CRLSstrong     AND THE  MARATHON DAY BOMBINGS




Cambridge, Mass. -- The CRLSstrong Community Gathering (twitter: #CRLSstrong) will be held on Sunday, April 28, 2013 from 2:00pm to 4:00pm at the Joan Lorentz Park on the corner of Ellery Street and Broadway, Cambridge, MA 02138.




In the aftermath of the Marathon Day bombings,  all of us continue to grieve for those who died and their families and those who were seriously injured and their families. The resiliency of the community is remarkable but, even on these spring days, there is a strong chill in the air due to these events.

For many people in Cambridge, these events have come very close to home. For our neighbors, family members were seriously hurt. Others have friends who were affected.

Especially for young people, the fact that one of the bombers was a a member of the Cambridge Rindge and Latin School community, a very highly regarded recent graduate, is shocking. After this news spread over night, our children, and those of other friends, called early in the morning to report the news in case we had not heard. Classmates and teachers of the suspect expressed dismay and even disbelief -- having known him is a responsible,  friendly, smart person.

CRLS is known for its diversity and the learning experience that comes from going to school with people of many backgrounds. Sure there are cliques as there are among teenagers and we do not think of it as Utopia  There are plenty of challenges and difficulties there. But we in Cambridge do think of CRLS as a community that fosters learning and personal growth.

So this has been a time of sadness for many here in Cambridge.

Thus on Sunday, there will be a gathering to show the strength of community around Cambridge rindge and Latin School.