I want to invite you into a promise, not a dream. The promise is that Chicago will be free of poverty-induced gun violence.

I know it, because this promise was whispered to me. It was spoken at our first in-person graduation last year when I watched a single mother deprived of her high school diploma walk across the stage with a cord for the first time. It was spoken as droves of women from Austin to Chicago Lawn to Homewood to Woodlawn signed up for our programming en masse, longing for safety, well-being, and empowerment that reached beyond them and into their families.

Free Root Operation has championed this promise through our BLOOM Network. Through BLOOM, women impacted by gun violence have been able to gain wellness and economic development tools to steward themselves, their families, and their communities, working toward ending the cycle of violence once and for all. Now with research, community support, and proven program success—we are ready to spread healing through the city of Chicago like never before. To make good on the promise of safety for all, we need to achieve the following:

Our first 3,500 sq ft brick-and-mortar space for programming and operations
A new Care Team of licensed professionals providing critical wellness services
A new Programming Team of educators providing robust trainings and experiential support
A direct service team providing childcare and transportation services to make our programming accessible in innovative ways

With these additions, we will be able to create the following impact:

Increase capacity to serve the 1,800+ women impacted by gun violence who have applied for our BLOOM Network programming
Increased hope, agency, pathways, and possibilities for over 3,000 youth being cared for by our BLOOM Network members
Empowerment of our FRO team comprised of women who are both community workers and survivors
The creation of workforce development for those who have been impacted by gun violence and have a passion for pouring into their community

This promise of freedom is why we are seeking more champions of our work through our third annual Pledge Your Paid Time Off (PTO) call to action. These pledges will allow us to expedite our work toward freedom for all Chicagoans.

With your support, Chicago will be free of this violent epidemic, and we will all be here to witness it. Learn more at freerootoperation.com.

Note: Interested in sponsoring a BLOOM Cohort student for a six-month term? Email eva@freerootoperation.com for more information.

With love,

Eva Maria Lewis, Executive Director & Founder