Tyme to Thrive Beyond Grief: Gun Violence Prevention Begins With Survivor Support

On February 2, 2022, my fiancé Tyshon “Ty” Ross was senselessly and fatally shot in front of me.

After Ty’s death, I was left grieving and completely unsupported as I tried to navigate the legal system with no guidance or help. I felt crushed by his absence and how quickly our plans for the future had changed. Ty and I had been so excited about our lifetime partnership—but his life was taken before we could make those hopes a reality. 

At the same time that I was grieving the future that Ty and I would have shared, I was scrambling to answer questions like how I would afford to pay for his funeral or cover the rent on the apartment we had shared. Ty and I were engaged, and he was like a stepfather to my son. But I wasn’t legally Ty’s next of kin, a status often needed to access victim compensation funds in the wake of a loved one’s violent death.

My son and I felt invisible, and we struggled through every day. I spent two long months navigating complex paperwork, facing long wait times at assistance offices, and being met with indifference. I saw firsthand how easily someone could slip through the cracks of the system that is supposed to support them. Two months after Ty’s killing, my son and I were evicted when I couldn’t pay rent—forced to leave the very place where we shared our last precious moments with Ty.

As a young Black woman and a survivor of gun violence, I have personally experienced the profound impact of systemic inequities. I have seen firsthand how these injustices shape the lives of individuals and entire communities. The system would tell us to be strong, but strength doesn’t pay for funerals. It doesn’t cover therapy. It doesn’t ease the trauma. So why are families being forced to survive loss without a safety net?

I wish that my son and I had faced a gentler reality after Ty’s death. But I am determined to work for a world where survivors like us are protected and supported. That’s why I started a nonprofit, Tyme to Thrive Beyond Grief: I know how it feels to be lost and alone, and I’m committed to ensuring that no one else has to face that struggle without support.

Tyme to Thriveserves survivors of violence in the six-county metro Atlanta, Georgia, area. We know that true healing requires a comprehensive approach. We strive to address the root causes and long-term impacts of violence by offering resources to reduce re-traumatization and break cycles of violence. We do this work through a community violence intervention (CVI) strategy that prioritizes:

• Direct survivor support,
• Strong community partnerships to create a more connected network of resources for survivors,
• Focused interventions to reduce the risk of future violence, and
• Advocacy for policy change to improve support systems and promote long-term safety and healing for survivors.

At Tyme to Thrive, we believe that violence prevention begins with survivor support. One of the toughest challenges we face at Tyme to Thrive is the misconception that supporting survivors is not part of the solution to gun violence. That couldn’t be further from the truth. The trauma of violent death ripples through families and communities. That interpersonal violence is compounded by structural and historical violence, which has a disproportionate impact on Black communities. As Black people, we’ve lived through the ripple effects of systemic racism, disinvestment in our neighborhoods, and over-policing. Generations of systemic racism and discriminatory policies, coupled with a lack of access to and investment in resources for healing, continue to drive gun violence. In turn, that violence inflicts and deepens individual and community trauma.

Elevating Black voices brings clarity to the root causes of gun violence and ensures that the solutions we fight for address the heart of the problem, not just its symptoms. When Black survivors and leaders share their stories, they put a human face on statistics. These stories inspire action and remind people that the issue of survivor support isn’t abstract: It’s about real lives, families, and communities. For me, “Survivors and Trailblazers: Leading the Fight Against Gun Violence” is more than just Everytown’s 2025 theme for Black History Month. It’s a reflection of the strength, courage, and leadership that drives me and Tyme to Thrive. I am determined to use my story as both a survivor and a leader to shine a light on the structural changes needed to break cycles of violence and inequality. And I’m proud of the work we do at Tyme to Thrive to help others do the same. 

One of our survivors, a young man impacted by gun violence, was caught in a cycle of trauma and retaliation. He struggled to see a way out of his pain and anger, which led to more violence in his community. Tyme to Thrive stepped in with a combination of emotional counseling, mentorship, and community support. With time, he found peace and healing, and now he mentors other young people, helping them avoid the same traps of violence and offering hope for a different path.

One woman with whom we work came to us after her partner was killed in a shooting. She was completely overwhelmed: grieving, struggling financially, and lost in a complex legal system with no one to guide her. She didn’t know where to turn, and the emotional and financial weight was crushing. I couldn’t take away her grief, but I could step in to provide the immediate financial support, legal guidance, and emotional care that I had needed three years earlier. Over time, she found strength and stability, and now she’s using her experience to help others who are going through the same thing. 

Three years after its founding, Tyme to Thrive has connected 586 people like this woman to mental health services, financial assistance, and legal representation. Those are 586 people I hope now have access to the tools, resources, and support to begin their healing journeys and interrupt the cycle of violence in their communities. In 2024, we received a grant from the Everytown Support Fund Community Safety to help expand our reach. Those funds will help us to expand our reach to support 1,000 individuals by the end of 2025. We also plan to launch new initiatives focused on youth development, mental health, and violence prevention. 

I miss my fiancé every single day. I grieve the life we could have had together that died that day with Ty: the wedding, anniversary celebrations, birthdays, and everyday moments we will never get to share. Nothing I do now can change our story—but I am doing everything in my power to change someone else’s.