Loss and hope

Crystal Moore, a Skidmore social work professor and associate dean of the faculty, will serve as facilitator and featured speaker at the Center for Hope's 16th annual New York State Missing Persons Day event this Saturday, April 8, starting at 9 a.m. at the New York State Museum on Madison Avenue in Albany, N.Y. The event is for families and friends affected by the unexplained or unresolved disappearance of a loved one.

Moore's presentation, "Stories Told by Those Left Behind: Meaning, Resiliency, and Missing Persons," will chronicle the loss she herself has felt since her mother, Christine Betty Lowe, went missing in 1971, when Moore was 7 years old. See sees that loss as foundational to a life infused with love, heartbreak, grace, luck, and grit.

She explains, "The stories we tell to ourselves and others about our missing people and their disappearance can impact our resiliency and how we make meaning of this ambiguous loss as individuals, families, and communities. For many years, I had never met anyone who I knew had a missing person in their lives. Having the opportunity to come together with others who share this experience has helped me come to terms and make meaning of my own loss. We share in each other's pain and strength, which can be incredibly powerful."

Event attendees will have an opportunity to join together and interact with other families as well as representatives from law enforcement and missing persons organizations. Moore says, "This event is designed to provide families an opportunity for discussion on ways to cope with their loss and keep hope alive. We hope it will be an uplifting experience."

A private session for families and loved ones, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., will be followed by a public ceremony at 1 p.m., open to all who support the mission of finding a resolution for families with a missing loved one. The day's program will include inspirational speakers, music, and presentation of the HOPE award. The closing ceremony will be at the Missing Persons Remembrance monument adjacent to the museum. New York State Police and the state's Division of Criminal Justice will attend, and families may submit DNA samples for comparison to unidentified decedents in the CODIS database.

Moore has taught at Skidmore since 2001. She publishes on topics related to mental health, thanatology (death and dying), and gerontology. She is working on her third book, which focuses on missing persons.