MISSION: Lazarus Jones Save Our Children Campaign was created to help save our children. We welcome parents and their children into a warm loving and peaceful environment. A community service center for families that have experience truman through violence acts. We provide support,counseling and networking. We focus on improving safety within our communities, by educational workshops. Empowering youth to focus on the positive side of life and stepping out to make a difference. Children are the future and generations to come.
VISION: Our vision is to strengthen families and to build a stronger foundation for the safety of our children. Lazarus Jones Save Our Children Campaign is a safe haven for children to come after school and throughout the year. We will provide activities such as homework help, performing arts with visual teachings using "Mannequins Visual Thinking" for creative art and demonstrations. Mannequin demonstrations will teach him/her about personality and reading body language and exciting interactions and motivational intellectual challenges.Along with "Emotions Through Artwork" Dealing with emotions through artwork.
In starting the “Lazarus Jones Save Our Children Campaign” in Honor of my son Lazarus I would like to introduce myself, where I come from, and how I got started…
I grew up on the Westside of Chicago along with my parents and eight siblings. I lost my father at the age of eleven. When my father died my mother moved out of our home into an apartment. I attended Orr Community Academy High School in Chicago. While still in high School at sixteen years old. I was pregnant and still finished school and graduated in the year of 1989. I thank God for my son Jasper he is an adult now, currently a full time student, and employed with a successful company. When Jasper was about six, I married Antonio Jones and soon had my second son Lazarus Jones. I'm very grateful today to have had my two boys.
I furthered my education at Patient Technician Care Career Institute located at 111 E. Adams in Chicago Illinois from June, 1990 to December, 1990. I received a Certificate as an Advanced Nursing Assistant later attended the Medical Career Institute in Chicago Illinois from July, 1998 to December, 1999. I graduate with a diploma in Cardiology Technician completed Child Psychology online in May, 2004 with the Stratford Career Institute and received a Diploma in Child Psychology and I’m presently enrolled for Psychology and Social work.
In losing my son Lazarus Jones at the age of thirteen to violence in February 19, 2007, my life took a turn. My vision and purpose is now primarily on the safety of all children. I was pregnant with my third son Israel Rome Bass when this tragedy struck me. I chose to use my pain as a source of strength and a voice against violence in honor of my son Lazarus. I began to Post flyers all over the city streets, stick my head in shop doorways and simply ask questions to try to get closer to the answer to who murdered my son? I struggled to keep my emotions in check and to look people in the eye. In my soul I knew I could not break down. I said to God, please give me the strength and I had it .Looking for answer on how this could have happened, I marched against violence, choking back tears long enough to become a voice for my son. It has been painful, stressful, I experienced a tremendous amount of anger, and I almost lost my faith in God. I told myself, I am a mother and this is what I have to do. The death of my son took a hunger and love from the pit of my soul that inspired me to be an activist for the safety of all children.
On March 29, 2007, just five weeks after Lazarus died, I found myself in the auditorium of the University of Illinois in Chicago, at a summit held by the Ceasefire organization. The summit was on the widespread impact of gang violence. First Lady Laura Bush was seated near the stage. I squirmed in my seat, wishing I could run back to my apartment to obtain some of my son‘s writings so I could share them, and then I realized I was in this place for a purpose. I spoke into the microphone and stated my purpose of being there in honor of Lazarus. I’ve share all I had actively done, and all I was determined to do. I then attended and held many different events against violence. On April 23, 2007 while attending a prayer visual for another child, who was shot to death on the north Westside of Chicago, my water broke.
After this I spent five weeks in Evanston Hospital. My son Israel was not due until July, but I had him on May 27, 2007. He was six weeks early. I thanked God for him on that day and every day to come.
I held a safety back to school march in May of 2009 at the school Lazarus attended, Budlong School at 2701 W. Foster I’ve. We marched from the school to Daman Avenue then back. On Sep 26, 2009 I spoke as an advocate against violence in the community at Act Now Youth Organization kickoff celebration. On Oct 17, 2009 I held a Prayer Vigilant to stop the violence at Truman College, 1145 W. Wilson Chicago Illinois I’m a research person for Peas In Their Pods Missing Children and I AM DEBORAH with Black Star Project. Also I’m a member of The National Association Of Professional Women "NAPW" I plan to continue being an activist in the community against violence. Lazarus Jones Save Our Children Campaign Collaborate with Wisdom Lives Here Carlene Davis, Purpose Over Pain Blair Holt Firearm Licensing, United For A Cause Dawn M Valenti, Commission For The Community Johnny King, HWCIMINISTRIES.COM Pastor Donald N. Mayes, Word Of Life Christ Ministries Duwarren Gibson....
Pamela Hester-Jones Founder of Lazarus Jones Save Our Children Campaign
www.lazarusjonessocc.org
