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Join us in building safer, thriving communities — and help amplify survivor-centered solutions across the country.
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✍🏾 A NOTE FROM OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM
Join us in building safer, thriving communities — and help amplify survivor-centered solutions across the country.
The first quarter of 2025 has been a powerful reminder of what’s possible when we stay grounded in purpose and bold in our vision for safety. From local town halls to state victories, we’ve seen firsthand how survivors, advocates, and communities are rewriting the narrative — one policy, one campaign, and one courageous conversation at a time.
This year began with a deepened urgency. Gun violence continues to devastate families, especially in Black and Brown communities. As we move forward, we remain committed to building systems rooted in care, not punishment — and working alongside all of you to ensure that every community has the resources and support it deserves.
José Alfaro and Adzi Vokhiwa
Executive Director and Vice President of Policy
📌 HIGHLIGHTS FROM Q1
From statehouses to Congress, we’ve been busy advancing survivor-centered solutions and showing up where it matters most.
📌 National Advocacy & Federal Action
* Victory! SCOTUS sided with the federal government in Bondi v. VanDerStok , upholding the important regulation on ghost guns
* Joined Rep. Maxwell Frost and Sen. Chris Murphy in reintroducing the Office of Gun Violence Prevention Act
* Greg Jackson returned to Community Justice as Executive Advisor and delivered powerful testimony before Congress on the urgency of sustained gun violence prevention
* Spoke out against executive orders threatening the Department of Education and federal gun policy
📌 State & Local Power-Building
* Led efforts to advance life-saving gun violence prevention legislation in Maryland and New York
* Partnered with local leaders in Baton Rouge to successfully prevent passage of harmful Amendments 1–4
* Southwest Regional Advocacy Associate, Christina Delgado, was recognized by Texas Gun Sense as a Leading Latina in Gun Violence Prevention
📌 On the Ground & In the Culture
* Exhibited at SXSW 2025, connecting with attendees about the power of community-based safety
* Continued to grow our national presence through digital storytelling and grassroots momentum
📅 UPCOMING EVENTS
* Advocacy Summit & Congressional Meeting Day (Washington, D.C.) – May 5–7
* One Year of the Maryland Office of Gun Violence Prevention – May 14, 2025
* Gun Violence Awareness Weekend
* June 21 — 1 Year of the Michigan GVP Task Force
* June 25 — 3 Years of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act
🕊 MOMENTS OF REMEMBRANCE
Honoring those we’ve lost. Reaffirming our commitment to justice.
As we fight for change, we also pause to remember the lives taken by gun violence. These year-marks are not just markers of loss, but reminders of the urgent need for action and community-centered safety.
* April 16 — Virginia Tech shooting
* April 20 — Columbine High School shooting
* May 8 — San Antonio shooting
* May 14 — Tops Grocery Store shooting (Buffalo, NY)
* May 18 — Santa Fe High School shooting
* May 24 – Robb Elementary School shooting (Uvalde, TX)
* June 12 — Pulse Nightclub shooting (Orlando, FL)
* June 16 — Round Rock Juneteenth celebration shooting
* June 17 — Emanuel AME Church shooting (Charleston, SC)
🗞 IN THE NEWS
Democrat Susan Crawford wins Wisconsin Supreme Court race [[link removed]]
Cory Booker makes history with longest Senate floor speech in protest of Trump agenda [[link removed]]
Policies to Prevent Gun Violence in Schools [[link removed]]
Chicago’s ‘Stop the Bleed’ Kits Could Help Shooting Victims. Why Don’t More People Know About Them? [[link removed]]
GOP Budget Could Divert Millions From Gun Violence Prevention, Democrats Say [[link removed]]
Youth workshop on gun violence: ‘Prevention is super important’ [[link removed]]
COVID-19’s Impact on Gun Violence in America [[link removed]]
News: Myrie, Colleagues And Advocates: "New York Needs A Gun Violence Prevention Office Now!" [[link removed]]
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