Friends, family of Linda Brown establish advocacy program, GoFundMe following her death

Loved ones of Linda Brown launched a program offering guidance to those enduring missing persons cases, in addition to a GoFundMe page, following the death of the Bronzeville special education teacher who died by suicide earlier this month.

Brown's niece, Jen Rivera, announced the program through her nonprofit, the Reignited Project, to equip families with guidance during a missing persons case. The program, named the Linda Brown Advocacy Protocol, was developed in Linda's honor.

"What we are creating is meant to truly support families navigating missing persons cases — not just in words but with real tools, guidance and outreach that can make a difference when everything feels overwhelming," according to the program's site.

The program aims to address the gaps the family found when navigating through the missing persons response.

The protocol will work to address four pillars: preparedness, early-stage family guidance, ethical advocacy which includes media and search education and collaboration and systems-level growth, according to the program's site.

Currently under development, the program will release tools, educational resources, and materials in phases as they are completed.

"Linda was not just a missing person, she was a vital part of our family," according to the program's site. "Like so many families before us, we were forced how to navigate a missing person's case in real time, without a road map."

Brown, who went missing on Jan. 3, was found dead on Jan. 12 when her body was recovered from Lake Michigan near the 3100 block of South DuSable Lake Shore Drive, police said. An autopsy determined the cause of Brown's death was drowning, which the Cook County medical examiner's office ruled a suicide.

Loved ones remembered Brown as an 'incredible, amazing human."

The GoFundMe launched last week, also from Rivera, has raised over $4,000 of its $5,500 goal as of Tuesday. According to the GoFundMe page, the funds will be used to pay for the remaining funeral and memorial expenses.

"Losing Linda has been devastating, and this was not the outcome we were hoping or praying for," the GoFundMe page said. "It's hard to put into words how heavy these weeks have been emotionally, mentally and physically."

Brown's funeral service was held on Tuesday from 10-11 a.m. at the Blake & Lamb Funeral home in southwest suburban Oak Lawn.