LEXINGTON, Ky. — A day of hope and courage brought victims and survivors of violence in Lexington and beyond together at the Fayette County Sheriff's Office Survivors Summit.

What You Need To Know

  • The Fayette County Sheriff's Office hosted its first-ever Survivors Summit 

  • Floral art therapy and stress reduction training were offered

  • Among those speaking were Samantha Fuentes, who survived the 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School mass shooting in Parkland, Florida

  • The Sheriff's Office received grant funding from the Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet to hold the event

Victims, survivors and the people and organizations in Lexington supporting them highlighted their experiences and what it takes to help.

Jordan Richie, florist at Agape Fields, had hand-picked flowers that helped bring smiles, comfort and healing to guests at the summit. 

“We want them to know that they have meaning and they have purpose," Richie said. "They're not just what they've experienced.” 

Samantha Fuentes, a survivor of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Florida, spoke at the Fayette County Sheriff's Office Survivors Summit. (Spectrum News 1/Sabriel Metcalf)

It was an all-day event for survivors of violence and traumatic incidents to share their stories and connect with resources that make a difference. 

Among those speaking were Samantha Fuentes, who survived the 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School mass shooting in Parkland, Florida, sharing the day's harsh details. 

Cheryl Birch, a mother who has 30 years of gun violence prevention work under her belt, lost her son Jermaine in a 2009 shooting. She said the summit provides people with what they need to recover from trauma.

Organizations and survivors dealing with these issues daily said it takes more time and awareness to take steps toward healing. 

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