In the Aftermath
Dr. Tanya Sharpe, Associate Professor and Endowed Chair in Social Work in the Global Community at the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, is also the founder and director of The Centre for Research & Innovation for Black Survivors of Homicide Victims (The CRIB). As a member of the Edwin S.H. Leong Centre for Healthy Children, she provides an update on her impactful research project titled, In the Aftermath.
In the Aftermath is a research initiative by The CRIB aimed at engaging young people, ages 12-16, who are navigating the trauma of surviving the aftermath of losing family members and friends to homicide. The project seeks to offer support and a platform for youth to share their experiences, while contributing to a deeper understanding of the unique challenges they face.
The disproportionate representation of young African, Afro-Caribbean, and Black (ACB) homicide victims in Toronto places already marginalized communities at great risk for compromised well-being. Despite the prevalence of homicide in ACB communities, research on the tragic impact of murder on young surviving family members and friends is limited. The scarcity of research on the experiences of young ACB Canadian survivors of homicide victims leaves researchers, policy makers, and practitioners with little evidence to develop culturally responsive, developmentally appropriate, evidenced-based interventions that support ACB youth as they bereave and grieve the murder of their family members and friends.
In the Aftermath uses qualitative research methods through virtual focus groups and digital storytelling in partnership with Story Centre Canada to understand the impact of murder on wellbeing, coping strategies and explore the unmet needs of young ACB Canadian survivors of homicide victims in Toronto.
Neighborhood Ambassadors (NAs), who are local champions, with lived experience, from across the City of Toronto that have built substantial relationships with community members, supported the recruitment of participants. They were also key in the engagement and facilitation of focus groups, in which a total of 11 youth from various neighbourhoods across Toronto, most notably Regent Park, Galloway, and Jane and Finch participated. Approximately 40% of the participants identified as female while the other 60% identified as male. Their ages ranged from 14-16. Once the focus groups were completed six participants were selected to partake in a series of digital storytelling workshops over the span of four weeks. Participants meet with two facilitators from Story Centre Canada, and NAs, weekly for a minimum of six hours. During these sessions, participants are taught how to use the digital storytelling platform as well as engage in a series of activities to support them in building a narrative that reflects their experiences coping with the homicide of their loved ones.
We are currently in the second week of the digital storytelling sessions and participants have already started to articulate excitement and relief in building a narrative that spreads awareness about the impact of homicide on young survivors. As we continue to move forward with these sessions, we recognize the significance and impact on the well-being of young ACB survivors of homicide victims to have a space to reflect upon their experiences with homicide loss and to garner support.
Upon completion of participant digital stories, The CRIB will be hosting a film screening on March 1st, 2025. For more information on the screening please reach out to Dr. Tanya Sharpe at tanya.sharpe@utoronto.ca.