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Photo Essay: Remembering Sherdavia Jenkins 10 Years Later

WLRN Public Media
Published March 24, 2016 at 3:51 PM EDT
Nadege Green
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WLRN
Balloons commemorate the life of Sherdavia Jenkins, who was only 9 years old when she was killed 10 years ago.

Sherdavia Jenkins was 9 years old when she was killed in the Liberty Square housing projects on July 1, 2006.

She was on her front porch when a stray bullet  struck the little girl who loved video games.

This week, she would have turned 19 years old. Her family and community member gathered to commemorate her birthday at a park across the street from the housing projects where she was killed.

The park is named for her: Sherdavia Jenkins Peace Park.

Since Sherdavia's death 10-years ago, an average of 30 children a year have been killed in  Miami-Dade County.

View the photo essay below and hear the radio story on remembering Sherdavia Jenkins.

Credit Nadege Green / WLRN
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WLRN
A mural at Sherdavia Jenkins Peace Park. Twice a year Sherdavia's family gathers at this park to remember her birthday and the day she died.
Credit Nadege Green / WLRN
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WLRN
Catherine Hummingbird Ramirez blessed children with eagle feathers at a birthday remembrance for Sherdavia Jenkins. Sherdavia would have turned 19 on March 22. A bullet ended her life on July 1, 2006.

Credit Nadege Green / WLRN
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WLRN
Poet Rebecca "Butterfly" Vaughns closes her eyes in mediation at a birthday commemoration for Sherdavia Jenkins. Smoke from burning sage nearby wafts in the air.

Credit Nadege Green / WLRN
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WLRN
Sherdavia Jenkins' family attends a birthday commemoration for her at Sherdavia Jenkins Peace Park.

Credit Nadege Green / WLRN
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WLRN
Dawn Williams, Sherdavia Jenkins' aunt, wears a Rest In Peace shirt with Sherdavia's photo. The day Sherdavia died, she said, she was supposed to take her to Chuck E. Cheese.

Credit Nadege Green / WLRN
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WLRN
Sherdavia Jenkins' favorite colors were orange and lavender. Nineteen balloons were released on what would have been her 19th birthday.
Credit Nadege Green / WLRN
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WLRN
Nineteen balloons were released to mark Sherdavia Jenkins' birthday.
Credit Nadege Green / WLRN
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WLRN
Sherdavia Jenkins' dad releases the 20th balloon for all the other kids who won’t be able to attend their next birthday parties because their lives were taken by gun violence.

   

     
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