Saturday will be all about peace, love, healing and fun at the 17th annual Heal the Hood Community Resource Fair in Montbello.
"Heal the Hood" is a gang and gun violence prevention party, as well as a reconciliation event, hosted by Families Against Violent Acts (FAVA), a nonprofit focused on supporting and helping youth, parents and adults affected by violent acts grieve and grow.
The event will be from noon to 4 p.m. at the Escalante Biggs Academy Parking Lot located at 5300 Crown Blvd.
"Since it was so sad for the mothers and families [affected by violence] that were grieving all the time, we wanted to come together in the community to see how we can bring these families together because you're not going to stop grieving, grieving is forever," said Dianne Cooks, FAVA's founder. "It's giving back to the community. Giving back to them food, resources, fun laugh, activity just for one day. We want to make sure that these families can enjoy themselves for one day without having to focus on a violent act or a violent crime."
Cooks, along with several other mothers, founded FAVA in 2006 after her son was shot and paralyzed. She and other parents affected by violence around the neighborhood were looking for a place to express their sadness and concerns.
So, FAVA was born and continues to provide families through their support group. It meets every Wednesday via Zoom.
Through the support group, Cooks said Heal the Hood was formed to help grieving families have that one day of joy and a one-stop shop for emotional and financial resource assistance.
And joy will be had on Saturday.
Cooks said the event is all about resources and fun. There will be booths for folks looking for self-help resources, utility payment assistance, crisis management, mental health and drugs, alcohol, gang and gun prevention.
Denver Police will be handing out more than 200 gun locks. Struggle of Love Foundation, which offers mentorship and gang awareness for youth and families, will be available for families looking for grief services and Montbello 2020, the registered neighborhood organization, will also be in attendance to provide residents with city information such as zoning laws.
Here's the best part for attending families: Everything is free down to the chili dogs, hamburgers and popsicles.
Denver Extreme Game Truck will be providing kids with a cool space to play video games. The Platinum Divas dance group and the Elite Drill Team will perform. Also performing is second grader King Howard, who Cooks said is very excited to show off his skills.
Shay Johnson from 9News will host the program, keeping everyone informed and getting them up to dance.
Cooks said there will also be giveaways. The first 100 people in attendance will receive a gift card. There will also be raffles and drawings.
"I want people to know FAVA ain't playing, we're praying," Cooks laughed. "This event is important because people need to know that they are loved. People need to know that they can be safe...Things are changing and there is help. There is help and you can get it by coming out and getting the resources and enjoying yourself while you're out. We're healing the hood."
