Photos from the 7th annual candlelight chain of peace
Helping Families During Difficult Times
UCanSpeakForMe Offers Alternatives To Montgomery County Families
UCanSpeakForMe Bookmarker, Inc. continues to use it’s tools to assist families searching for justice of a loved one loss to homicide. This time the Cold Case Posters of victims from the Montgomery County area will be distributed in cooperation with Dayton Homicide Detectives.
Ohio is one of only 4 states that utilize these uniquely designed cards as informational tools in prisons and local jails. The Ohio version of these cards are currently supported by UCanSpeakForMe. The Cold Case Playing Cards have brought awareness to Unsolved Homicides In Hamilton, Butler County, and other surrounding townships. The UCanSpeakForMe Cold Case Posters, Flyers, and Book Markers have become highly publicized testaments to the organization’s commitment to the families they serve, and local Law Enforcement.
Hope Dudley is the Founder and CEO of UCanSpeakForMe. Her son, Daniel “Chaz” Dudley, was the 55th homicide victim in the City of Cincinnati in September 2007. He was a passenger in a car riding with friends when he was violently and brutally murdered in a drive by shooting.
“We all know that the sensational headlines of a tragic homicide fades over time. Police will begin investigating the newest criminal activities. But we the families still remember. Every birthday that passes. Every holiday that is missed. There is always an empty chair at the table. Those that have committed these heinous crimes have altered the lives of many family members and friends. Wherever these criminals may be I am sure they feel they have gotten away their cowardice acts. UCanSpeakForMe will use whatever legal tools available to find these unconscionable offenders. Our mission is to discover closure and justice for families by working with local enforcement”, Ms. Dudley said.
UCanSpeakForMe is a non-profit charitable and educational organization located in Cincinnati, Ohio. The organization was formed to promote the concerns and issues related to the needs of parents whose children lives have been lost through violence. In addition, other activities include educating audiences by way of speaker’s services, and engaging victim’s families on how to work with local authorities and organizations who may provide additional information and support.
The purpose of the UCanSpeakForMe tools are to provide families with a way to remain proactive in their loved ones unsolved case. These tools were also designed to assist local law enforcement solicit information about cold cases in their districts.
Ms. Dudley recently commented, “Courage, strength, resiliency and perseverance. All of these are learned lessons in a life’s experience. With each of these characteristics you must walk the walk of pain and loss before you can talk lessons of life to lead others through their own periods of tragedy. In addition, you must remain dedicated and vigilant to the cause of helping families and the movement of Stop The Violence”.
families need your help. somewhere, someone knows the truth
Families Stand Proud During Press Conference
It is always a good feeling when you do something that is tough and time consuming you do it simply because it’s the right thing to do.
It is an even better feeling to have those you are doing good things for acknowledge their appreciation by showing their support. The latest version of Ohio’s only Cold Case Playing Cards were unveiled to the families who lost children or family members to senseless homicides.
On February 8, 2020 family members gathered at the Higher Faith Ministry Church in Forest Park, Ohio for the official unveiling. The playing cards were unveiled to the public on February 9, 2020 during a press conference at the Hamilton County Justice Center. Dozens of family members, Hamilton County Sheriff Jim Neil, Assistant United States Attorney Kenneth L. Parker, and CrimeStoppers Vice Chair Gene Bishop special guests in attendance.
I designed the Cold Case Playing Cards to bring awareness to Unsolved Homicides In Hamilton, Butler, and Montgomery Counties as well as other surrounding townships. These Cold Case Playing Cards have been used as learning tools in schools Church and community forums conducted by UCanSpeakForMe. The UCanSpeakForMe Cold Case Posters, Flyers, and Book Markers have become highly publicized testaments to our commitment to the families we serve, and local Law Enforcement.
In the latest playing card edition there are two different versions. Both include victims from multiple Ohio counties, but sponsored by different law enforcement agencies. UCanSpeakForMe would like to thank Sheriff Jim Neil of the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department and the Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky CrimeStoppers Board for lending their support and guidance to this monumental project.
Sometimes when you are faced with controversy it is difficult to find the joy whenever the task is completed. In the end when doing the right thing to help others the journey becomes its own reward. I believe testing of one’s faith only produces perseverance.
Thank you to all the volunteers, families, and the media that gave their support. A special thank you to Mr. Kenneth Parker, Assistant United States Attorney who took time for both unveiling ceremonies to attend and give words of encouragement.
