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Our New 2009 Most Influential Champion of Change and Holiday Blessing: Monica Yant Kinney
Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Monica Yant Kinney often writes about every day heroes. In our opinion,
The many columns she has written over the years have moved scores of us to try harder… to speak louder… to scream enough is enough! …but most provocative and important, she spurs us to think…
Many people complain about the media's lack of civility today. But when you follow a columnist like Monica, you realize what power and influence a caring journalist can have for the common good. Not only does Monica gather the facts and keeps us up-to-date on important issues, her opinion pieces actually make for greater awareness and, hence, does affect change. It may be subtle, but there are people in decision-making positions who sit up and pay attention. After we read a "Monica column," we know that her call to action is even being heard in Harrisburg
She writes on many topics, but we feel her most powerful have been those columns that make the case for better gun laws. She gets it. She has followed this issue for years and knows the facts and statistics better than most legislators who are actually voting for and enacting laws!
There are many examples throughout 2009 that make that case, but one column truly represents how Monica's views do educate the public and help us better understand how illegal guns and even one gun shop can ruin the lives of hundreds of people.
Many Philadelphia journalists covered the trial of a group of Philadelphia activists—Heeding God's Call—who took on Colosimo's gun shop. But Monica's brilliant analysis wrapped all of those stories together and taught her readers how the commitment and persistence of concerned citizens and activists could close Colosimo's—a gun shop that thrived for years—unquestioned—as a straw purchase destination, creating a rippling effect of Hope across the city and state that touches all of us.
Monica continued to help us all learn more about where the illegal guns come from in her year-end column about dealers and their role in elevating gun violence. Her views help all of us become more informed advocates and voters. With more information, we get why it's important to use our vote to keep the 150 Pennsylvania mayors who joined Mayors Against Illegal Guns in office.
We know that Monica will continue to ask the experts and politicians tough questions. We hope she will also ask us to look inside of ourselves and not take anything for granted. Let's applaud her courage and commitment to speak up, tell the truth and encourage us all to act. Though Monica takes our plight to the citizenry, it is only—and ultimately—through our own personal determination to rid our city of the virulent disease called 'violence' that victory can prevail.
Please help us recognize Monica Yant Kinney, our Holiday Blessing…and our most influential Champion of Change of 2009.
A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!
Lynne Honickman
Moms Against Guns wishes to applaud and thank our Champions of Change—the everyday heroes who work tirelessly behind the scenes to advance the cause for more effective gun laws in Pennsylvania.
Moms Against Guns Honors Those Who Had the Courage to Take on the Tough Fight—and Won!
INNOCENT. Twelve anti-violence activists (including a rabbi, ministers, priests, Quakers, and "peacemakers") went on trial in summer 2009 after being arrested for "trespassing, disorderly conduct and conspiracy" as they demonstrated in front of a Philadelphia gun shop that had been known for selling guns that were used to commit crimes and often murders. Pictured here in the courtroom on the day of their trial, the group prayed for a fair result. Photo credit: Alejandro A. Alvarez, Daily News
Moms Against Guns congratulates members of the interfaith "Heeding God's Call" as the activist group recently won their long-standing campaign against Colosimo's Gun Center, a recognized source of 20 percent of crime guns covered in Philadelphia.
In September, the U.S. Attorney's Office announced it had filed charges against the dealership for allegedly knowingly selling a total of 10 firearms to straw purchasers on six occasions. With these charges, the 78-year old gun shop owner, Jim Colosimo, decided to close the store's doors for good in October (2009).
Heeding God's Call has been making headlines since last January when they went inside Colosimo's and asked the owner to sign a 10-point voluntary code dealing with firearms sales. Colosimo refused. The protestors refused to leave, and after being warned by police, were arrested.
When asked what motivates this interfaith group to act despite all odds, Kemah Washington from the Church of the Advocate and one of the 12 activists arrested last January said, "Gun violence is a battle that I will continue to fight and I pray that all of us…our politicians and our neighbors can all work together to put an end to it."
We are in awe of this interfaith group's courage and tenacity to take action and end gun violence. Please join with us in recognizing Heeding God's Call as a true "Champion of Change."
Image, right: CLOSED FOR BUSINESS. The demonstrators helped to prove that Colosimo's gun shop has been involved in straw purchases. After a federal investigation was completed in 2009, the store was required to close.
Photo credit: Clem Murray, Philadelphia Inquirer
Moms Against Guns Honors Two Champions on Mother's Day 2009
On Mother's Day we honor an incredible woman who has been part of our Moms Against Guns community since its launch in October 2007 - but she's been in the fight even longer. Edwina Grant, mother of six children, has been speaking out against gun violence since her youngest son, Samir Abdul Muhammad, was shot and killed on the steps of their Philadelphia home on March 1, 2006. He was 19 years old.
When a mother loses a child—through an accident, war, illness, or a tragedy like gun violence—it is a loss that is difficult, if not impossible, to overcome. But Edwina is one of those amazing women who believes that she can help others who live with the fear that a bullet from an illegal gun will also take away their son or daughter.
She has been a voice for Moms Against Guns for more than two years. Edwina stayed involved even when she lost her husband to a chronic illness months after the death of Samir, which she believes was triggered by the murder of her son.
She was part of our initial rally in Philadelphia's Love Park; she's been part of our demonstrations in Harrisburg when votes came to the floor; and she spoke at a community event at Project H.O.M.E. when we addressed gun violence and the trauma it creates in our neighborhoods, schools and homes.
