This post has information about psychological counseling and spiritual support for those affected by the events of last Saturday, when our brother and friend James L. Crump tragically lost his life. There will also be a resolution introduced tonight in the Anchorage Assembly to remember and honor James, and anyone who can attend is asked to.

Bent Alaska will continue to update our community about resources and news in the wake of James’ death. We ask that you hold in your hearts and offer your loving support to James’ family, friends, and coworkers; Edie and her family; all the witnesses to his death; and the staff, board, and volunteers of Identity, Inc., and Alaska Pride.

Honoring James L. Crump

Anchorage Assembly member Elvi Gray-Jackson has announced:

At Tuesday night’s Assembly meeting, I will lay on the table a resolution remembering and honoring James Crump. I would love to have the house packed so please pass the word on.

Elvi says that the resolution will be introduced at about 5:15 PM.  The Assembly chambers are located on the first floor of the Loussac Library at 36th and Denali. (See map.)  The Loussac Library can be reached by bus on People Mover routes 2, 36, and (with a short walk from C Street) 75.

Thank you, Elvi, for your love and support in this time of need.

Psychological support

The Psychological Services Center at University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) will be open from 12:00 to 4:00 PM on Saturday, July 2 to receive individuals seeking psychological support related to the death of James L. Crump during last Saturday’s Pride events. Several local psychologists and counselors will be on hand to meet with individuals who are having an especially difficult time making sense of this tragedy. In addition, there will a group therapy session at 12:30 to address ways of coping with trauma.

You are especially encouraged to come to the PSC if you witnessed the accident or were involved in planning Pride in order to begin the healing process. The Psychological Services Center is also accepting clients on an on-going basis as the need arises, so please call to set up an appointment if you begin to feel affected by the tragedy on Saturday. PSC’s phone number is 786-1795.

Thank you, everyone at PSC, and all the psychologists who are giving of your time to help us in our grief.

Getting there

The Psychological Services Center is located in room #255 of the Social Sciences Building (SSB) at UAA. Below is a closeup of the UAA campus map showing the building location and the nearest parking lot, which is just east of UAA Drive (between Northern Lights Boulevard and Providence Drive) off Alumni Drive.

By car: From Northern Lights, turn right on UAA drive, left on Alumni, and the Social Sciences Building is the first building on the right.  By bus: You can also get to UAA by People Mover bus routes 1, 3, 13, 36, 45, all of which stop at Providence Hospital and/or UAA. (Route 102 also stops there on weekdays, and Route 2 stops at Lake Otis and Providence Drive if you’re willing to take a walk across campus.)  From the bus stop, go to the Consortium Library (LIB on the map), and walk through to SSB, which is connected. Ask library staff for directions if you get confused about where to go.

Spiritual support

Spiritual support will be available for all those who are in need of additional guidance.
Please contact Rev. Susan Halvor at 212-2993 to arrange for a spiritual counselor.

James was remembered on Sunday at a Pride Ecumenical Service at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church led by pastors in our community, including Rev. Sara Gavit (St. Mary’s Episcopal Church), Rev. Susan Halvor (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)), Rev. Drew Phoenix (The United Methodist Church), and Rev. Johnathan Jones (Church Life Alaska).

Below is a video from Saturday’s Pride Festival at Delaney Park Strip with the statements and prayers made that day after the tragedy led by Rev. Susan Halvor and Gail Jackson of the Alaska Center for Spiritual Living.

Thank you, all the clergy named and unnamed, who are helping us to grapple with our loss.

Thank you, James Crump, for being a man of love and laughter whose spirit we will carry with us.