South Suburbs Struggle with Violence: A Mother’s Mission to Bring Resources and Healing (Glenwood, IL) — In the quiet suburb of Glenwood, a mother’s grief has turned into a powerful call for change. Crystal Henderson, who lost her 18-year-old son Cleonte to senseless gun violence in 2019, has channeled her heartbreak into advocacy for greater support and resources for victims of violence and their families. But Henderson, along with community activists like Camiella Williams of Good Kids Bad City, says the need for these resources has never been more urgent.
Cleonte Henderson, a young man who was known for his shy, but comical nature, was tragically shot and killed in October 2019, just a few months after graduating from Homewood-Flossmoor High School. What started as a simple attempt by Cleonte to protect himself from ongoing threats and bullying tragically ended in his death when he was shot six times while attempting to purchase a weapon. His story has left an indelible mark on his community.
“He was trying to protect himself,” said Crystal Henderson, recounting how her son had recently started working at a rail yard. “He was proud of himself—he had his own car, his own job. But those threats from the people who bullied him, those threats to rob him, turned into something much more devastating.”
Cleonte’s life was taken too soon, but his mother’s determination to bring change has only grown stronger in the years since. After his passing, Crystal Henderson found a new calling—becoming a certified grief counselor in an effort to help other families in the Southland who have been affected by violence. Through her nonprofit, Path to Purpose, she has been working to fill a glaring gap in mental health resources in the suburbs.
“We don’t have the resources,” Henderson shared. “We need counseling services, grief therapy, and education about how to deal with the emotions that come after losing a loved one. We have so many families who are suffering in silence.”
While Crystal has found a sense of purpose in helping others through their grief, the Southland communities still lack the kind of infrastructure that could prevent more tragedies. In the suburbs, families like Crystal’s are left to navigate the aftermath of violence with little to no support. As Camiella Williams, a well-known nonviolence activist and organizer, points out, while the city of Chicago has resources available to victims of violence, the suburbs often remain without the necessary support.
“Leaders in the Southland aren’t having these conversations, partly due to stigma and fear,” said Williams, who runs Good Kids Bad City, an organization focused on restorative justice in schools and communities. “The violence is spilling over from the city, but the support isn’t there.”
Williams’ nonprofit has been successful in the city, where it has received funding from the city of Chicago. But when it comes to the suburbs, the situation is different. “We need funding from the County to continue our work here,” she said. “Without that funding, we’re limited in what we can do to prevent violence and support victims.”
According to Williams, the Southland has been particularly hard-hit by violence, yet there has been little conversation around the issue. The recent tragic incidents, like the shooting at Walmart in Lansing, have only further underscored the region’s need for nonviolence resources.
“The crime is not just happening in Chicago anymore,” Williams said. “The suburbs are experiencing the same level of violence, and the communities are unprepared to deal with the aftermath.”
Henderson’s loss and subsequent advocacy are part of a larger conversation that is beginning to take shape in the Southland. Her son’s birthday is just around the corner, on March 17th, and while the grief remains raw, she is committed to ensuring his death was not in vain. “Cleonte would have been 24 this year,” Henderson said, her voice filled with determination. “I want to make sure other families don’t have to go through what we went through, that they have the resources they need to heal.”
The community has already begun to rally behind her efforts. Crystal is working with local organizations, including Pastor Edwin Harris at St. Mark’s Church in Harvey, to offer grief counseling services. And through her efforts, the Southland may finally see the support and resources that are so desperately needed.
“I want to provide a space for people to talk about their grief,” Henderson said. “I want to create a safe place where they know they are not alone. That’s how we start healing—not just individuals, but entire communities.”
As the South Suburbs continue to grapple with rising violence, it’s clear that the need for resources—especially those that address mental health and grief—is urgent. Leaders like Crystal Henderson, alongside advocates like Camiella Williams, are working tirelessly to ensure the conversation doesn’t remain buried in stigma, but rises to the forefront where it belongs.
The Southland deserves healing, and with more support, it’s possible to build a future where families don’t have to endure the trauma of violence in isolation. Crystal Henderson is leading the way—and through her own grief, she is becoming the voice for a community in need.
Those in need can reach out to Crystal Henderson via email at wellbeingservant@gmail.com or via telephone at 708-269-9025.
South Suburbs Struggle with Violence: A Mother’s Mission to Bring Resources and Healing