Please help us recognize this champion—Edwina Grant—on Mother's Day and every day for her courage and commitment to help others.
As moms on Mother's Day, we also recognize and thank MEN who have helped us protect all of our children. Today, one man stands above all others in our state: PA House Representative Dave Levdansky (representing part of Allegheny and Washington Counties). His leadership and courage to decrease the growing number of illegal handguns used to hurt or kill innocent children and youth is honorable. He should be thanked by moms and ALL voters throughout PA for leading the 2008 effort to pass a law that would require residents to report a lost and stolen gun in order to decrease straw purchases.
Sadly, the law was not passed but David Levdansky won our everlasting respect and votes. His commitment and concern to protect our children and all citizens is not new. Throughout his 24 years in office, he has always taken the high road and worked on issues that focus on the safety and quality of life of Pennsylvanians. As a gun owner, hunter and avid sportsman, David Levdansky understands the importance of owning guns and is a strong supporter of our 2nd Amendment Rights. That is what drives his commitment to improve the way guns our used in our state today and he should serve as a role model for other legislators. On this Mother's Day, we salute his sensitivity, dedication, work ethic and humanity. Thank you, Dave Levdansky.
Harold Honickman (far left) is joined by student members of the "Harold A. Honickman Teen Entrepreneur Program," advisory board members Ernest Jones (center left) and Phil Goldsmith (center), and staff of the Honickman Learning Center and Comcast Technology Lab including (second row center), Teen Program Assistant Heather Hillas, Director Cynthia Ferguson (center right), Project HOME co-founder Sister Mary Scullion, (front row, center right) and Entrepreneur/Employment Specialist Madeleine Nist (front row, far right).
Champions of Change come in all ages, and are characterized by their compassion and dedication in the fight against gun violence.
Moms Against Guns recognizes and thanks members of the Harold A. Honickman Teen Entrepreneur program for their extraordinary efforts in raising awareness and collecting signatures for our petition. Every signature brings us closer to our goal of 50,000, proving to our state representatives that moms, grandmoms, sisters, aunts and friends mean business in this fight to keeping children safe from gun violence.
Many of the teens in the program have seen first-hand the devastating effects of gun violence, and eagerly lent their time on Martin Luther King Day to support our cause.
The Teen Entrepreneur program is one of the after-school classes offered to students at the north central Philadelphia-based Honickman Learning Center and Comcast Technology Lab. It allows students, as individuals or groups, to become real-life entrepreneurs by teaching them to develop their own business proposals which they present to a group of prominent Philadelphian business leaders who serve as their mentors. The skills they learn are not simply 'business skills', they are life skills.
The enthusiastic entrepreneurs set up a booth at Drexel University on MLK Day with Moms Against Guns petitions and fact sheets, as well as promotional items for sale. They experienced college life at Drexel, visiting a dormitory and speaking with students, faculty and staff, encouraging them to support Moms Against Guns.
In the end, these teens collected hundreds of signatures. We cannot thank them enough for their valuable assistance in aiding the fight against youth violence in Philadelphia—we know they're our future, but we thank them deeply for taking responsibility for the present
It is with great respect, gratitude and admiration that Moms Against Guns announces the generosity of Interstate Outdoor Advertising CEO Drew Katz and Clear Channel Outdoor President George Kauker. These committed and caring individuals and companies have stepped forward to advance efforts to decrease the growing number of illegal guns in the greater Philadelphia area by donating more than 30 outdoor billboards that promote the Moms Against Guns website and advocacy effort. We celebrated the donation on July 17th at the billboard location at 30th Street & Allegheny Avenue in Philadelphia with a news event featuring Drew, George, Mayor Michael Nutter, Deputy Police Commissioner Charlotte Council, City Council members Donna Reed Miller and Bill Greenlee, community activists who support our cause and neighborhood residents. Many thanks to all who participated and showed their support. (Photo below, from left to right: George Kauker, Lynne Honickman, Mayor Michael Nutter, Drew Katz)
Many thanks to these two generous men and our incredible mayor, who are among the true heroes of this campaign.
I, along with everyone who works with Moms Against Guns, wish to applaud and thank the everyday
heroes who are working tirelessly behind the scenes, in extraordinarily helpful ways, to
advance the cause for more effective gun laws in Pennsylvania.
Join me in recognizing Susan Hoffman, who has my sincere appreciation for her efforts to generate visibility and support for Moms Against Guns. Thanks to Sue and other committed people like her, we've come a long way since I launched this campaign last year. Sue had family and friends who she knew would want to support Moms Against Guns but didn't have Internet access. Nevertheless, she found a way to help the cause—she gave out hard copies of our petition letter and got hundreds of people to sign them, for us to mail to legislators in Harrisburg.
Sue told us that even though she was brought up in Philadelphia, she doesn't live here anymore—and she is saddened that Philadelphia is no longer the city she knew. She feels that the violence in the city touches everyone. What motivated her to get involved with Moms Against Guns was a personal tragedy: Sue's friend—a wife and mother—was killed simply because she was in the wrong place at the wrong time, standing innocently outside of a night club. For Sue, gun violence is an atrocity.
We are so proud of the work Sue has done that we've created a special designation for her and others like her—Champion of Change. We know that her dedication is an example and an inspiration to others.
Again, we thank Sue for her passion, support and contribution to this important mission. We believe that our collective efforts will bring about the change we so desperately need to protect and save the lives of children and all the citizens of Pennsylvania.
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