St. Petersburg Activist-Mom Honored in Washington

A mother who turned grief from the loss of her son to activism for making meaningful change is being honored today in Washington, D.C.

Lisa Wheeler-Brown of St. Petersburg is being honored by the Department of Justice "for special courage in challenging" the code of silence in her neighborhood, after her son, Cabretti Wheeler, was murdered.

Attorney General Eric Holder will present her with an award during the National Crime Victims' Rights Week ceremony on Wednesday, April 24, according to the PR News Wire.

The Tampa Bay Times is reporting that Wheeler-Brown started a foundation in her son's name to support victims' families, after he was murdered in 2008, at an auto repair shop in Lealman.

She campaigned against violence and encouraged the community to cooperate with police, especially since for years, no one came forward with tips about her son's murder, the Times reported.

She also created a YouTube video encouraging community residents to cooperate with police.

On the Cabretti Wheeler-Fornter Foundation's Facebook Page, Lisa Wheeler-Brown recently wrote: "People continuously ask me how do I do it? How do I have the strength to keep going day after day? My response: Look at OUR community, OUR world and because someone took my son's life, I want to stop someone from taking yours!"

In addition to Wheeler-Brown, Attorney General Holder will recognize 12 other individuals and organizations for their outstanding efforts on behalf of crime victims.  

Descriptions and videos of the 2012 honorees are available at the Office for Victims of Crime's Gallery: https://ovcncvrw.ncjrs.gov/Awards/AwardGallery/gallerysearch.html.

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