(Photo credit https://www.flickr.com/photos/yenchao/)

The Sodina project is a movement to increase empathy and compassion, we share stories to foster connection and save lives.

The Sodina Name and Logo

The origin of the Sodina name: The word for constellation in Navajo is: “So’ Dine’é.” It means “Star People.”

We are all connected. We share 99.9% of our DNA which makes us remarkably similar, virtually alike, except for relatively minor differences. The .1% that makes us unique in terms of looks and personality is what is most obvious to us, but we are not so different. We want the same things, to be safe, to be happy, to feel worth, to be loved, regardless of the zip code we were born in when we entered this world through.

While each of us might represent a star in the sky, projecting light to those open to noticing it, through our connections, we form constellations and are part of something larger. We form constellations by our connections to each other, family, friends, and social networks. These connections shift and grow as we meet new people and form new or strengthen relationships. The need to feel connected has never seemed more important. The unfinished star as the “A” in Sodina represents our connections, our personal constellations and our yearning to connect with others.

This theme touches on the socio ecological impact Sodina aims for, moving from a “me” to “we” mentality. Aspiring to see each other as we are, without judgement, understanding we all have stories that define who we are, beginning with where we were born and to whom. By promoting empathy and compassion for ourselves, then outward to our families, friends and community, we foster connection and larger constellations around us.

Stories

Sodina is a movement to increase empathy and compassion. We accomplish this through the sharing of stories by survivors who have lost a loved one to a violent death, whether it was homicide or suicide. By listening to people’s stories and telling our own: we’re in a better position to understand and connect with each other as human beings, we can imagine walking in another’s shoes, we learn how the death of a loved one affects many people, deeply and permanently. By listening to people’s stories, we have an opportunity to build more empathy, compassion and connectedness; which has the potential to save lives.

Once we have enough stories, we have a unique and powerful way of sharing these with the public that will show the scope, scale and proximity of violence in a way that statistics alone cannot. We hope these stories will connect with people, to realize we are not so different and compel them to take action to reduce violent deaths.

This grass-roots movement needs your help in connecting with others. Please read and share the stories and blog posts with your friends and social networks if they have moved you or made you reflect on your life and those around you. You will find sharing options at the end of each post.

If you have a story to share about the death of a loved one as a result of violence or suicide, please submit your story here.

Sodina | Voices to Stop Violence

#Sodina | #Voicestostopviolence

Sodina

We are all human.

We are all here for a very short time in relation to the universe and thus rather insignificant in the grand scheme of things. But although we may look at our existence as insignificant at times, we hold enormous power over how we lead our lives and our potential for doing both good and bad.

We are all on the same journey, trying to make sense of our world, our place in it, to find meaning in our lives, trying to find happiness.

We are limited only by what we believe are our limitations. While we may have limited power and influence as individuals, if we cooperate and collaborate with like-minded people, we can accomplish much more than we may imagine.

We should ask ourselves why are things the way they are?

Why can’t things be changed?

There’s great probability that others feel as we do and we simply need to find each other, listen to each other and collaborate toward a common goal.

Sodina.org is about finding each other, sharing our personal stories, and giving them a place to shine for all to see.

Rebecca Eldemire | Domestic Violence

Photo courtesy of Charlie Allenson

In our latest interview, Charlie Allenson discusses the domestic violence situation that resulted in his niece’s murder. He talks about who his niece, Rebecca Eldemire was and what we all lost when she died. He explains what her parents, family and strangers are doing to fill her empty seat at the table by honoring her through the BEEPS Foundation. The BEEPS foundation is the Betterment for Environmental and Earth Protection. Since her murder, Charlie has become involved in gun violence prevention in an effort to save lives and spare others the pain he and his family are going through.

Listen to the interview about the domestic violence situation that took her life and how she is being honored:

Accompanying music: Star Seed by Jennifer Zulli

Calls to action:

• The Sodina Project shares stories to foster connection and save lives. This grass-roots movement needs your help in connecting with others. Please share the stories and blog posts with your friends and social networks if they move you or cause you to reflect. You will find sharing options at the end of each post.
• As Becca would say when things get stressful: “Just go outside and sit, breathe, look around, there’s so much to take in.”
• Join Charlie and others in the work being done by gun violence prevention organizations
• Get involved in brain health and/or suicide and injury prevention

If you have a story to share about the death of a loved one as a result of violence, please submit your story or contact us here .

Sodina | Voices to Stop Violence

#Sodina | #Voicestostopviolence

John J. Campbell | Homicide w/ a Firearm

Photo courtesy of Tom Campbell

My story doesn’t quite fit today’s narrative as it’s a mix of inner city and old style ‘mass’ murder. Inner City in that my dad, John J. Campbell, was shot to death in NYC on Dec 23 1965 by a neighborhood punk who went on to kill 15 to 30 more people over the next 25 yrs, ie a serial killer. I was 17 at the time, second oldest of 7, the youngest being 2. It happened Christmas Eve in a local bar where dad stopped on his way home from the second shift (4-12). The shooter lived around the corner from us and the bar was around another corner so there was no more than a few hundred yards separating everything. Back then, the shooter was described as a JD – Juvenile Delinquent – and had already spent some time in detention centers for various offenses. That night he picked up his father’s police service revolver, left unlocked and loaded in a bureau drawer and walked out of his house. At 1AM, he entered the same bar and while the owner was shooting pool with another patron, Dad was shot.

