From Grief to Action: Meet Jessica Hart, the Woman Who is Advocating for Stronger Safety for All

When the unthinkable happened and a motorist struck and killed her 5-year-old daughter, Jessica Hart knew she needed to do something. “We are shattered,” Hart told The Washington Post. “I can’t imagine not speaking out and letting another family experience this.”

So, Hart, her husband Bryan, and a number of others in her Northeast Washington neighborhood staged a rally at the intersection where Hart’s daughter, Allie, was struck. They also hosted a “chalk-in” where they handed out chalk to dozens of kids and parents, who then composed messages on the pavement to bring awareness to the spate of traffic fatalities involving pedestrians and bicyclists that has rattled the city in recent months.

“Allie wasn’t the first and she hasn’t been the last,” said Bryan Hart, 38, the girl’s father. “It just keeps happening. We want the world to know it’s just not okay.” He began to cry as he took in the tableau of children on the ground, writing words and drawing designs in bright blues, reds and pinks.To speak out while grieving so deeply is something we admire the Harts for doing. To read more about their efforts to move their neighborhood—and humanity—forward, click here.