“I am a senior in the College double majoring in Government and Justice and Peace Studies with a minor in Jewish Civilization. On December 14, 2012, my mom survived the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, and in the aftermath, I began work to address gun violence, through legislative action, cultural change, and bridge-building between impacted communities.
I specifically have focused on youth empowerment and intersectionality within the gun violence prevention movement. In my time at Georgetown, I have learned just as much outside of the classroom as inside, and I have learned so many skills, from organizing to dialogue, faith-based activism to self-care. I’m invigorated by the momentum we are seeing around the country, being led by young people, because Generation Z and Millennials know the gun violence is not an isolated issue. We cannot talk about gun violence without talking about poverty, racism, police violence, mass incarceration, domestic violence, education policy, and mental health resources.
While the calls to action being issued by the students from Parkland are critical and groundbreaking, we also need to make sure that we are uplifting and hearing the voices and stories of youth of color in some of the most impacted places across the country who have been calling for reform for years. I hope that the walkouts and marches being organized at this time translate into sustainable, inclusive, and powerful change moving forward, and that will start with difficult conversations, passionate activism, and a focus on what is happening locally in each community.”
