Helping Out Our People
BY JESSICA TORRES AND JULLIAN TURNER
H.O.O.P.
which stands for Helping Out
Our People is a group that was
started by Jessica DeTorre and
Jullian Turner, both who lost their younger brothers,
Robbie and Jerame to gun violence. They were joined
by the support and teamwork of Cathy Turner, Rachel
Welsh, Jared Hanley, Sadie Sweet, and Morgan Murphy.
H.O.O.P. is a group that aims to inspire, motivate,
and mentor individuals throughout the Woodland
Hills community who are in need of support, love,
and healing. We operate out of the Greater Valley
Community Space located at 300 Holland Ave in
Braddock. Some of our first missions as a group
started in that building. In teaming up with Arts
Across America, H.O.O.P was part of the redesign
and art instillation of a memorial art piece that will
forever pay tribute and honor to the young men and
women our communities lost to gun violence. H.O.O.P
has taken part in a number of events focused on the
neighborhoods that make up Woodland Hills, such as
several community days, the Annual Walk for Peace
and Love, Not One More, and most recently WHHS 1st
Annual Stand Against Violence High School Basketball
Showcase.
H.O.O.P. is on a
true mission to bring
awareness to the spread
of street violence while
building a united front
to end violence. We want
to honor the lives of the
loved one who have
died, as well, as help
heal our families in
our communities. In
the process of healing,
we created a support
group named H.O.O.P
Healing. H.O.O.P Healing
takes place through our
monthly support meetings for
all parents, siblings, family members, and teachers
who have tragically lost someone in the community.
Under the guidance of Lori McDowell who lost her
daughter Caileigh and Christie Consentio, who
lost her son Brandon, our family meets the second
Tuesday of every month for healing, support, and
healthy discussions about change. Our goal is to
acknowledge that we are not alone in our grief, and
together we are strong.
In the spirit of togetherness, we would like
members of the communities to join our family and
be a part of change. For more information please
email [email protected].
WOODLAND HILLS
❘
SPRING 2019
25