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Our Story
Peace Beyond The Pain was founded in 2019 by Jennifer Maraston Gross in Dallas, Texas, following the tragic homicide of her eldest son, Jaquan Wyatt.
On May 18, 2019, Jaquan traveled to California with friends to celebrate his 21st birthday. Tragically, on May 19, 2019, he was murdered—the very day he had planned to return home and celebrate with his family. What should have been a milestone filled with joy and memories became a devastating loss that forever changed the lives of those who loved him.
Through her personal experience, Jennifer came to understand that the impact of homicide extends far beyond the funeral. When the services end and the outside world resumes its daily routine, families are often left to navigate profound grief, emotional trauma, unanswered questions, and the complexities of the criminal justice process—often feeling isolated and uncertain about where to turn for support.
From this experience, Peace Beyond The Pain was born.
Jennifer founded the organization with a commitment to addressing the unique and often overlooked needs of families whose loved ones have been taken through violence. Peace Beyond The Pain provides a compassionate, nonjudgmental environment where families can openly express their grief, connect with others who understand their experience, access supportive resources, and receive advocacy throughout their journey.
Although homicide statistics help illustrate the scope of violence in our communities, behind every statistic is a life, a family, and a story that deserves to be remembered. Every loss creates a ripple effect that can impact parents, children, siblings, grandparents, and entire communities.
Peace Beyond The Pain is committed to bringing greater awareness to the lasting impact of homicide while providing meaningful support to the families left behind. Through peer support, advocacy, outreach, referrals, and community partnerships, we strive to help families navigate the difficult road ahead and discover pathways toward healing and hope.
Our purpose is rooted in one powerful belief: families should never have to navigate the aftermath of homicide alone.
Peace Beyond The Pain is committed to standing with families, honoring the lives they have lost, amplifying their voices, and helping them find strength, healing, hope, and ultimately—peace beyond the pain.
About Us
Peace Beyond The Pain is a Dallas, Texas-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting families navigating the unimaginable journey of losing a loved one to homicide. We exist to provide compassionate, immediate, and ongoing support to families during one of the most difficult seasons of their lives—offering a safe place where they can grieve openly, share their experiences, and begin the healing process without judgment.
Unlike traditional grief support programs, our peer-led support groups are founded and facilitated by mothers, fathers, siblings, grandparents, and loved ones who have personally experienced the devastating impact of homicide loss. Through shared understanding and lived experiences, we create an environment where families can be heard, validated, and supported through their unique grief journey.
In addition to emotional support, Peace Beyond The Pain serves as an advocate for families seeking guidance and assistance throughout the investigative and court processes. Through advocacy, outreach, community partnerships, and resources, our dedicated team works tirelessly to empower families, amplify their voices, and provide the support they need to move forward.
At Peace Beyond The Pain, our commitment is simple: to stand beside families in their darkest moments, provide hope through healing, and remind them that they never have to walk this journey alone.
Mission
Peace Beyond The Pain is dedicated to helping families heal after the devastating loss of a loved one to homicide. We provide peer-to-peer support, advocacy, referrals, and emotional resources to help families navigate grief, the justice process, and the challenges that follow. Our mission is to ensure no family faces the pain alone—while turning tragedy into healing, hope, and a path toward peace.
Vision
We envision a future where every family impacted by homicide has a safe, compassionate, and supportive space to grieve, heal, and rebuild. Through access to meaningful resources, advocacy, emotional support, and community, we strive to empower families to move forward with hope, strength, and renewed purpose—while knowing they never have to face their journey alone.
Core Values
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EMPOWERMENT
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POSITIVITY
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LOVE
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SERVICE TO OTHERS
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RESPECT
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PATIENCE
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COMPASSION
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HONESTY
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COMMITMENT
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OPEN-MINDEDNESS
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CONFIDENTIALITY