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July 10, 2024 – ORLANDO, FL – This update is meant to continue to further transparency around the City of Orlando’s development of a permanent memorial on the Pulse site with the goal of recommending a conceptual design for the memorial by the end of this year to honor the 49 lives taken.
Committee Selection Process:
On June 7, 2024, Dr. Larry Schooler announced the creation of a working Pulse Memorial Advisory Committee to consist of members representing victims’ families, survivors and other stakeholders, as well as community leaders and those with technical experience in design and engineering, such as landscape architects.
More than 150 individuals submitted applications to join the committee by the June 23 deadline. The applications were reviewed without name or personal identifying information by a group of community leaders who made a recommendation to Mayor Dyer of individuals to serve on the committee.
Those community leaders were:
- JahKiya Bell, Ed.D, Senior Advisor to the President and CEO, Heart of Florida United Way
- Rev. Dr. Jose Rodriguez of the Episcopal Churches of Christ the King and Jésus de Nazaret
- Joél Junior Morales, Foundation Manager, Contigo Fund
- Jesse Arias, Director of the Orlando United Resiliency Services (OURS), LGBT+ Center Orlando
The Pulse Memorial Advisory Committee will consist of the following 18 members:
- Aracelis Maria Jimenez, lost a family member in the tragedy
- Brett Rigas, survivor and lost a family member in the tragedy
- Brian Reagan, survivor, former Pulse employee, artist
- Carlitos Diaz Rodriguez, family member of a survivor, architect/design professional, landscape architect, artist
- Cesar Rodriguez, survivor
- Felicia Burt, lost a family member in the tragedy
- Jamie Reed, lost a friend in the tragedy, architect/design professional, marketing professional
- Joshua Garcia, former Pulse employee, provided services after the tragedy, mental health professional
- Keinon Carter, survivor
- Kelly Dawson, lives in the Orlando area and felt the loss as a community member, architect/design professional
- Rev. Marcelino Rivera, lost a friend in the tragedy, provided services after the tragedy, clergy and artist
- Mayra Alvear BenabeI, lost a family member in the tragedy
- Norman Casiano-Mojica, survivor
- Nancy Rosado, provided services after the tragedy, mental health professional, community advocate, former first responder
- Perry T Snider Jr., lost a friend in the tragedy, former Pulse employee, artist
- Siclaly “Laly” M. Santiago-Leon, lost a family member in the tragedy
- Terrance Hunter, regularly visited or patronized Pulse, educator and museum professional
- Tommy Connelly, survivor, artist
Committee Meetings:
Monthly meetings of the committee will occur through the end of the year. A full schedule of meetings will be set at the first meeting of the Pulse Memorial Advisory Committee. Updates will be available at pulseorlando.org/committee.
- The Pulse Memorial Advisory Committee’s first meetings will be:
- Wednesday, July 24, 2024, 4 – 8 p.m.
- Thursday, July 25, 2024, 4 - 6 p.m.
- Kia Center, Hourglass Room, 400 West Church Street
Members of the public can attend the committee meetings virtually or in-person, in English and Spanish. Those wishing to join the committee meetings virtually may connect to the meeting at pulseorlando.org/meetinginformation.
Community Input:
In addition to the committee’s work, families, survivors and the broader community will have multiple opportunities over the next six months to provide input into the design of the permanent memorial. This will include in-person community meetings along with a virtual space online for feedback for those wishing to communicate by phone or text message.
The first opportunity for the community/public to provide input will be at an open house held in both English and Spanish.
- The Open House will also be held on:
- Thursday, July 25, 2024, 6 – 8 p.m.
- Kia Center, White and Blue Rooms, 400 West Church Street
*More information on event-specific media logistics will be sent in a media alert closer to the meeting dates.
Continued Commitment:
Furthermore, to support this process and provide additional transparency, the City of Orlando has created a dedicated website at pulseorlando.org that holds historical records, information and updates about the Orlando United Pulse Memorial process and opportunities for the community to engage.
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