HOMETOWN HERO: Diana Garlington
By: Alexandra Cowley
acowley@abc6.com
Four years ago, A Providence mothers life was turned upside down when her 21–year–old daughter, Essence, was killed in a drive by shooting.
"It could be your daughter next. I don’t want any mother to feel that pain that I had to endure," said Diana Garlington.
At first, Diana says anger consumed her life. But with the help of friends and family, she’s taken her grief and turned it into something good.
Today, she dedicates her life to empowering women, like her daughter. She’s determined to make sure what happened to Essence, doesn’t happen to another girl in her community again.
"You go through those phases where you just want to throw in a towel and say I’m not doing anything anymore," explained Diana.
Time never heals all wounds. Diana Garlington still has those days where she feels like giving up.
"You feel like what was taken away from you, why should you give your all for someone else," she said.
But now those moments are brief. Because these days Diana is empowering young women in her daughter’s memory.
"Everybody in this community, they’re my children too. So, if I sit back and let this violence continue to happen and this cycle, then I feel like I’m being a bad parent," she said.
A few years ago, Diana founded The Essence T. Christal Youth Female Empowerment Program. A group that meets once a week, for 12 weeks, before the girls graduate. Diana begins each new class with the heartbreaking account of how her daughter was killed. It’s how she puts everything in perspective.
"It’s hard to do it, but I just drill the story," she explained.
Essence was in her boyfriend’s car in November of 2011 when it was riddled with bullets, before hitting a tree and bursting into flames. Police say the violent encounter was likely gang retaliation.
Diana says her daughter tried to get out of that relationship just weeks before her murder.
"She came in my room and she was like mommy I know you don’t like him and I know you want me away from him. She said I’m trying I promise you I’m really trying. But I wasn’t getting that she was being abused and that she was maybe afraid to get out of it," explained Diana.
That’s why she is making sure the girls in her program aren’t afraid. Whether they’re stuck in a bad relationship or scared to dream big.
"Think of your life, think of where you want to go, think of what you want to be," Diana asked of the girls.
The program is a sort of safe haven for the teen girls to talk about their problems and listen to Diana’s message.
"She’s a very strong woman and I appreciate everything she’s done for me and encouraging me to be a young lady and go to school and have a bright future," said one of the girls.
"She taught me to never give up on myself because there’s so much out here and I have potential you know. Never give up yourself because you can be whatever you want as long as you apply yourself and put your mind to it," said another girl.
"It makes me actually feel better about myself to talk about things that happen and stuff," said another girl in the program.
Community activist Kobi Dennis helped Diana get the program started.
"She has done remarkable things in this community on behalf of her daughter’s memory. She turned tragedy into triumph," said Dennis.
"I know it came from something that was so tragic but in the end to me it’s a blessing because I feel like it’s keeping her here, it’s keeping her alive, and it’s changing lives," explained Diana.
Diana is involved in a handful of other organizations in the community that have earned her countless awards. By the way, one of the girls in her class just got accepted to Roger Williams University. She’ll be the first in her family to go to college. She credits Diana for her success.
Diana is holding her 1st annual fundraiser for the program at The Oki Japanese Steakhouse on March 24th. Money raised will go towards college scholarships for the girls in the program.
(C) WLNE-TV 2016
