Our Organization
Anita Busch, Treasurer / Key Co-Founder
Anita Busch is the Treasurer, Key Co-Founder, and Founding President of VictimsFirst. Her family has suffered through two mass shootings, the theater shooting in Aurora and the Route 91 concert in Vegas. After her cousin, Micayla, was murdered at the movie theater massacre in Aurora, CO that left 12 dead (and an unborn baby) and 70 injured, Busch helped create a new model for charitable giving to ensure that 100% of donations collected for victims of mass casualty crime actually go directly to those victims.
Anita gathered together parents and family members of those killed in 9/11, Columbine, Virginia Tech, Northern Illinois University, Aurora, Oak Creek Sikh Temple and Sandy Hook – to craft the protocol for the National Compassion Fund which has been utilized after multiple mass casualty crimes, including Ft. Hood, Aurora, CO, Chattanooga, Orlando Pulse, Las Vegas, Charlottesville, Parkland, Santa Fe, Jacksonville, Cincinnati, Aurora, IL, El Paso, Milwaukee, Atlanta, Indianapolis, Buffalo, Uvalde and Colorado Springs. She served as a victim’s specialist/advocate helping the Ventura County Community Fund distribute donations to survivors after the Borderline Bar & Grill shooting in Thousand Oaks, CA.
She is a key co-founder of the National Compassion Fund and currently serves as a Mass Violence Relief Specialist and Advisor to the Fund. To date, she has personally helped victims/survivors and/or communities behind the scenes in 47 mass casualty crimes to date, including the current Covenant school shooting in Nashville, the Outlet Mall Shooting in Allen, TX and in Lewiston, Maine.
During 7 ½ years, she interviewed mass shooting families of the deceased, those survivors injured both physically and mentally to develop Best Practices for Mass Casualty Crime, a trauma-informed document which helps communities organize after these tragic events without re-victimizing victims. Best Practices has been shared by politicians, mass shooting victims and communities around the country and worldwide.
She has been an editor and a reporter for over 30 years. She is the former editor of The Hollywood Reporter, the former film editor of Variety and Deadline. She has worked for The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, Vanity Fair, Time magazine, and other leading publications/media covering everything from business, advertising/marketing, entertainment, and public corruption. Anita also worked pro bono with the Association for the Recovery of Children, an organization comprised of former law enforcement and CIA officers which rescues kidnapped and sex-trafficked children from around the world.
Anita is the media consultant for the No Notoriety campaign and helped develop the protocol with founders Caren and Tom Teves whose son, Alex, was murdered in the mass shooting in Aurora. The No Notoriety protocol was established to help ensure public safety and limit copycat mass shooting crimes by asking the media to limit the name and photos of shooters and terrorists and instead concentrate on the victims and the heroes. It has been endorsed by law enforcement across the nation and the world as well as mass shooting victims across America.
On July 20, 2020 -- with Congressman Ed Perlmutter (D-CO) whose office secured bi-partisan support -- she has worked to establish this country’s first-ever National Heroes Day to honor everyday heroes in these United States. It was inspired by four incredible young men -- John Larimer, Jonathan Blunk, Matt McQuinn and Alex Teves -- who sacrificed their lives to save others in the Aurora theater shooting.
She has received excellence in journalism awards, but is most proud of the Courage Award from the National Center for Victims of Crime for her work on behalf of crime victims in 2013 and the National Heroes Award from the Global Activists Awards in 2021. Anita, herself, is a survivor of violent crime and has responded to over 50 mass casualty crimes to date.
Dr. Zachary Blair, President
Dr. Zachary Blair received his PhD in anthropology from the University of Illinois at Chicago, where he conducted violence-centered research around issues of race, gender, sexuality, and space. While living in Central Florida, he helped victims of the mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub with community organizing, research, and public records requests. Zachary worked for nine years in university administration, is published in academic journals and edited volumes, works across multiple community-based research projects in Chicago and Florida, and has also taught college-level courses. Zachary has also worked on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic in the positions of Community Health Specialist and Branch Director for Isolation/Quarantine in a local health jurisdiction. As President, Vice President, and Co-Founder of VictimsFirst, Zachary has also worked in over 20 mass shootings.
