Jarell Christopher Seay was just 18 years old in 2011 — six weeks from his high school graduation — when he was shot on his front porch… with his father by his side. “When these guys came to our house asking for Jarell, my husband, Joel, had a weird feeling but everyone loved Jarell so he called him to the door,” said his mother, Cherlynne Graham-Seay, a community health worker in Penn Medicine at Home. After a few words, her son turned to go back into the house, and one of the men shot him in the back. “It was the most horrific, painful day in our lives.”
Two things helped the family get through this tragedy: their strong faith and helping those in need. The Seay family had a history of giving back to their community but now, the outreach activities were done in her son’s memory. Thus was born the Jarell Christopher Seay Love and Laughter Foundation. Its mission, Seay said, is to “unite communities by connecting families while helping to protect our children through gun violence prevention, safety, and education.”
Every August, the Seay family had sponsored a backpack giveaway for kids in their neighborhood. They have continued this outreach at a new location: the Universal Bluford Charter School in West Philadelphia. In addition to distributing backpacks to students, the day includes safety and martial arts presentations, as well as other activities for children and parents. Similarly their annual holiday outreach, when they give out toys, story books, clothing, and gift cards, now focuses on “families affected by violence or tragedy.”
The Foundation has started new “traditions” as well. For example, Seay created Ladies in Powerful Peace (LIPP), a program for young girls in grades 6 to 8 in the Universal Daroff Charter School. Every Saturday in March, she and others talked to the students about healthy eating, self care, and staying safe. Seay shared her story about Jarell, encouraging the girls to “do those things that others didn’t get a chance to do.”
Their first Dance4Peace dance marathon at the Daroff School included T-shirt giveaways, lunch, and a swag bag to bring home. Seay learned all about “dubsmashing” from the kids, and the kids learned how to have fun without their cell phones!
The next outreach she’s planning is a summer program for younger students, focusing on safety. “Young kids know what’s right,” she said. At this age, “they’re more likely to focus and remember what we tell them.”
To help the Jarell Seay Foundation continue its mission, Seay holds fundraisers, such as the annual Orange Ball, but also relies on grants and other types of support. Her Penn Medicine CAREs grant helped purchase the Dance4Peace T-shirts and the personal care and hygiene items for LIPP.
Seay is now working toward an associate’s degree in human services (“I made the dean’s list!”) in addition to all she does with the Foundation. “We turned tragedy into triumph,” she said. “I’m so thankful for these opportunities.”
To learn more about the Penn Medicine CAREs grant, go to https://www.pennmedicine.org/about/serving-our-community