SPRINGFIELD — The grassroots anti-violence group AWAKE will hold a tribute to slain Springfield Police Officer Kevin Ambrose and a community panel discussion at Spring of Hope Church Of God In Christ on Saturday, June 6.

AWAKE, an acronym for Alive with Awareness, Knowledge, and Empowerment, is hosting the event from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the church at 35 Alden St. in Springfield's Old Hill neighborhood.

The event is part of the city's Rebuilding The Village initiative, which aims to bring people together to end youth and gang violence and improve police relations with "communities of color," according to AWAKE officials.

"On June 4, 2012, Springfield Police Officer Kevin Ambrose was killed in the line of duty, answering a domestic violence call," said event organizer DeJuan Brown, CEO of AWAKE and the son of Springfield Police Capt. Larry Brown.

"His sacrifice saved the life of a young woman and her child. We want to recognize and honor Officer Ambrose for his life, service and bravery," DeJuan Brown said.

With tensions across the country rising between law enforcement and the communities they patrol, Brown said AWAKE continues to work closely with Springfield Police Commissioner John Barbieri to improve community and police relations.

The tribute to Ambrose is at the beginning of Saturday's program, which will include remarks by community members and citations from U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren's office, state Rep. Benjamin Swan, Mayor Domenic J. Sarno's office, and Springfield City Councilor Orlando Ramos.

The panel discussion will be led by Brown and will focus on supporting parents who have lost children to violence, suicide, or the prison system.

Scheduled guest panelists include Ursula Ward, mother of Odin Lloyd, the semi-pro football player murdered by Aaron Hernandez. The former New England Patriots tight end was sentenced to life imprisonment after his conviction this spring in the 2013 murder of Lloyd. Hernandez is still facing charges in the shooting deaths of two men in Boston.

Other panelists include Leonard Lee, the division director of violence injury prevention for the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, and James Gill, the assistant deputy superintendent of vocational programs for the Hampden County Sheriff's Department and a candidate for sheriff.



MAP showing approximate location of Spring of Hope Church of God in Christ: