Heather Dearman' is a surviving family member from the Aurora Movie Theater Shooting which occurred on July, 20th 2012. In this conversation Heather talks about the impact on her extended family, she shares what it was like to live in a traumatized close knit community and how she worked towards healing. Heather also shares the heartbreaking story of how her cousin Ashley was impacted and what continues to endure since the shooting. Heather is a true inspiration on how to find love in the darkness.

Heather Dearman is a wife and mother of 5 children. She is the current chair of the 7/20 memorial foundation. Heather’s cousin Ashley was paralyzed in the July 20, 2012 Aurora Theater Shooting. Ashley’s unborn child and 6 year old daughter Veronica were also killed. Heather was inspired to join the foundation in 2015 after experiencing the love and compassion the community displayed at her youngest daughter’s lemonade stand fundraiser for the theater shooting memorial. For the following 3 years, she helped lead fundraising efforts for the permanent memorial, and in July of 2018, the permanent memorial "Ascentiate" was installed. Heather and her board are now focused on advocating for survivors of mass tragedy and their perpetual needs for resources that will support long-term resiliency. Heather also works closely with Aurora’s police officers and firefighters in her role with the city of Aurora’s civil service commission. Her connections with first responders, victims, survivors, and communities who have experienced tragedy propel her passion for proving that there is more love in the world than hate.