Hope Dudley, CEO
Call CrimeStoppers With Your Tips
Crime Stoppers is designed to allow the public to give us tips anonymously. Crime Stoppers does not use caller I.D. or record telephone calls. Call 513-352-3040.
Or visit the CrimeStoppers website at:
Your story matters: Join the families of UCanSpeakForMe to support one another
There are scores of local families that have wondered if there has been progress into the investigation of their murdered child or family member? Some have received no updates for months. Some cases have gone silent for years.
This will be an opportunity to be in the room when the questions of why no updates are discussed. Overseeing this meeting will be the current Hamilton County Prosecutor, Ms. Melissa Powers.
Join us on September 26, 2024 at the Church of the Advent at 6:00 pm.
UCANSPEAKFORME CONTINUES TO RAISE THE FAMILY ADVOCATES BAR
More Awards and Covering New Counties
The WLWT-TV public affairs program ISSUES has received a first place award from the Ohio Society of Professional Journalists for a program featuring UCanSpeakForMe CEO Hope Dudley.
The program won for Best Minority Issues Coverage. The award will be presented on August 25th in Cincinnati to the television station. The judges comments said: "A compelling portrait of a grieving mother who turned that grief into action and, more than 10 years after her son's unsolved murder, has created a community movement that seeks justice and heals for all.
We would like to extend our congratulations to one of our media partners for their continued support of our stop the violence message. The WLWT story can be viewed by going to our "What's New" page and clicking on the video called "The Tears You Don't See".
IN OTHER NEWS
UCanSpeakForMe has been contacted to extend it's family advocacy resources to the community of Trotwood, Ohio located in the Dayton area. A college student and a basketball player, Elmer Rucker was sitting in a car with his friend when they were both gunned down on April 18th.
"He was a good student. As far as I'm concerned, the perfect child. It's a big loss for me," Elmer Rucker Sr. said.
While the afternoon vigil in Trotwood was a time to be with loved ones, it was also a call for help with his son's murder investigation.
"It's taking some time and taking too long for me. So I needed to do something. I'm asking the public's for help," said Rucker Sr. He hopes keeping his son's name out in the public will help convince someone to come forward with information.
After the vigil, supporters like Hope Dudley, who also lost a son to gun violence, took to the streets to hand out flyers with Rucker's photograph.
"We want to keep his face out there so people would know that this young man was murdered in this location," Dudley said.
With 11 weeks since his Rucker's death and no suspects in custody, both Dudley and Rucker Sr. hope the public will speak up. "Somebody knows something and it can help," he said.
25-year-old Antonio Collins was also gunned down in the car with Rucker.
The WDTN-TV story can be viewed at https://www.wdtn.com/news/local-news/father-pleads-for-public-s-help-in-son-s-trotwood-shooting-death/1274637104
UCanSpeakForMe continues to receive requests from families throughout the southern counties of Ohio for assistance and resource information.
Support UCanSpeakForMe Today
Just when you think no one is paying attention..........
I'm feeling grateful and needed to share.
I received a call from United States Attorney of the Southern District of Ohio Kenneth L. Parker, asking me to set up a display in Columbus, Ohio because someone visiting from Washington, D.C. wanted a personal meeting to talk about the work UCanSpeakForMe has been doing in Southern Ohio. I had a tough schedule planned that week which included two doctors appointments. Preparing to travel to Columbus the next day was going to be tight timing. I felt it would be a great opportunity considering I had been personally been invited by Mr. Parker.
Thankfully with help from a friend who works for the Talbert House here in Cincinnati we put a display together. The Columbus event was being held outdoors and Tuesday seemed to be the hottests day of this week. After setting up my booth under a tent, these black suburbans start driving through the parking lot, and my friend said that looks like the Secret Service.
After parking one of the men started walking toward my table, asking me my name. Soon after this lady got out of the car heading for my display. As she admired our printed materials she began telling me how proud she was of the compassion our agency was pouring into helping families affected by senseless crime.
This very distinguished lady turned out to be the Deputy Attorney General of the United States Lisa Monaco.
What a wonderful surprise and honor meet and talk with one of our country’s most prominent law enforcement officials. A huge thank you goes out to Mr. Parker for trusting our program. I'm so grateful to God for his blessings. After talking we took some pictures at my display.
We all have struggles and battles to overcome in our lives. The road becomes smoother when there are others that appreciate your efforts to assist families to navigate life’s rough patches.
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