In collaboration with the NFL, the philanthropic leg of Jay Z’s Roc Nation, Team Roc, has released a public service announcement regarding gun violence, and it's centered around Hadiya Pendleton. Pendleton was fatally shot in 2013 at 15 years old, as Blavity previously reported.

The video, narrated by her mother, discusses her accomplishments and kindhearted spirit leading up to her tragic death.

“Hadiya means, ‘a gift from God.’ She’s just an absolute joy. She’s a great listener, she’s a great and awesome friend. She came on the planet as a very caring person,” her mother, Cleopatra Cowley-Pendleton can be heard saying. “I feel like in 15 years, my daughter accomplished a hell of a lot.”

Hadiya was hanging out with a group of friends in Chicago’s Harsh Park when she was shot and killed in 2013. Mickiael Ward was found guilty in the killing and told police he shot the group because he believed they were members of a rival gang. He was sentenced to 84 years in prison in 2019, as Blavity previously reported. Kenneth Williams, the getaway driver, was also convicted. He is awaiting sentencing.

"It wasn't just a bullet that murdered Hadiya," Cowley-Pendleton said. "It was a bullet that murdered Hadiya, her mom, her dad, her brothers, her friends. We lost all her children, her children's children. We lost generations."

While in junior high, Hadiya filmed a PSA of her own urging students to stay clear of gangs.

“Hi my name is Hadiya,” a video of the young girl begins. “So many children out there are in gangs and it is your job as students to say no to gangs and yes to a great future.”

Weeks before her death, Hadiya performed with her school band at Barack Obama’s second presidential inauguration. He spoke about her death in his State Of The Union Address in 2013, reports CBS.

"She was here, in Washington, with her classmates, performing for her country at my inauguration. And a week later, she was shot and killed in a Chicago park after school, just a mile away from my house," he said.

Following the tragedy, her friends created Project Orange Tree, which “focuses on educating youth about violence and its roots,” according to the website. The teenagers chose the color orange because it is worn by hunters to signal to other hunters not to shoot. In 2019, politicians and celebrities joined the organization to spread awareness about gun violence.

Last week, it was Virginia Beach. But day after day and year after year, too many families and communities are shattered by senseless gun violence. We can't get numb to this. On National Gun Violence Awareness Day, pledge to speak out, #WearOrange — and vote — to protect lives.

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) June 7, 2019

"If we gave the young people something to do, if we provide them with love and care, it would lift the awareness to the young that their voices matter, their lives matter," Cowley-Pendleton said.

The video urges viewers to visit Hadiya’s Promise, a nonprofit created by her parents to help stop gun violence, specifically within the youth.

@HadiyasPromise thanks @teamroc for helping raise awareness to senseless acts of gun violence! #EveryonesChild
https://t.co/nneCxYv9KM

— Hadiya's Promise (@HadiyasPromise) March 11, 2020

The video is the latest effort through The Responsibility Program, an subsection of the initiative created by the partnership between Team Roc and the NFL. Previously, they released videos about Botham Jean and Danroy “DJ” Henry.

Hadiyah-Pendleton

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