Special guests in attendance included Gov. Matt Meyer and Delaware’s Department of Justice and Health and Social Services

DOVER – Today, End Community Violence Now (ECVN) Delaware, the state of Delaware’s community-based Office of Violence Prevention, recently provided sponsorship for The Carry Their Light Project and Our R.O.O.T.S Foundation’s to The Gala: Survival of the Flyest. The Gala took place Saturday, Nov. 22 at the Delaware Agricultural Museum, 866 N. Dupont Hwy. Dover, DE 19901.

 

This formal event brought together survivors, families, community leaders, and supporters to honor the lives lost to community violence and provide a safe, healing space centered on remembrance, unity, and purpose. Dignitaries and special guests who attended include: Governor Matt Meyer, representatives from Delaware’s Department of Justice and Health and Social Services. Proceeds from The Gala will directly support youth mentorship, community building, and violence prevention programs in Dover.

 

“Supporting this inaugural Gala was an easy decision for ECVN because The Carry Their Light Project and Our R.O.O.T.S. Foundation are doing what strong, resilient communities do best – creating spaces rooted in healing, dignity, and hope,” Lauren Footman, ECVN executive director and an event sponsor. “The event brought Dover together to honor lives lost, uplift communities, and remind us that violence prevention is not just policy work; it is human work. This event reflects the power and potential that exists right here in Delaware, and ECVN is proud to walk alongside them as we build a safer Delaware together.”

 

The Gala was hosted by Kaligah Parker, founder of The Carry Their Light Project, and Cammerin Norwood, founder of Our R.O.O.T.S. Foundation (Reclaiming Our Own Through Support). Both lifelong Dover residents with deep community ties, Parker and Norwood have dedicated their work to ending the cycle of violence, supporting families affected by gun

violence, and fostering healing and hope. Their efforts include advancing youth-focused violence prevention programs, promoting mental health and substance use awareness, supporting reentry and rehabilitation services, and championing holistic community wellness.

“What we accomplished here in the City of Dover has never been done before,” said Kaligah Parker, founder of The Carry Their Light Project . “We brought an entire community together—business owners, government officials, and families who have survived unimaginable loss—all united under one vision. This gala proved what’s possible when we stand together, honor our loved ones, and commit to building a safer, stronger community.”

“This is what community healing truly looks like,” said Cammerin Norwood, founder of Our R.O.O.T.S. Foundation. When individuals across all sectors, from government officials to those working directly on our streets with people facing hopelessness, can come together to laugh, share a meal, dance, and leave feeling renewed with hope, it shows what is possible when unity leads the way. Attendees have called this Gala the highlight of their year, and many expressed a desire for more gatherings like this. I am deeply grateful to everyone who showed their support and stood with us in the spirit of healing and transformation. No matter who we are, every one of us has lost someone we love. To see our community come together in celebration and remembrance of those we hold dear is both powerful and heart-lifting. This is the foundation of our work: restoring hope, honoring our loved ones, and moving forward together.”

 

 

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End Community Violence Now (ECVN) is the state of Delaware’s community-based Office of Violence Prevention. This public-private partnership seeks to break the cycle of violence through coordinated and sustained investments in evidence-based programs. This includes community engagement and education campaigns, policy advocacy, stakeholder strategy, as well as offering technical assistance and grant-making support to local organizations on the ground doing the difficult, but necessary work. ECVN envisions a future where all Delawareans are safe from the rising threat of gun violence.