04/18/2026
April has been a heavy and heartbreaking reminder of the violence impacting Black women and the children left behind.
At Connecting the Gap, we see what doesn’t always make the headlines…
the young person navigating life after losing a parent.
The silence.
The confusion.
The grief that shows up in school, in behavior, in identity, and in everyday moments.
When violence happens, it doesn’t end with one life—it reshapes entire families.
This is why our work matters.
We create space for youth to:
• Process grief in healthy ways
• Feel seen, supported, and understood
• Stay connected to school, community, and hope
• Build a future beyond their loss
Grief is not just emotional, it’s developmental.
And without support, it can impact how young people move through the world.
behind every statistic… is a child still trying to figure out how to move forward.