Tiara Parker, Vice President
Since the night her cousin Akyra Monet Murray, 18, was killed in the mass shooting in 2016 inside the Pulse Nightclub, Tiara vowed to make sure Akyra would be remembered. Akyra graduated in the top 3% of her class, and received a full-ride scholarship to Mercyhurst College for basketball. She was so good that she had scored over 1,000 points at West Catholic High School. Tiara was also shot twice that night in Orlando where 49 people were murdered (Akyra being the youngest), yet despite her wounds, she rose to take up the fight for those whose voices were silenced. She has worked to get the right politicians into office who care about communities and has advocated for common sense measures to stop gun violence. A Philadelphia native, Tiara is a makeup artist who has worked in TV and hosted her own radio show; she has a background in media and journalism. Tiara also founded the Global Activists Awards, which honors people who often work behind the scenes fighting for positive societal change because, as she says, “the fight is Global.”
Amanda Bean, Secretary
Amanda Bean was injured in the Route 91 Harvest Festival mass shooting in Las Vegas on Oct. 1, 2017. She comes to VictimsFirst to help both survivors and communities in the immediate aftermath of a mass casualty event. She brings her knowledge of planning, coordinating, and first-hand experience to assist others in navigating through these life-altering tragedies. Amanda has a background in non-profit work, including Girl Scouts of the USA and the Special Olympics. In addition, she co-chaired the board of directors for the Toy Bank of Greater Paso Robles. She also has coordinated and trained volunteers for many organizations, including the California Mid-State Fair. She has a degree in Event Planning and Management with a minor in Integrated Marketing Communications from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. She is passionate about bringing awareness to and raising monies for organizations through events and fundraisers. Amanda has worked on 15 mass shootings.
Javier Nava, Director
Javier Nava works as a Mass Violence Relief Specialist for the National Compassion Fund. Javier has been a victims’ rights advocate since recovering from a gunshot to the abdomen on June 12, 2016 when a gunman entered the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, FL and began shooting. Four of Javier’s friends were also murdered that night in a tragic mass casualty crime that killed 49 people and wounded 68. After the Vegas shooting, Javier travelled to meet with victims in both NV and CA. Most recently, Javier helped the victims of the Wal-mart shooting in El Paso, TX where 22 shoppers were killed and 25 others were wounded or injured. He also helped victims of the condo collapse in Surfside, Florida. Javier also travelled to Washington D.C. to talk to House speaker Nancy Pelosi and also Rep. Gabby Giffords (herself a wounded survivor of the Tucson mass shooting) to advocate for sensible gun laws.
Paola Bautista, Director
Paola Bautista is a wounded survivor of the Route 91 Harvest Festival mass shooting in Las Vegas on Oct. 1, 2017. She underwent two surgeries to remove the bullet from her arm and reconstruct her hand. She also endured two years of intensive physical therapy to be able to use her hand again. She is a student working towards becoming a master in a specific area of nutrition. She has been heavily engaged behind the scenes assisting in the Uvalde mass shooting, as well as more than 5 other mass shootings.
Melissa Holmes, Director
Melissa comes to VictimsFirst, having survived the Route 91 Harvest Festival mass shooting in Las Vegas on Oct. 1, 2017. Melissa has worked with VictimsFirst since soon after the Vegas shooting and has volunteered behind the scenes helping to fundraise for victims/survivors of Vegas and Thousand Oaks (Borderline Bar and Grill shooting), where she worked with the Academy of Country Music on a benefit concert to help the families of the deceased and survivors of the bar shooting. In addition, she helped to create and launch the social media Love To campaigns after the mass shootings in Parkland (FL), Santa Fe (TX), Virginia Beach (VA), Dayton (OH), Aurora, IL, and Milwaukee (WI) as well as that of Thousand Oaks (CA) and Vegas. She most recently worked on the Uvalde (TX), Allen (TX) and is helping on victim intake for the Lewiston (ME) mass shooting. She is one of the most creative, key strategists for the organization and has worked on more than 27 mass shootings.
