A week after 11-year-old Ayshawn Davis was fatally shot, 17-year-old Tamari Rodriguez was also shot and killed in Troy.

These two murders came at the tail end of a violent summer. That's what has made the role of community organizations like Urban Grief so vital.

Urban Grief is a trauma response initiative focused on making victim services more accessible to people of color, who are disproportionately affected by gun violence.

The group's founder says staying under quarantine during the pandemic, coupled with the disruption to education, has led to an increase in violence in the Capital Region. And the grief associated with this is felt by everybody in the community.

"This summer has been absolutely devastating on so many levels. Devastating in the loss of life, devastating in the number of injuries, but also devastating on the impact that it has had on our community members," said Urban Grief Founder Lisa Good.

If you want to learn more about Urban Grief, visit their website.