A Safe Space for Victims of Gun Violence
Springfield, MA — June 4, 2014, is a date that Juanita Batchelor will never forget. It’s the day that her son, Darrell Lee Jenkins, was senselessly killed by gunfire in front of her house. All of the experiences she encountered after that moment led her to found MORE, which stands for Mother Overlooked, Reaching out Empowerment. The organization helps people who are impacted by violence in Springfield.
Batchelor faced multiple challenges in the wake of her son’s murder: trying to leave her lease because it was emotionally painful to stay in her home, gaining guardianship of her grandchildren, feeling judged in a support group and learning the court system.
“All of those things made me start my own support group for families who look like me,” she said. The organization has grown beyond the initial MORE Family Support Group to include separate groups for men, women and youth. It soon added court and advocacy assistance for people who are impacted by crimes.
“For those people who might not have the support, I wanted to be a support system,” Batchelor said. “The more stuff I learned, the more I realized we needed more help out here (in Springfield)”
MORE helps those whose family members are victims of gun violence as well as children and teens living in an at-risk community. The groups give people a safe space to talk about the impact that gun violence has had on their lives.
Support for Each Need
The MOREMEN group allows men of color to recognize the positive impact they can have on the community. It encourages males to become youth mentors and gives them support with families or for a job search. Batchelor feels their experience can help youths realize it’s possible to turn their lives around.
“These people have actually been through these situations and can really relate to the youth out here,” she said.
The Women of Color Empowerment Group helps women grow stronger and builds a support system among them. Special programs and speakers are available to the groups, like understanding the importance of life insurance. Then through events like MORE Mondays, the community receives food and outreach in high crime areas.
“We’ve got to have unity in the community,” Batchelor said.
The District Attorney recently gave MORE funding for an after-school arts program, Heartbeats. Batchelor plans to include music, art, and cooking so these youth can express themselves in different ways. She noted that many in the community are at risk to be recruited for gun violence because their families can’t afford after school programs.
“Bring them to me,” Batchelor encouraged. “They’ve got somewhere to go where they’re not just on the street.”
Moving forward she hopes to find a larger building that would serve as a community center for programs and support. About 50 people are currently attending the support groups, but several hundred are helped with the other programs.
“You are needed”
When her son-in-law was another victim of gun violence, Batchelor discovered that the resources in place through MORE made the situation less complex.
“Different services that I knew I didn’t have when my son was killed, that made me say, ‘You are needed,’” she said.
She’s using the Standout Truck to build awareness for her organization, whether for families who need support, finding sponsors so the organization can continue or for the city to recognize that victims of gun violence reach far beyond the person shot.
Hoping to Make MORE Difference
On December 10, 2021, MORE hosted a press conference to encourage the City of Springfield to respond to the root causes of gun violence. She hopes that she can be a liaison between the community impacted by gun violence, city officials and the police.
“Everyone’s got to acknowledge that gun violence is getting out of hand,” she said.
“A lot of these people being killed, it’s senseless murders. They’re not gang members. They’re just caught in the crossfire,” she said. She’s calling on city leaders to seek justice for these victims, to fund recreational activities for youth and fund independent investigations into these senseless murders.
Even now she doesn’t know who shot her son. “How do I know that same killer didn’t kill my son-in-law?” she asked. “After seven years, something has to be done.”
Support for programs comes from donations and grants, and she relies upon organizations like Mom’s Demand Action, Roca and the Massachusetts Coalition for Gun Safety, but much of the funding comes from Juanita’s pocket.
Through all her efforts, she holds hope for her community. “I just want to try and make Springfield safe again,” she said.
To make a donation to MORE, visit https://springfieldjustice.org/contact. Anyone who seeks support should visit https://springfieldjustice.org/
Standout Truck can help your organization make a difference. Visit StandoutTruck.com/contact to learn more.
