Tuesday’s Children Reflects on Hope, Peace in the New Year

A group of teen boys who have experienced a loss due to terrorism sit together on a grassy area.
Teenagers from around the world, who experienced a loss due to terrorism, unite at Project COMMON BOND. Photo by Terry Grace Sears.

Below is a guest blog from Tuesday's Children, a response and recovery organization which supports youth, families, and communities impacted by a traumatic loss.

As we look back at the past year, we are faced with the realization that global terrorist attacks continue with increasing frequency and have devastating effects on children and families. Children who lost a parent on 9/11 have a powerful message of hope and peace for those impacted by recent attacks—from Paris, to Nigeria, Lebanon, Mali, San Bernardino, and dozens of other communities around the world:

“Keep spreading love.”

This message is echoed by the family members of 9/11 victims, responders, and military families of the fallen, as well as local communities impacted by tragedy and global victims of terrorism served by Tuesday’s Children.

“People look at you, and they shouldn’t see tragedy. They should see hope,” said 26-year-old Joseph Palombo, a 9/11 family member.

Tuesday’s Children and the nearly 500 teenagers representing 21 countries that now comprise our global initiative Project COMMON BOND know first-hand that it takes tremendous courage to work towards peace. Each new tragedy once again shakes our sense of safety and intrudes on our beliefs and values, but our dignity remains intact.

The message of Tuesday’s Children—that our past can change the future—unites young adults of different cultures, religions, races and nationalities with a commitment to reversing the cycle of violence and resisting the negative pull of hatred.

This year, Tuesday’s Children launches an inaugural winter session of Project COMMON BOND at George Mason University. 2016 programs include Helping Heals volunteerism efforts in Costa Rica, Project Heart to Heart weekends uniting 9/11 and military widows in Jacksonville and New York, our annual Take Our Children to Work Day, ongoing career workshops and a youth leadership forum, among other programs. Visit www.tuesdayschildren.org to learn more.

We look forward to a peaceful and prosperous 2016 with the strength and resilience of these young leaders at our backs and the support of the 9/11 community propelling us forward.

 By Terry Grace Sears, Tuesday’s Children Executive Director 

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