a trained Peer Mentor for the HEART Peer Support program, through the Resiliency and Justice Center, Las Vegas. We are paired one on one with another survivor of a mass violence incident to support and help them navigate through challenging times, whether that be from their incident or current challenges. HEART also hosts First Tuesdays with HEART, a free monthly virtual educational program where various experts present, with time for discussion, on different topics we may encounter during our healing journey. In addition, every 3rd Tuesday and 4th Thursdays we have support groups, via Zoom, for anyone impacted, directly or indirecty, by any mass violence incident. This is a safe place for those of us impacted to talk about anything currently going on. There is power in community!
In 2024, I also partnered with the 10.27 Healing Partnership to organize food drive for those in need on the 15th anniversary of LA Fitness shooting. I have also taught Zumba classes for community members there. It’s a great way to get some stress out and have fun.
At the Summit
The effort to eradicate hate requires the active participation of every component of our society, to include governments, the private sector, communities of faith and indeed every aspect of civil society. There is no more urgent task in front of us. The organizers of the Eradicate Hate Global Summit are doing the United States and the world an enormous service by tackling hatred and extremism with a focus on honest dialogue and conversation, genuine learning and practical solutions. This will not happen overnight, but the Pittsburgh community’s leadership in this effort is genuinely inspiring and motivating.
