Gun violence is a devastating crisis that impacts American communities and families every day. Beyond the immediate tragedy, its effects ripple outward—leaving survivors, loved ones, and entire neighborhoods grappling with grief, trauma, and loss. Families face emotional, financial, and legal challenges that can last for years, while communities struggle to heal from the pain.
Samaad was more than just a son, a brother, and a friend—he was a bright light in the lives of everyone who knew him. A proud graduate of Franklin High School in 2018, Samaad was filled with ambition and a love for learning. He continued his journey at Kean University, eager to pursue his dreams and make an impact in the world.
Samaad’s life was defined by love, kindness, and the ability to connect with people. He had a smile that could brighten any room and a heart that cared deeply for others. Tragically, on December 31, 2019, at just 19 years old, Samaad’s life was taken by gun violence.
In the wake of this unimaginable loss, One Family One Fight was born. Samaad’s legacy of love and unity is the foundation of everything we do. Our mission is to honor his memory by supporting survivors of gun violence, offering them hope, healing, and resources to rebuild their lives.
Samaad believed in the power of love and the importance of lifting others up. Through One Family One Fight, we carry his light forward, ensuring that his story inspires change and creates a brighter future for families and communities affected by gun violence. Samaad is our why—and his legacy lives on in every life we touch.
Our SurvivorCollective Support Group is a compassionate and welcoming community for survivors of gun violence and their families. We understand the unique challenges survivors face, and this program provides a safe and confidential environment to share experiences, find emotional support, and build meaningful connections with others who understand.
What we offer:
•Virtual and in-person support groups led by experienced facilitators.
•Peer-to-peer support from individuals who have walked similar paths.
•Tools and resources to aid in emotional healing and coping.
•A sense of community to remind you that you are not alone.
At SurvivorCollective, we’re here to help you navigate the healing journey with understanding, empathy, and solidarity.
Preparing the Next Generation for Success
The Future Forward Academy is a college readiness program designed to equip high school students with the tools, resources, and guidance they need to achieve their academic and career goals. This program is especially tailored for students impacted by gun violence, helping them move forward with hope and determination.
What we offer:
•Personalized college and career counseling.
•Workshops on college applications, financial aid, and scholarships.
•Mentorship opportunities with professionals and community leaders.
•Life skills training, including time management, goal setting, and leadership development.
Future Forward Academy is dedicated to empowering students to dream big and take actionable steps toward a brighter future.
The holiday season, a time that once sparkled with festive lights and joyous melodies, can cast a shadow on those who still carry the weight of grief. For those who have lost a loved one like me, the season’s cheer often intertwines with the unsettling reminder of their absence. How do we navigate the grief during the holidays and rediscover moments of joy amidst the sorrow? Acknowledging the Pain First and foremost, it’s crucial to acknowledge the pain. Grief is not a...
Losing a loved one is a pain that is both unique and universal. It tears through the fabric of your life, leaving behind an emptiness that seems impossible to fill. For me, the loss of my middle son, Samaad, to a tragic homicide on December 31, 2019, was a devastating blow that shook my world to its core. In those early days of grief, the pain was all-consuming. It was a struggle just to get out of bed in the morning,...
In a world where gun violence continues to plague communities and claim the lives of young individuals, the need for proactive solutions has never been greater. The “Youth Over Guns” initiative is a beacon of hope, working tirelessly to equip our youth with the skills and knowledge they need to choose a different path—one that leads to leadership, resilience, and a brighter future. The Youth Over Guns Initiative: A Glimpse into Transformation Founded by a group of individuals who have personally felt...
Gun violence remains a pressing issue in many communities across the world, causing pain, loss, and fear. While it’s a complex problem, communities have the power to initiate change. Creating a solutions-based community that focuses on gun violence prevention is a proactive and empowering approach. In this blog, we will explore the key steps to build such a community, where individuals can come together to make a positive impact. Awareness and Education The first step in creating a solutions-based community is to...
After all I’ve done for my son all I get is a CASKET!? Don’t say that Kim! Don’t say that! You got this and that and time and blah blah blah! Yes I did get all of that. But I poured my time, my money, my heart and soul into my child and all I got after 19 years is a casket… A lifeless body buried in the ground way before his time… With all of the money I spent on trainings, gear, workouts,...