Tara Wyzik, Director
Tara Wyzik became an advocate in the gun violence prevention space after the shooting at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, TX. She is the Managing Director for the Uvalde Families’ non-profit Lives Robbed, which fights to reduce gun violence through legislative changes at the state and federal level. She is a VictimsFirst board member and director of the Make New Memories program. The Make New Memories program is similar to Make-A-Wish, but our program is specifically designed to provide victims of mass violence with opportunities to experience the joys of life in the aftermath of atrocity. Tara lives in Virginia with her family and two American bulldogs.
Leadership Council
Volunteers
Dr. Dan Eller
Dr. Dan Eller (B.S. California State University, Northridge, 1984; M.P.H., 1987; Ed.D. University of California, Santa Barbara, 2010) is a Professor Emeritus of Public Relations in the Journalism Department at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Dan has twenty-five years of industry experience in Public Relations in the public sector with the State of California, authored and co-authored five juried journal articles, one book chapter, and presented twelve juried research papers at academic conferences.
Ricky Robertson
Ricky Robertson has had the privilege to work with students from pre-K to 12th grade who have persevered in the face of trauma and adversity. Along with Victoria Romero & Amber Warner, Ricky is the co-author of the Corwin bestselling book, Building Resilience in Students Impacted by Adverse Childhood Experiences: A Whole Staff Approach. As a consultant and coach, Ricky supports schools and districts in developing multi-tiered social-emotional and behavioral supports that are trauma-informed and culturally responsive. Ricky’s deep respect for young people and the educators who serve them continue to inspire his work today.
Sarah Leonard
Sarah Gayle Leonard joins our team through VTVCare, after her Mother was murdered in the Virginia Beach 5/31 Municipal Massacre. She is a proud Virginian, Mother, and graduate of Longwood University. She believes “public service never dies” and is deeply committed to helping pass Mass Violence Care Funds across the country. She’s seen rock bottom in her recovery journey and wants to rescue others from it. Sarah is a strong advocate for mental health care and healing through artistic expression. She lives and works near Virginia Tech.
Alyce Brodoff
Alyce Brodoff has worked behind the scenes with VictimsFirst since its inception in 2012 amid the aftermath of the Aurora theater mass shooting. She helped create the Love to Aurora Facebook campaign and helped promote the NoNotoriety cause. Helping victims has been central in her life the past 11 ½ years and counting. A lifelong volunteer, Alyce has sat on numerous Boards of Directors, Commissions and Committees dedicated to human rights, the health and welfare of children/teens/adults/seniors and community building. A retired teacher who coached many amateur and professional singers/public speakers in her 40 year career, she lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. Alyce grew up in Denver, Colorado.
Ashtin Gamblin
Ashtin Gamblin is a native to rural Illinois but currently resides in Colorado Springs, CO. She received her associates in criminal justice in 2022. In November of 2022, she survived the Club Q mass shooting, after taking part-time work at the bar. She was shot 9 times. While still working to complete her bachelor's in criminal justice, she has obtained certificates in human rights and human trafficking training. She focuses on advocating for victims rights and funding as well as police protocol for mass casualty events.
Jorshua N. Hernandez Carrion
Jorshua N. Hernandez Carrion was born in Bayamón Puerto Rico. He is a survivor of the Pulse nightclub massacre in Orlando, FL on June 12, 2016. He was wounded by a bullet in my left arm. He has a bar with nine screws. He was also wounded on the left side and it affected four organs which had to be reconstructed. Currently, he still has a bullet in his body. He says, "I am here to support victims and help each survivor move forward because I went through the same thing and know it well. I want survivors and family to feel safe. Don't give up on moving forward."
Pierce Mackenzie
Pierce Mackenzie is the son of Lynn Murray, whose life was tragically taken in the Boulder King Soopers mass shooting on March, 22, 2021. He is also the son of the late John Mackenzie, who was the first to raise the alarm and informed victims about the Colorado Healing Funds’ abuse after they collected donations in the aftermath of the shooting. As a social media specialist, Pierce is adept at promoting videos and posts to gain public attention. He is dedicated to supporting victims of mass shootings. His firsthand experience fuels a passionate commitment to aiding and empowering fellow victims.