Gun violence claimed the lives of more than 48,000 people in the United States in 2022.

 Jawanna Hardy is co-founder of Guns Down Friday, an organization that helps survivors and families of shooting victims.

“Our mission for Guns Down Friday is to creatively provide resources for children affected by youth homicides, suicides, and mental health illnesses,” Hardy said.

 

From gun violence survivor to gun control advisor

Greg Jackson is a community organizer, advocate and communications professional who recently served as the Deputy Director of the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention. In 2015, he was the youngest appointee of Mayor Muriel Bowser, as Director of Community Relations and Services in Washington, D.C.

He is currently Executive Director of the Community Justice Action Fund. Jackson was a victim of gun violence who turned into activist after his experience. 

 

Parkland shooting victim’s parents turn to activism through art

On February 14, 2018, a mass shootingat Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, took the lives of 17 people. It became the deadliest high school shooting in U.S. history.  

17-year-old Joaquin Oliver was one of the victims. His friends nicknamed him Guac. Joaquin’s parents, Manuel and Patricia Oliver, have become fervent gun control activists since that tragic day, founding the Change the Ref non-profit organization.