After An Unthinkable Tragedy, A Mother Channels Her Grief Into Action
Consider This from NPR
NPR
4.2 • 6.2K Ratings
🗓️ 31 October 2023
⏱️ 13 minutes
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Summary
Once again, like far too many American communities, the people of Lewiston face the challenge of trying to move forward after the loss of family members, friends and neighbors.
For many survivors of a mass shooting, charting a path forward can mean searching for purpose in the wake of senseless violence.
Kimberly Mata-Rubio's, Lexi daughter, was killed in May of 2022, at her elementary school in Uvalde, Texas. In total, 19 students and two teachers were killed in Uvalde.
Mata-Rubio has decided to turn her anger and grief into action. She is running for mayor of Uvalde.
Host Juana Summer spoke with Mata-Rubio, prior to the shootings in Lewiston.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Like far too many American communities, the city of Lewiston, Maine, is struggling to |
| 0:12.7 | find a way forward after a mass shooting. A way to deal with the trauma of losing family, |
| 0:18.4 | friends, neighbors, and a sense of safety. Sherry Withers owns a gallery in Lewiston. |
| 0:25.0 | You know, my children's teachers were texting to make sure we were okay. |
| 0:29.8 | The different businesses, co-workers, and so it just showed a lot of love. |
| 0:36.3 | Kimberly Fenney lives in the nearby city of Augusta, but she grew up in Lewiston. |
| 0:41.5 | I haven't been able to cry. I've been so mad. |
| 0:48.0 | I, in Augusta, yes, I've lived here for a long time, but it's not my home like here. |
| 0:54.6 | This is where my heritage is. This is where I grew up. |
| 0:59.2 | And someone attacked it. The killings have shattered this close-knit community. |
| 1:05.9 | Youvalde, Texas is another tight-knit community that was scarred by gun violence. |
| 1:11.5 | 19 students and two teachers were killed at a school there in May 2022, including Kimberly |
| 1:18.4 | Mata Rubio's 10-year-old daughter Lexi. We first spoke to Kimberly three months after the shooting. |
| 1:26.4 | Immediately after I thought about one my own children, we still have we still have children here |
| 1:31.9 | that we have to fight for, and then I just kept thinking about other moms really. |
| 1:39.1 | I don't want anybody to feel the way I feel. Consider this for the survivors of a mass shooting, |
| 1:45.6 | charting a path forward can mean searching for purpose and the wake of senseless violence. |
| 1:51.1 | In the days before the main shooting, we talked again with Kimberly Mata Rubio, |
| 1:56.1 | who decided to turn her pain and grief into action. That's coming up. |
| 2:04.4 | From NPR, I'm Wana Summers. It's Tuesday, October 31st. |
| 2:09.7 | This message comes from NPR sponsor Organic Valley, a co-op of small organic family farms. |
| 2:16.0 | Farmer Tyler Webb shares why caring for his land has always been a priority. |
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