Mission

In 2006

In 2006, FAV’s Executive Director, Francena Brown and her family were personally affected by a violent death when her son suffered the dreadful fatality of gun violence. She admits to spending a significant amount of time in what she described as encapsulated in a “cocoon.” She describes her experience and pain as a personal horror story, a story that she never thought she’d be the subject of. She declares that when she began to unwind the fibers of that cocoon, she began looking for assistance to help her heal and found one of the best ways to heal was to help others heal and share the story that once held her hostage. She also began having conversations of change with others. In doing so, she experienced ‘cultural disparity.” And as she became familiar with other parents who had experienced the same loss and pain, together they realized they also suffered from the same cultural loneliness. It was this personal experience that afforded her the chance to become the change that she wanted to see and fulfill a need by filling the gap of parallel and connective services to the Black/African American family on behalf of the loved one. Thus, Families Against Violence was born.