Families, advocates and community leaders gathered Tuesday evening for the 12th annual Walk to Remember, a homicide awareness event at Ben’s Community Market.
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The event honors victims of violence while connecting families with support and guidance.
The event began after Allende’s father, Ben Mustafa, died in 2014.
“It’s in remembrance of my father Ben,” Allende said. “He was — murdered in the store. My sister was with him, and it impacted our entire family of six.”
She said her family struggled in the aftermath, unsure where to turn, before leaning on one another for strength.
“From that moment on we were lost. We were devastated. We were confused,” Allende said. “We realized that we had the strength to stand together and lean on each other — and eventually we became the strength, the pillar for the community.”
Now in its 12th year, the event brings together local organizations, including the Corpus Christi Police Department’s victim advocacy unit, to connect families with resources.
“We noticed that in this community and all over the city, people don’t know where to turn,” Allende said. “So we connect them with the right people.”
For many, the walk also provides a space to remember loved ones and share their experiences.
Adriana Trevino attended to honor her cousins, Jonathan and Jason, along with other family members lost to violence.
“I’m here to spread awareness for homicide victims that we’ve lost in our community and to honor them — to be a voice for them,” she said.
She said the event encourages unity and support among families.
“To be strong, to stand together, for unity, to seek justice,” Trevino said.
Organizers said the goal is to ensure victims are not forgotten while offering families a place to be heard.
“Sometimes people just want to share their story and they want to just be heard,” Allende said. “I went through this and I overcame it. (I can) be that person that they can fall on.”