New Life Church shooting survivor gives hope to gun violence victims

While it may have happened 2,000 miles away, the Orlando tragedy is resonating with the Colorado Springs community.

Having unified together after several shootings, including the Planned Parenthood, Black Friday, and New Life, survivors here also empathize with loved ones of victims.

One of those survivors is Laurie Works. Works was in the parking lot of New Life Church with her family on December 9, 2007, when a gunman opened fire.

“My twin sister was sitting in front of me, she was shot. My sister, who was outside the car, was shot. And my dad jumped out to help her and was also shot,” Works said.

In those moments, Works feared for her life.

“In that moment, everything slows down… It’s a very slow processing. And I was just sitting there like any second I could be gone,” she explained.

In her healing, she says she hasn’t been able to ignore her strong desire to help others. In October, Works will be launching a non-profit called “The Resilience Center,” promoting the very thing that’s helped her get through it all.

“Our community needs something… It needs a safe place. (It is) very much born out of my own personal work and journey. This is my way to say,’Here’s what I’m giving back. Here’s what I’ve worked through and found to be resilient, now let me help you all be resilient and get to that place too.'”

Works also encourages those going through the healing process, that there is hope.

“There is so much gray in there… Allow the gray. Wherever you are it’s normal. If you feel flat, it’s normal. If you feel scared, it’s normal. If you’re feeling nothing and you’re feeling everything and something in between, it’s completely normal.”

The Resilience Center will provide holistic healing to anyone needing it, at a small price.