Finding Hope Amid Tragedy: A Mother's Journey After the Marjory Stoneman Douglas School Shooting

In this emotionally charged episode of EZ Conversations, join me, Furkhan Dandia, as I sit down with the remarkable Lori Alhadeff, founder of Make Our Schools Safe and mother to Alyssa Alhadeff, a victim of the tragic shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. We delve deep into Lori's heartbreaking journey as she recounts the events leading up to that fateful day and its profound impact on her life. With raw honesty, Lori shares her struggles with grief and the daunting task of rebuilding her shattered world in the aftermath of such unimaginable loss. Together, we confront the harsh realities surrounding school shootings, discussing the urgent need for change and the systemic issues plaguing our education system. Through her pain, Lori's resilience shines as she reveals how she found purpose and meaning in advocating for safer schools through her nonprofit organization, Make Our Schools Safe. This episode is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the unwavering determination to create a safer world for our children. Lori was raised and lived in New Jersey for over thirty-eight years. Lori is a former health and physical education teacher in K-12th grade. She was a stay-at-home mom for fourteen years with three children. Her daughter, Alyssa, was tragically killed at Stoneman Douglas High School on 2-14- 18. She has married Dr. Ilan Alhadeff for twenty-three years and is a community and safety advocate. She was elected to The School Board of Broward County, Florida, 2018, as a District 4 Board Member. As a School Board member, Alhadeff has been involved in shaping policies, promoting dialogue, and advocating for measures to ensure the well-being and security of students in Broward County Public Schools. She continues to use her platform to raise awareness, push for legislative changes, and support initiatives to enhance school safety, like Alyssa’s Alert, a panic button for a life-threatening emergency. COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: President of a 501(c)(3), a national nonprofit organization, Make Our Schools Safe, dedicated to empowering students and staff to help create and maintain a culture of safety and vigilance in a secure school environment. Sponsors of the Podcast: BetterHelp: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://betterhelp.com/ez10⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for 10% off your first month of therapy WeShape: https://weshape.postaffiliatepro.com/scripts/dcfogwyuk?a_aid=FurkhanDandia&a_bid=d7508fa8 for 35% all plans. Mint Mobile: ⁠https://trymintmobile.com/ez10⁠ for 15$ for an unlimited cell phone plan We Are Wild for 25% off your first order: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://zen.ai/EZ23⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Four Sigmatic: Use code "EZCONVERSATIONS" for 10% off your order. If you would like to support EZ Conversations, here are all the ways you can do that: Instagram⁠⁠:⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/eunoiazen⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://m.facebook.com/eunoiazen⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube⁠⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrqBp_zdRiIfBRV4wURSZ2A⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/furkhan-dandia-macp-mba-072a8a1ba/⁠ Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/EzConversations⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Or find Furkhan's Book, Pursuit of Self Love: 30 Uplifting Messages and Reflections. The Kindle version is available on Amazon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.amazon.ca/Pursuit-Self-Love-Uplifting-Messages-Reflections-ebook/dp/B0C4D1XYL1⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to the EZ Reflections Newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ez-reflections-newsletter.beehiiv.com/