Northeast News
May 27, 2011

Mattie Rhodes Center’s Latino Advocacy Taskforce (LAT) will host a Day of Remembrance Saturday, May 28, to honor those who have died this year due to violent crime. The event will be held from 10 a.m. to noon at Sacred Heart Church Hall, 2544 Madison Ave., Kansas City, Mo.

The Day of Remembrance will mark the first year of the Latino Advocacy Taskforce, which was launched Memorial Day weekend of 2010. The Taskforce was created to provide support services for victims and families of violent crime in Kansas City’s Latino community.

“The Taskforce represents a proactive approach to combating violent crime in Kansas City’s Latino Community,” said Mattie Rhodes Center President/CEO John Fierro. “For way too long our community has been silent and passive when it comes to people killed because of senseless violence.”

Over the last year, the Taskforce has helped numerous families with fundraising for funeral arrangements and other expenses, offering grief support and counseling services, providing victim and court advocacy, maintaining public awareness through vigils and press conferences, and communicating with the media, law enforcement, and community.

The day’s events will include a traditional dance by the Matachines dance group, non-denominational moments of prayer and silence and a luncheon scholarship ceremony. All are welcome to attend.