The triple shooting at an Olathe bar hits close to home for a metro mother familiar with the power of hate.
Mindy Corporon lost her father and son at the Jewish Community Center shooting in 2014.
Corporon was the featured speaker at the Overland Park Rotary Club meeting on Monday afternoon. She was scheduled to speak to the group before the triple shooting at Austin's Bar and Grill in Olathe that killed one man.
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"It wasn't 'faith-motivated' but it was 'different-motivated' and it was 'hate-motivated,'" said Corporon. "What I would say to them is, 'you're not alone.'"
During the rotary meeting, Corporon recounted the events of April 13, 2014 when her father, William Corporon, and 14-year-old son Reat were gunned down at the Jewish Community Center by F. Glenn Miller Jr.
Corporon has since started an organization, Seven Days. It works to help people understand other races, faiths and cultures in hopes of eliminating hate and the actions it breeds. Corporon said giving back and rallying people through her faith helps her find a greater purpose through the pain she's suffered.
Mindy Corporon lost her son & father in the 2014 JCC shooting. She's a powerful voice for good overcoming evil. pic.twitter.com/fcDlFjOa95
— LisaBenson (@lisabensonkshb) February 27, 2017
"The more that we understand about one another, then friendships can form. And when friendships form then there's less room for fear and hate and evil," said Corporon.
Corporon's "Seven Days" challenge encourages people to embrace diversity. This year's week-long event will run April 18th through the 24th.
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Lisa Benson can be reached at lisa.benson@kshb.com.
