PHILADELPHIA, PA (August 22, 2022) – In response to Philadelphia’s communities impacted by gun violence, Love Now Media has launched a new initiative entitled Heart of the Story: Getting to the Heart of Gun Violence. The empathy-centered media company is fostering this important entry point into hard-to-have conversations. The series of storytelling workshops will feature Black male leaders engaging, empowering, and supporting Black men and boys ages 13-65. They will foster stories about acts of love at the intersection of social justice, wellness, and equity.
Heart of the Story: Getting to the Heart of Gun Violence will run September 15th – October 30, 2022 at 8 locations in Philadelphia.
The initiative aims to equip participants with an understanding of narrative ownership, the empowering impact of storytelling, media literacy, and trauma-informed listening. By untapping new community narratives rooted in love, the program’s key objective is to reduce the long-term risks of gun violence and trauma by redefining power.
Through partnership with community groups including Urban Creators, Village of the Arts and Humanities, REC Philly, and Atiya Ola’s Spirit First Foods, and others, Love Now Media is holding space for community members to connect and explore stories rooted in love. Each workshop will set the tone for collective exploration of community narratives while also addressing grief, healing, pain, and trauma. The goal of this important work is to discover solutions and disrupt a perpetual cycle of trauma-based narratives while uplifting the voices of those who feel silenced by the exploitation of Black-pain in dominant media narratives.
To support the successful execution of this vision, Resolve Philly, WHYY, PhillyCAM, WURD Radio, have committed as media partners.
Black male community leaders can apply to co-facilitate the storytelling workshops. Interested participants must also pre-register.
For more information visit www.lovenowmedia.com. Get updates by following along on Twitter and Instagram (@lovenowmedia), and Facebook (Love Now Media). For media inquiries and/or interview requests, please contact Syreeta@lovenowmedia.com.
About Love Now Media: Love Now Media is an empathy-centered media company that uses storytelling to uplift acts of love at the intersection of social justice, wellness, and equity. Love Now Media leads impact-focused conversations and activities that deliver positive outcomes.
