James McCurtis, Manager of the Crime Victim Services Commission for the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) was one of several guest speakers at the event hosted and organized by The New Citizens Press Community Action Network (TNCPCAN) for families 
impacted by murder. Below: Student volunteers from Everett High School, Norina Yoder and Sydney Cowles.
Photos by Toy Branklin
LANSING, MI – The families of nearly 25 homicide victims came together Monday, April 27, 2015 for a dinner and ceremony at Lansing City Hall to remember their loved ones, shed tears and to reflect on happier days. Over 130 people were in attendance for the dinner.
The ceremony was held in conjunction with National Crime Victim’s Rights Week and focused on those impacted by homicide. An important element in promoting victim and family empowerment is providing an atmosphere where victims are believed and supported by their community. In such an atmosphere, victims and families feel safer and are more apt to share that they have been victimized and reach out for assistance.
“Families will be all right one day and next something will remind you of your loved one and you have to start the healing process all over again,” said City Councilperson Carol Wood, whose mother Ruth Hallman was murdered.
James McCurtis, Manager of the Crime Victim Services Commission for the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) was one of several guest speakers at the event hosted and organized by The New Citizens Press Community Action Network (TNCPCAN).
He spoke about MDCH and the process for Crime Victim Compensation.
Under certain circumstances you may get reimbursement if you apply for funeral expenses, grief counseling, crime scene clean-up or loss of support. More information is on www.michigan.gov/mdch.
Michigan has worked diligently to make sure there were opportunities for crime victims to recoup some of their losses. It was not too long ago that victims of crime had zero rights. But changing attitudes and laws now give families of crime victims rights.
The family of murder victims Brandon Williams, Donald Taylor, Eric Anthony Jackson, James Edward Jones, III, Domonique Ardister, Chris Keith, Jordan Rogers, Marcus Basey, Ygnacio Bermudez, James A. Lauderdale, III, Michael Smith, Ignacio Rebolloso, Amaia Edmond, Shayla Johnson, Ronald Glynn, Denise McCall, among others, stood together before city council and expressed their gratitude for the opportunity to remember their relatives in a public setting.
This year we emphasized our vision of reaching and supporting all victims with the theme “Engaging Communities. Empowering Victims”. It is critical to meet victims where they are and empowering them throughout the healing process and as they become survivors. Despite many challenges, many grieving families are unaware of many of the resources that are available to them. This also gives families an opportunity to network with other individuals who have dealt with acts of violent crime and murder.
Furthermore, when we engage communities in victim response, they are better prepared to deal with the tragic issues that surround violence and murder. National Crime Victim’s Rights Week reminded us that many challenges remain, especially when it comes to unsolved murders and missing individuals as well.
Since fall of 2014, Detective Lee McCallister, is the Lansing Police Department’s cold case detective.
There has been progress but some say there is much more to be done.
This article was printed in the May 3, 2015 to May 16, 2015 edition.
