Abundant Life Christian and Weekly Updates

By now, you may have already heard the local and national news regarding the shooting at Abundant Life Christian School right here in Madison. My heart goes out to the families who have been directly affected by this tragic incident. You are not alone; seek support if you needed; below is a list of resources:

• 2-1-1 Wisconsin: Call 2-1-1 for free and confidential information about your area's mental and physical healthcare, housing, food, and emergency services. Resource specialists are available 24/7/365. For an online alternative, visit findhelp.org.
• 9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call 9-8-8, text 9-8-8, or click here to access the online chat to connect with a crisis counselor. The 988 Lifeline is a national network of local crisis centers that provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24/7/365 in the United States.
• SAMHSA Disaster Distress Helpline: Call or text 1-800-985-5990 to connect with counselors in 100+ languages. Operated by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, this helpline is available 24/7/365 to provide crisis counseling at no cost for people experiencing emotional distress related to any natural or human-caused disaster (including mass shootings).
• VictimConnect Resource Center: Call or text 855-4-VICTIM (855-484-2846) or message through an online chat Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET. Dial 711 and VictimConnect staff can provide services through an interpreter in more than 200 languages and to deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals. VictimConnect offers confidential assistance to victims of crime through trained specialists who can help you locate services in your area, including mental health counseling, legal services, and more.
• A vigil will occur tomorrow, Thursday, at 6 p.m., at the Vel Phillips Statue on the State Capitol grounds. This vigil allows us to unite as a community, share our grief, and support each other during this difficult time.

I have been in communication throughout the day with Mayor Rhodes-Conway, Alder Currie, Chief Barnes, and Chief Carbon. I want to thank them for their dedication to keeping our community safe and informed. I also extend my gratitude to the first responders—police, fire, and violence prevention teams—and their families. It’s essential that we lean on each other during difficult times like these.

More information will follow in the coming days. Please take care of yourselves.

"History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage, need not be lived again.", Maya Angelou