'Night of Hope' Free Event at Joliet's Jacob Henry Mansion

Three years after young mother-to-be Alisha Bromfield and her unborn baby were murdered, her family and friends have organized a night to “inspire others and show that love can overcome tragedies.”

Bromfield was 21 when her friend Brian Cooper, 37, strangled her to death. She was due in a few months to give birth to a girl she had already named Ava Lucille.

In the wake of that tragedy, Bromfield’s family and friends came together to create the Purple Project, named for the slain woman’s favorite color. Now, the members of the Purple Project have organized a Night of Hope for Aug. 19, the anniversary of Bromfield and Ava’s deaths, to “show that love can overcome tragedies.”

The free event at Joliet’s Jacob Henry Mansion will feature two inspirational speakers, Scarlett Lewis and Benjamin Scott Allen.

Lewis is the mother of Jesse Lewis, who was killed in his first grade classroom during the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School. She wrote the book Nurturing Healing Love and founded The Jesse Lewis Choose Love Foundation.

Allen wrote the book Out of the Ashes following the deaths of his wife and two sons.

The evening will include hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar. Fire department, law enforcement, military and members of the clergy will be recognized during the evening.

For more information, check the event Facebook page and the Purple Project website.