Kirsten Hinckley and Carolyn Tuft (Photo courtesy of Carolyn Tuft)

This is a condensed interview with Carolyn Tuft. The majority of the interview is available in longer form beneath this one in this blog post. Carolyn was a single mother of four when she survived being shot three times in the Trolley Square Mall shooting in 2007. Sadly, she witnessed the death of her daughter Kirsten Hinckley as one of five victims and three other survivors that day.

We sat down in a friend’s kitchen weeks before she was invited to stand with other gun violence survivors behind President Obama as he announced his executive orders. Carolyn describes the event in detail and we share it not to be sensational, but so people might possibly grasp the horror of gun violence in the hopes of reducing it. WARNING: There are graphic descriptions of her and her daughter being shot at the 4 minute mark through 8:32. Skip this section if you want to avoid it.

Carolyn talks about what else she’s lost besides a daughter, and despite chronic pain, why she advocates to reduce gun violence.

Calls to action:

• The Sodina Project shares stories to foster connection and save lives. This grass-roots movement needs your help in connecting with others. Please share the stories and blog posts with your friends and social networks if they have moved you or made you reflective. You will find sharing options at the end of each post.
• Visit our gun violence/safety page to learn about and get involved with groups advocating for ways to reduce gun violence.

If you have a story to share about the death of a loved one as a result of violence, please submit your story or contact us here .

Sodina | Voices to Stop Violence

#Sodina | #Voicestostopviolence

Accompanying music: Star Seed by Jennifer Zulli

Carolyn Tuft (in green) with President Obama at the announcement of his executive orders related to gun safety on January 5, 2016

This is the longer form interview with Carolyn Tuft where the conversation flows and has very little editing. A condensed version is posted above in this same blog. Carolyn was a single mother of four when she survived being shot three times in the Trolley Square Mall shooting in 2007. Sadly, she witnessed the death of her daughter Kirsten Hinckley as one of five victims and three other survivors that day.

We sat down in a friend’s kitchen weeks before she was invited to stand with other gun violence survivors behind President Obama as he announced his executive orders. Carolyn describes the shooting event in very graphic detail detail and we share it not to be sensational, but so people might possibly grasp the horror of gun violence in the hopes of reducing it. WARNING: There are graphic descriptions of her and her daughter being shot at the 7:16 mark through 13:09. Skip this section if you want to avoid it.

Kirsten was friendly, selfless, and wise beyond her fifteen years. She was a typical teenager with a messy room, wondering if she’d be asked to the prom and trying to figure out what her 16th birthday surprise might be. Despite her young age, she had her sights set on what she wanted to do in life. She wanted to be an architect, she had her school picked out and knew the requirements she’d have to meet to get in.

The impacts on Carolyn’s life beyond losing a daughter are immense. She describes what it’s like losing her business, health insurance, house, and credit, all due to her recovery, the injuries she sustained and her medical expenses. Despite all the physical and emotional pain, Carolyn offers advice for living and getting the most out of the life we have.

Call to action: Visit our gun violence/safety page to learn about and get involved with groups advocating for ways to reduce gun violence.

If you have a story to share about the death of a loved one as a result of violence, please submit your story or contact us here .

Sodina | Voices to Stop Violence

# Sodina | #Voicestostopviolence

Accompanying music: Star Seed by Jennifer Zulli

Alex Sullivan | Mass Shooting

Tom & Alex Sullivan (Photo courtesy of Tom Sullivan)

Alex Sullivan was killed on July 20^th 2012 in the Aurora theater massacre, celebrating his 27^th birthday. In this interview, Tom talks about his relationship with Alex, what he does when he watches a movie at the theater. He reflects on what life is like today without Alex and what he would like America to know. Leaving the statistics to others, he shares the personal things he now knows as a father of a murder victim, all with a goal to get people talking, to get people to do something before they have a similar story to tell.

Since this interview was conducted, Tom announced that he’s running for the Colorado State Senate seat for district 27.

Calls to action:

• The Sodina Project shares stories to foster connection and save lives. This grass-roots movement needs your help in connecting with others. Please share the stories and blog posts with your friends and social networks if they have moved you or made you reflective. You will find sharing options at the end of each post.
• Consider supporting Tom in his bid for elected office
• Visit our gun violence/safety page to learn about and get involved with groups advocating for ways to reduce gun violence.

If you have a story to share about the death of a loved one as a result of violence, please submit your story here .

Sodina | Voices to Stop Violence

#Sodina | #Voicestostopviolence