Julianne Moore Instagram – My #WomenCrushWednesday today is Paula Hamilton, a @MomsDemand volunteer and survivor of gun violence from Springfield, Missouri.
Paula’s grandson, Melvin, was tragically shot and killed on August 18, 2019. The following year, her son opened a recording studio, 818 Ankh Sounds, named in Melvin’s memory. “My family recognizes August 18 as ‘Ankh Day’ in his honor,” says Paula. Paula then began working closely with her local Moms Demand Action group to advocate for gun safety. “The reason I am so dedicated to Moms is because they gave me an avenue to grieve his horrible death,” she adds.
Paula recently moved to Florida to be closer to family but served as the Missouri chapter’s Community Outreach Leader through 2024. One of her many accomplishments in this role included the partnership she built with the Police Chief of Springfield, which began after Paula attended a monthly “Coffee with the Chief” gathering. The two built a rapport, and Paula was eventually invited to present the work of Moms Demand Action to the Chief’s Citizen Advisory Group, a gathering of community leaders who develop actionable items to address issues facing the city. Following her presentation, Paula was invited to attend the advisory group regularly to represent the gun violence prevention advocacy work of her Moms Demand Action chapter. She and her fellow volunteers have been doing so now for almost three years, providing them the essential opportunity to combat gun violence in their city in tandem with other advocates.
Thank you, Paula, for honoring your grandson through your commitment to your community and the partnerships that you build. Together, we can end gun violence. #wcw | Posted on 15/Jan/2025 22:07:11
