BOSTON (WWLP) - Survivors of Homicide Victims Awareness Month runs from November 20 to December 20th, and opening ceremonies were hosted at the State House on Thursday. Healey signs economic development, job-creating bill "When survivors speak, change happens," echoed ceremony-goers in the Great Hall on Thursday. Survivors of homicide victims joined advocates and lawmakers at the State House for the opening ceremonies of an awareness month that shines a light on their loved one's deaths. The ceremony is hosted each year by the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute, an organization that provides resources to families who lost a loved one. Their co-executive director is namesake Louis D. Brown's younger sister, and she was 4 years old when her brother was killed. She told 22News about the motivation behind providing services for other families. "Everybody deserves equitable access to resources, and everyone deserves the right to heal," said Alexandra Dorellus, the Co-Executive Director of the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute. 22News spoke to two mothers of homicide victims about how their families and communities can begin to move forward and heal. One mother says support from other survivors of homicide victims helps her carry on, even as her son's case is unsolved. "It helps me know that I'm not the only one going through a lot of pain and dealing with what I have to deal with every day just to be able to get up out of my bed," said Linda Smith, the mother of 23-year-old homicide victim Deshaun Johnson. Beatrice Couho lost her 19-year-old son Joel to homicide in 2014, and his case also remains unsolved. She believes the first step in ending homicide is accepting differences in our communities. "Different color, different religions, different origins, they're coming from different cultures, and they have the same feelings," said Couho. "Unity. We have to learn." As the holiday season begins, the Peace Institute is holding space for survivors to come together and rest all month. To get involved, you can visit the volunteer application for the Peace Institute. To find a virtual support group that meets your needs, you can check out the Peace Institute's event calendar. Local News Headlines Springfield honors JFK with eternal flame in Forest Park Wanted suspect in armed robbery case arrested in Holyoke Fire put out at St. Anne’s Church in Chicopee High court rules in family shelter placement case WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.