The 9/11 children: What can they teach us?
More than 3,000 children lost a parent on that awful day. Fifteen years later, in a world rocked by terror, this group has hard-won wisdom to share. Here, in their own words, is a glimpse into their journeys.
About the series
CNN worked with Tuesday’s Children, an organization formed after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, to interview and survey dozens of teens and young adults who lost a parent that day. This presentation contains excerpts from those interviews, edited for length and clarity.
Since 2001, the organization has served more than 2,000 children, says executive director Terry Sears. “I have watched these children grow from bereaved, vulnerable victims to become strong young adults committed to making this a better world. They are tomorrow’s leaders.”
Ten of the 9/11 children, now ages 14 to 29, were featured in a Town Hall hosted by CNN’s Brooke Baldwin. They spoke about their loss, the last 15 years — and why the terrorists failed.
More in this series
Text and video interviews by Moni Basu, Wayne Drash, Claudia Morales and John Blake
Design and development by Sean O’Key and Alberto Mier
Video editing by Madeleine Stix
Photo editing by Bernadette Tuazon, Brett Roegiers and Natalie Yubas