A message to our community and supporters: Yesterday there was a shooting at Aventura Mall. Three O, Miami family members were at the mall, writing free Mother’s Day poems to order, when the shooting started.

It was in the same section of the mall, a few stores away. They heard the shots and ran, leaving their stuff behind, including two typewriters. They took shelter in a store that closed the gate after they got inside. Eventually they were allowed to leave through the back.

They got to their cars safely and went home. They are all now processing the trauma of the event. I haven’t said their names because I think it’s up to them to decide how/if they want to speak about it. But I’m very proud of them for how they protected one another.

Before the incident they managed to write a few poems for mall goers, one of whom tipped the poet $20 because he was so pleased that someone would write a poem for his mom for free. Just give of oneself like that, asking for nothing in return. (We pay the poets to be there btw.)

This is the Miami we’re familiar with: one of deep generosity, love, care, and imagination. There are people who want to destroy this Miami, and I’m not talking about whoever pulled the gun yesterday.

A bullet in the mall is the tail end of a long chain of events. We know what the chain is, we know who keeps it alive. Anyone who isn’t openly trying to break it is openly supporting it. You always have a choice and inaction is one of those choices.

Inaction keeps the chain alive. It helps pull the trigger. We’ll be doing something as an org. I don’t know what yet. We’d love your help when we do. - PSC