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ORLANDO – For many in the LGBTQ community the month of June is associated with pride and self-acceptance of oneself and celebrating what makes you unique. But for Pulse Nightclub owner Barbara Poma the week of June 12th is a time to honor the 49 lives that were taken in one of the deadliest mass shootings in the country.

“Here in Orlando when we think about June 12th we’re not always assimilating it with Pride, we assimilate it with the tragedy, the shooting, that happened here,” said Poma. “And four years later we are still standing and we’re still here to support each other.”

Through the tragedy, Poma founded the onePULSE Foundation, a nonprofit helping to establish a sanctuary of healing and a beacon of hope for all the lives affected by the Pulse nightclub tragedy. The foundation not only keeps the memory of the 49 Angels alive but ensures that they will never be forgotten.

“We have just awarded 49 legacy scholarships,” said Poma. “One for each of the angels based on their aspirations, jobs, careers goals.”

One of the 49 angels, Eddie Sotomayor Jr of Sarasota. On the fourth year anniversary of the tragic shooting, city officials and friends of Sotomayor held a ceremony in his honor on the steps of City Hall.

Poma says the healing process is different for everyone and encourages those who feel alone to reach out to the foundation. She says together we’re stronger as a community and together we will not let hate win.

“We should realize that as a human race we are way more alike than we are different. There are so many qualities that make us human and there are so few things that make us different from each other,” she says. “And I think that if we can come to that understanding and pass it on to generations we can see change during our lifetime.”

Next year, Poma plans to launch the onePULSE Academy a new way to approach acceptance education to use in schools and corporate environments.

And she says construction will begin next year for the Pulse Memorial and Museum. She hopes the site of the tragedy can be a sanctuary of love, hope and healing that remembers the 49 angels.