The Rochester Spinal Association is opening up its popular Gun Violence Survivor Peer Support Group to all people paralyzed by gun violence. Starting on October 10, it will meet daily on Zoom from 4 to 8 p.m. Eastern time. Email RSA@rochesterspinalassociation.org for the Zoom link. Members may attend as many or as few meetings as they please.
A dedicated meeting for gunshot survivors is important because they often experience additional stigma. “I got shot in 2020,” says group co-leader Porche “Shay” Powell, a T8 paraplegic. “My ex-boyfriend kicked in my door, shot and paralyzed me. I owned my home and had to go back. It was horrible.” Yet, when she shares her story in peer groups, fellow participants don’t always believe her and assume she did something wrong.
Shay’s co-leader, Ralph Norman, a C3 quad, reports similar experiences. When he was 17, he stopped for gas on the way to his friend’s graduation celebration and got caught in the crossfire of a shooting. Neither he nor his friends were the intended targets. “Finding a group like this one specifically for gunshot survivors is very good for me,” says Ralph. “In other groups, people say they were hurt in a diving or car accident, and when you say gunshot, it feels uncomfortable.”
When he was younger, Ralph sometimes let others assume he was injured in a car accident to avoid being judged. “The first thing they say to a black person is, ‘were you in a gang?’ But in this group, it doesn’t matter what your skin tone is. To have this group go national is going to be awesome,” he says.
Some members were shot as part of illegal activity, and the group is also open to them — it’s a judgment-free zone.
“We have some members who were involved in gangs, but don’t assume anything about their lifestyle,” says Rochester Spinal Association Executive Director Chris Hildebrandt. “They’re trying to do better in their life. They’re part of our paralyzed family.”
Like all the best United Spinal peer support groups, this one is fun and encouraging. “Half of the time, we’re talking about sports or movies or jokes,” says Chris. “Everyone gives words of encouragement and helps support others,” adds Shay.
For more information about United Spinal’s peer support program, please contact Director of Peer Support Lindsey Elliott at LElliott@Unitedspinal.org or 718-803-3782 ext. 7241. Join our community by signing up for a free membership. To support our mission, donate here.