10-years: We remember the Pulse 49
- 6 hours ago
- 2 min read
"Love is a fruit in season at all times, and within reach of every hand." - Mother Teresa
On June 12, 2016, 49 angels were taken from our world in an act of hate during what was, at the time, the deadliest mass shooting in modern American history.
At the time, Michael Sgro was in his final year working in higher education. In the immediate aftermath of the tragedy, he reached out to students, alumni, and families in Orlando. While responding to the crisis and supporting his community, Michael was also grappling with his own vulnerability as a gay man.
“I wanted it to be a nightmare that I would wake up from,” Michael recalls. “A targeted mass murder of LGBTQ+ people and people of color had occurred, and I felt scared. I had to come to terms with the fact that I could not live in fear. Instead, I needed to honor the lives of these angels.”
Our company's mission to develop empathy as a core competency was born directly from this tragedy. Michael believes that empathy has the power to prevent harm by helping us recognize our shared humanity.
“Empathy is about seeing someone, feeling with someone, and helping someone,” Michael concludes. “When we are connected, there is nothing we cannot accomplish together.”
These beautiful lives were taken in an act of hatred at the Pulse Nightclub in Orlando. They were sons and daughters, friends and partners, dreamers and leaders—people who gathered in a place where they felt safe, accepted, and celebrated for who they were.
Today, we honor the Pulse 49 not only for the tragedy that claimed their lives, but for the love, joy, resilience, and humanity they brought to the world. Their memory reminds us of the importance of empathy, inclusion, and standing against hatred in all its forms.
The legacy of the Pulse 49 lives on in every act of kindness, every effort to create belonging, and every moment we choose to see one another with compassion. By remembering them, we reaffirm our commitment to building communities where every person is valued, respected, and free to live authentically.
May we never forget their names, their stories, or the enduring impact they have had on countless lives. Their light continues to inspire us to lead with empathy, love more deeply, and work toward a world where everyone belongs.
