The Evolution of Survivors Empowered
Sandy and Lonnie Phillips, founders of Jessi’s Message and Survivors Empowered, have traveled from state to state to advocate for survivors by educating policymakers on the effect of gun violence trauma and to offer personal support to those who lost someone to gun violence – including the families at Sandy Hook Elementary in Connecticut, the grocery store victims in Buffalo, N.Y., the grade school children killed in Uvalde, Texas, and sadly, so many more.
Key Moments from More than a Decade of Service
7/20/2012
Aurora Movie Theater
Mass shooting at a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado, resulted in the tragic loss of twelve lives, including Jessi Redfield Ghawi, the daughter of Sandy and Lonnie Phillips. Their daughter’s mass shooting was their first.
12/14/2012
Sandy Hook
Sandy and Lonnie traveled to the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting site. Realization: “We can help them. This is what we need to do.”
12/2012
Jessi's Message
Sandy and Lonnie founded Jessi’s Message, the forerunner of Survivors Empowered.
4/2013
Gun Violence Task Force
Met with President Obama in a gathering of survivors and then met with Vice President Biden to discuss the newly formed Gun Violence Task Force.
03/27/2015
Lawsuit - Lucky Gunner
Sandy and Lonnie filed a lawsuit against arms dealer Lucky Gunner.
04/27/2015
Aurora Theater Shooter Trial
Trial begins for Aurora theater shooter who killed 12 and wounded 70.
6/30/2015
Lucky Gunner Results
Citing the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA), the Judge orders Sandy and Lonnie to pay costs and fees, naming Brady as the instigator of the lawsuit.
08/26/2015
Shooter Trial Results
Aurora Theater Shooter - The court sentenced the convicted killer to 3,300 years without parole.
1/2017
Bankruptcy
As a result of the Lucky Gunner lawsuit decision in January of 2017, Sandy and Lonnie are forced into bankruptcy.
9/2017
Survivors Empowered
September 2017, Jessi’s Message becomes the non-profit Survivors Empowered.
6/2/2019
Accolades
Sandy and Lonnie were honored for their work with Survivors Empowered at the Ford Theater Society’s Annual Awards Gala.
2022
A Grand Journey
Sandy and Lonnie embark on a 9-month-long Survivors Tour across the United States. Survivors Empowered and Giffords co-author The Survivors Toolkit.
4/2023
Jessi’s Law
Colorado passes Jessi’s Law, a bill named to honor Sandy and Lonnie’s daughter. The bill repeals the Colorado arms dealer immunity law that bankrupted the Phillipses.
6/2023
Garrison Institute
Sandy and Lonnie are featured speakers at The Garrison Institute for Contemplative Change.
9/2023
Champions for Change
Anderson Cooper designates Survivors Empowered a 2023 Champion for Change.
3/9/2024
Inaugural GV Event
Hosts the inaugural Survivors Empowered Gun Violence State of the Union event virtually from San Diego.
11/2025
Jessi's Messages
Launched Jessi's Messages, a collection of trauma-informed greeting and remembrance cards in honor of Jessi.
4/2026
Crime Victims Rights
Received a grant to participate in National Crime Victims Rights Week.
March 2023
Interview after Nashville shooting
February 2023
Interview with Sarah Germain Lilly, Radio GAG.
October 2022
Sandy and Lonnie featured prominently in PBS report, Ricochet.
June 2022
Lonnie is interviewed by BBC, following the announcement of a tentative Senate agreement on Gun Safety.
June 2022
Lonnie is interviewed a second time by BBC, following the announcement of a tentative Senate agreement on Gun Safety.
May 2022
Interview with Al Jazeera, following Uvalde mass shooting
January 2022
Interview with Survivor Nation on GAG Radio
April 2021
The Takeaway, WNYC interview with Sandy and Lonnie Phillips
March 2019
One of many interviews with Anderson Cooper, this one for 60 Minutes.
May 2018
Parents of victims of Aurora cinema shooting comfort Texas shooting families
April 2018
Interview after Pulse shooting
July 2016
CNN interview with Sandy and Lonnie.
February 2016
Sandy shares her story on stage during Tina Brown Live Media’s American Justice Summit in New York City.
August 2015
Sandy Phillips tells the story of how she found out her daughter Jessica was murdered.
August 2015
Don Lemon welcomes Richard Martinez, Lonnie Phillips, and Andy Parker three men grieving for children lost to gun deaths.
July 2015
Interview with Molly Hughes, Denver Post TV.
January 2014
Press Conference, Wilmington DE