Sybrina Fulton committed to honoring son Trayvon Martin’s life through foundation
It was life-changing heartbreak for Miami mother Sybrina Fulton on February 26, 2012, when her 17-year-old son Trayvon Martin was shot and killed while walking to his father’s home in Sanford, Central Florida. The case launched nationwide debate on gun control, and inspired Fulton to “transform family tragedy into social change” with the local Trayvon Martin Foundation. Established with Martin’s father Tracy Martin, the non-profit organization brings the campaign to South Florida with the 3rd annual Circle of Mothers conference, set for May 20 to 22 at the Embassy Suites in Fort Lauderdale.
Fulton formed the Circle of Mothers Conference “to empower women who lost their children especially to gun violence…[and] to develop solutions in eradicating gun violence and breaking the wave of fear and uncertainty it creates.” Through workshops and intimate talks, the event brings together professionals and public officials who will offer guidance for mothers on personal restoration. The conference also serves as an opportunity for stakeholders to establish local community strategies in combating gun violence, and form a national agenda.
“We wanted to bring awareness to the impact of how the mothers are affected, and what we can do to offer assistance via civic leadership and holistic healing,” says Foundation spokesperson Kat Tynes.
The conference seeks to expand on Fulton’s personal campaign against gun violence at the community level, speaking across the country at political and community rallies about the issue. And the campaign has made strides in calling attention to their cause, attracting support from Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, who will serve as this year’s Keynote speaker at the Foundation’s gala scheduled for May 21. The Foundation has also attracted support from local and national leaders and advocates, from Rev. Al Sharpton to Jamaican actor Harry Belafonte, who received the Foundation’s 2016 “Champion of the Year” this past January in a special ceremony in Miami. U.S. Congresswoman Frederica Wilson, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, and Congresswoman Corrine Brown have also expressed support for the Foundation’s campaign.
“The Trayvon Martin Foundation has made an overwhelming impact both nationally and locally regarding deaths by senseless gun violence,” says Tynes. “Because of our efforts, our voices are being heard by Congress.”
