Behind every headline about gun violence is a real person with a real family—left to face the unthinkable. Yolanda Harrison is a mother, a veteran, a nurse, and now an advocate. Her 20-year-old son, Devan Sprawling, was shot and killed in 2018.
What followed was a painful journey through grief, frustration, and a justice system she says left her with more questions than answers. To make matters worse, she felt the news coverage surrounding her son's death featured a harmful stereotype.
Yolanda found the strength to stand up and speak out. She founded an organization called Mothers of Black Sons Standing Against Death. She joined the mayor’s Hope Council against violence. And she began telling her story publicly, hoping it could benefit other families of victims of gun violence.
"As a parent, I thought I did all the right things. But my child still didn’t come home,” she said.
Executive Director of Restore Hope Paul Chapman hosts the podcast. Executive producer is Karen Tricot Steward. Videography and production by Ti King.
Smart Justice is a magazine, podcast, and continuing news coverage from the nonprofit Restore Hope and covers the pursuit of better outcomes on justice system-related issues, such as child welfare, incarceration, and juvenile justice. Our coverage is solutions-oriented, focusing on the innovative ways in which communities are solving issues and the lessons that have been learned as a result of successes and challenges.
The podcast is available on all major podcasting platforms.
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