Welcome to M.A.R.C.S Friends Incorporated
"Healing Hearts. Guiding Youth. Strengthening Communities."
Welcome to M.A.R.C.S Friends Incorporated
"Healing Hearts. Guiding Youth. Strengthening Communities."
About Us
Our Staff & Support System
Our Staff & Support System
Our Staff & Support System
Our Staff & Support System
At Marc’s Friends Inc., our strength lies in the people who bring our mission to life every day. Our dedicated staff and support team are the heart of our organization—passionate, experienced, and deeply committed to creating a positive and inclusive environment for all.
Compassionate Professionals
Our team is made up of skilled professionals from diverse backgrounds, including social work, education, mental health, and community development. Each member brings not only expertise but also genuine care and empathy to their role, ensuring that every individual we support receives personalized attention and encouragement.
A Strong Support Network
In addition to our core staff, we are proud to partner with a trusted network of volunteers, mentors, counselors, and community organizations. This extended team allows us to provide well-rounded, reliable support tailored to the unique needs of every individual we serve.
A Culture of Collaboration
We believe in working together—with families, caregivers, and community partners—to build lasting relationships and effective support systems. Open communication, trust, and shared goals are the foundation of everything we do.
Together, we are committed to making a lasting impact—providing not just services, but a sense of belonging, hope, and friendship.
Our Story
Our Staff & Support System
Our Staff & Support System
A Message from Our Founder, Jemika Hall
My name is Jemika Hall, and I am the proud founder of Marc’s Friends Inc.This organization was born from a place no mother should ever have to visit—the unimaginable pain of losing a child. In 2018, my beloved son Marc was taken from us due to senseless gun violence. What began as a personal tragedy has since transformed into a mission of healing, prevention, and hope.
Though Marc’s Friends was officially founded in 2018, its deeper purpose became clear in 2020. As a lifelong resident of Newburgh, New York, I relocated to Virginia in 2017 with the hope of creating a safer, more promising future for my four children. I made the best decision I could as a single mother—but the place I believed would protect us became the backdrop of our greatest loss.
Marc was murdered by other children. In the aftermath, my family and I were left devastated, isolated, and with little access to meaningful support. What we needed—deep healing, connection, understanding—simply didn’t exist. So, I created it.
Marc’s Friends Inc. was founded to be that lifeline.
We are a support network for mothers, caregivers, and families who have lost children to violence—especially gun violence. We provide safe, compassionate spaces for those navigating grief, offering emotional support, resources, and peer connection. But our mission doesn’t stop there.
We also serve as a mentorship and prevention program for at-risk youth, guiding them with love, structure, and accountability. We know that young people don’t just need rules—they need relationships. By stepping in early with empathy, guidance, and positive role models, we work to interrupt cycles of violence before they begin.
Marc’s Friends is rooted in prevention, healing, and community empowerment. We exist to ensure that no one facing the pain of loss has to walk alone—and that every young person sees their value before they make a life-altering decision.
Through this work, I’ve found purpose in the pain. I am honored to serve and give back to the communities that raised me, and I remain committed to helping others turn their grief into strength.
Together, we can heal. Together, we can prevent.
Together, we are Marc’s Friends.
Our mission
Our Core Values
Our Core Values
At Marc’s Friends Inc., our mission is to support families affected by the loss of a child—especially to gun violence—and to empower at-risk youth through mentorship, healing, and community connection.
Born from tragedy and built on love, we create safe spaces for grief, guide youth toward brighter paths, and work to prevent violence through compassion, advocacy, and early intervention.
Our Core Values
Our Core Values
Our Core Values
1. Compassion for Families
We honor every family's grief journey with empathy, respect, and unwavering support—because healing begins when people feel seen and heard.
2. Empowerment of Youth
We believe every young person deserves guidance, opportunity, and a safe space to grow. Through mentorship and connection, we help youth realize their worth and potential.
3. Commitment to Community
We are rooted in the belief that real change happens together. By strengthening community ties, we foster safety, resilience, and unity.
4. Prevention with Purpose
We work to stop violence before it starts—through early intervention, education, and addressing trauma at its core.
5. Integrity in Action
We lead with honesty, transparency, and accountability, always guided by our mission and the lives we honor.
S.O.S(Save Our Streets) Saturdays Community Festival Series
