Class News

Chris Getman ’64 reports the dedication of URI’s “Healing Garden”

June 12, 2021

Chris Getman, a longtime supporter of Urban Resources Initiative, and our class liaison to this fine organization, reported there was a dedication ceremony on Saturday, June 12 of the new Botanical Garden of Healing (above). Organized by Colleen Murphy-Dunning, the ceremony was attended by state elected officials (Governor, Senators, and Congresswoman) and next of kin to the gun-violence victims which the garden remembers. Marta Moret (spouse of Peter Salovey) participated in the reading of the names of victims, which was a centerpiece of the program.

The Botanical Garden of Healing is now open to the public. It is quite powerful to see this vision come to life — a vision that emerged from within a community and was spearheaded by mothers: Marlene Miller Pratt, Celeste Robinson Fulcher, Pamela Jaynez, and Winifred Phillips. Marlene has said that the Garden was an opportunity to give one last gift to their children when they thought there was nothing left they could do.

A primary feature of the garden is the Magnitude Walkway which is engraved with the names of 637 individuals who have lost their lives to gun violence in New Haven since 1976. Some ’64 classmates saw the garden in its early stages during our 55th reunion tour.