How do you right the wrongs once they’re gone? If I only had more time… Have you ever said that? Have you ever felt that time was too short with your loved one? When one dies we are left with the thoughts of what we could have and should have done. We are left with the thoughts of what we feel that we did wrong. We are left with the thoughts of what we could have done better. We are left with the thoughts...
Pain & Guilt– As the shock wears off, it is replaced with the suffering of unbelievable pain. Although excruciating and almost unbearable, it is important that you experience the pain fully, and not hide it, avoid it or escape from it with alcohol or drugs. The pain of burying a child is the worst pain a human can experience. We all have expectations to live long lives. But, it’s impossible to know when you will experience death. For me, the pain of...
When you think of being vulnerable what comes to mind? Does Weakness come to mind? The truth is you have to be vulnerable to build strength. To build strength you have to have courage. Vulnerability is a strength because it allows you to open yourself up to others and experience life more fully. Being vulnerable is being courageous about what is happening with you emotionally at the moment. Vulnerable definition: to choose to be authentic and show our true selves, despite facing...
Grief is an experience that most everyone encounters at some point in life. It can come in various forms, such as loss of a loved one, loss of a job, change or loss of a relationship, moving to a new location or when a serious illness occurs. Experiencing grief is totally natural. Experiencing unresolved grief can lead to unhealthy behaviors. Learning to identify the stages of grief and ways to cope through each is a great way to begin the...
It’s difficult to take your emotions out of situations and deal with what is right in your face. That means you have to hold yourself accountable for everything you experienced in that moment. Over the years I’ve learned to take my emotions out of everything especially when it comes to making decisions, listening to people, and having compassion for other people’s situations. When you feel that things should go a certain way that’s your opinion not a fact. Granted, we all...
What is love? “Love is a set of emotions and behaviors characterized by intimacy, passion, and commitment. It involves care, closeness, protectiveness, attraction, affection, and trust.” Grief requires LOVE. The love you show yourself when dealing with the loss of a loved one, the love from others who also loved your loved one and the love from those who didn’t know your loved one but who Love You. There’s a difference between death and grief. Death is an experience of life, grief is...
When death happens we often associate it with an emotion, but death is actually an experience. An experience that will happen to each of us. An experience that is apart of living, and an experience that is the inevitable. To accept life, you have to accept that death will happen to you. Fact is, we live to die. Every day you continue to live you are actually dying. Every death is a different experience. A death from sickness allows you to...
My son was killed in an ambush on Churchill Ave in Somerset, NJ by 5 black teenage men on December 31, 2019. There were shots in the double digits but only 2 hit him. The bullets killed him immediately. Read that again… The pain I have to live with daily is a pain no other mother should bear. The things I didn’t sign up for as a MOTHER. Things that nobody who hasn’t experienced this could understand… I can no longer see my son, I...
Greetings everyone Good Morning! As you know my name is Kim Banks and I’m the mother of Samaad Frazier. He lost his life at 19 years old to gun violence on December 31, 2019 on Churchill Ave here in Somerset. He was visiting a friend, He was not a gang member or involved in gang activity, he was just at the wrong place at wrong the time. Life has become so invaluable these days and Gun violence has become so prevalent...
I wear orange for my son Samaad Zaire Frazier. He was gunned down on Churchill Ave in Somerset on Dec 31 2019 by 5 young men who knew and went to school with him. He was 19 years old and a 2018 graduate of FHS and an elite basketball player. His death was 1 of 3 that year in Somerset. He was preceded by the deaths of Dominic Frederick on May 25 and Monserrat Noyola-Narvaez on October 29. it’s been a difficult journey of healing...
Samaad was gunned down by 5 people he knew. My grief journey dealing with murder grief is so different… ...
It took FIVE of you to kill my son Little did you know his destiny was already WON From this pain we will live in his HONOR I know you must have to PONDER As to why you made his name bigger than YONDER You took his LIFE that was all you did Now you’re in jail looking like a piece of SHIT Until the day we die we will SPEAK HIS NAME Too bad for you, you will die in SHAME You turned up a VILLAIN in FivesUpRoddy That’s...
