The recent mass shootings we've seen across the country in Buffalo, Laguna Woods, and Uvalde are absolute tragedies. A community should be a place where we feel safe – not a place where we fear for our lives. However, gun violence like this is something that has become all too common.

The United States is the only country in the world where this regularly happens. It’s on our elected officials to address the gun violence epidemic that has overwhelmed our nation – and, if they refuse to, we must replace them with Democratic women who will make our nation’s safety a priority.

At Emerge, we refuse to sit idly by and watch these tragedies continue. That’s why I’m reaching out to you today as a member of this community.

In the face of inaction from elected officials at the highest levels of our government, we must remember our personal power to demand and create the change we desperately need. I urge you to embrace the power of community, the power of speaking out, and the power of becoming leaders in your own right.

Democratic women all over our country are stepping up to run for office and take charge of the direction of our country – and I encourage you to join them. Now, at this crucial turning point in our country’s politics, you are needed more than ever. Please: Run for office, join a campaign, or volunteer.

Emerge exists to support you in transforming leadership in our country, in ensuring that we respond to tragedy with meaningful policy, and in building safe and thriving communities. Together, by building a pipeline of Democratic women who can address gun violence at all levels, we will repower political structures and stand up for communities who are being devastated. We will work every day to fix broken systems and elect leaders who will put their constituents first.

Thank you for being a part of the solution,

A'shanti F. Gholar
President, Emerge