Our Story

Under the Same Sky was built around a sense of community — the sometimes unexpected discovery that, even in the midst of our most devastating human suffering, we are not alone.

When founder Amy Kartheiser realized that several families among her circle of extended friends had been touched by suicide, she began to talk openly about her own experience as a survivor who had lost loved ones to suicide. That openness began to create a safe space for honesty and grief; began to ease stigma and silence; began to create a community united not only in suffering but in hope.

Those initial conversations became more purposeful and brought shape to the idea that shared experience can not only be a source of comfort but also a call to action.

Building on those personal experiences through education and participation in the movement to promote suicide awareness and intervention, Amy looked for ways to increase reach and to leverage her strength as a successful business owner to create a funding stream for survivor support efforts.

Today Under the Same Sky draws upon partnerships with both the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, through which we focus our support on AFSP’s Healing Conversations program for suicide survivors, and Amy’s Chicago-based design practice, Amy Kartheiser Design, which has created fundraising opportunities through design-based pop-up shops.

Through these efforts, our goals are to identify and help to close funding gaps for crucial survivor support and awareness programs, and to continue to expand our ever-growing circle of trust, acceptance and support for those affected by suicide.

Our name, Under the Same Sky, signals our belief that all of us are touched by this issue; that we are stronger together, and that we all have the power to act to make things better.

Welcome to our circle — your voice is needed here.