Here are just 5 examples of how putting communities first can make communities safer:

1. Hospital-based violence interruption programs (HVIPs) are programs that reach victims at their most vulnerable. HVIPs are located in trauma centers and emergency rooms to reach victims the moment they reach the hospital. Case managers engage survivors, while also working to prevent retaliation. (Learn More)

2. Group Violence Intervention involves collaboration between social service providers, community members, and law enforcement. These programs are intended to increase trust between law enforcement and the communities they police. (Learn More)

3. Violence Interrupters or Street Outreach programs are led by interventionists that live in the community. The programs focus on building relationships, supporting survivors of violence, and implementing restorative justice solutions to gun violence. These programs are immediate crisis responses and also long term support. (Learn More)

4. Cure Violence programs aim to change the norms about community violence and create pathways for young people involved in gun violence. This model trains community members to detect and interrupt violence, identify and treat individuals at the highest risk of violence, and mobilize the community to change norms. (Learn More)

5. Community-driven crime prevention through environmental design are programs where communities reduce crime and violence by using architecture and urban planning to create or restore public spaces where the community can gather and feel a sense of safety. Restoration of vacant lots and investing in a community"s physical environment has been proven to reduce crime and gun violence. When communities look safe, people feel safe. (Learn More)

CVI programs make sense. Slowly, our government has been recognizing this and providing resources and opportunities for the expansion of CVI programs; just this year the Build Back Better Act included a momentous $5 billion in funding for local initiatives to combat gun violence. By providing resources and training to the people that live in communities most impacted by violence, we are giving communities an opportunity to heal from the inside by establishing greater trust in their neighbors and changing community norms about violence. Tens of thousands of people are victims of gun violence each year in the U.S., and that violence is concentrated in underserved Black and Brown communities. Investing in proven community-based solutions is a no brainer.

The post Five Examples of Community Violence Intervention Programs That Work appeared first on Generation Progress.

Gerrymandering 

Gerrymandering is the manipulation of electoral districts to give an unfair advantage to a political party or politician. It is often done to consolidate power and reduce the influence of voters who politicians expect to oppose them. One party may earn the majority of the votes in a state, but depending on how the districts are drawn, the other party could receive the majority of district seats. For example, in 2018, North Carolina Democrats won 51.2 percent of the votes for the state House of Representatives and 50.5 percent for the state Senate. But due to gerrymandering, North Carolina Republicans won majority control of both chambers. Similar things have happened in states throughout the country, giving an advantage to either party based on how the districts are drawn. Considering that 53 percent of all Americans and 81 percent of Democrats support stricter gun laws, gerrymandering does not allow fair representation of the democratic process. The Freedom to Vote Act would completely ban partisan gerrymandering, not allowing either party to take advantage of the redistricting process. The bill would also ensure transparency in the redistricting process.

Dark Money In Politics

Large corporations and special interest groups have power and money that ordinary voters don"t. These organizations spend their considerable resources on campaign donations, political advertising, and lobbying to persuade elected officials to act in their best interests. The special interest groups that have a vested interest in preventing gun violence prevention measures from becoming law, including the National Rifle Association (NRA), have been particularly successful.

The NRA, which is funded in part by gun manufacturers, have spent decades blocking life-saving gun violence prevention legislation through a coordinated campaign to exert political and financial pressure over candidates and elected officials. The most staunchly anti-gun reform politicians have more than likely received numerous contributions to their campaigns from groups like the NRA. The Freedom to Vote Act would help put an end to this. The bill would require super PACs, 501(c)4 groups and other organizations spending money in elections and on judicial nominations to disclose donors who contribute more than $10,000, create a 6-1 matching system for smaller donations to give ordinary people a stronger voice, and overhaul the Federal Election Commission to ensure that the agency does its job and investigates violations of the law.

Voting Accessibility

Decades of gun violence in our schools and communities have shifted the public opinion on guns, and it"s now clear that the majority of Americans want laws that will help prevent gun violence. Voting is one way for Americans to make their views and priorities known, but rampant voter suppression efforts that disproportionately affect young people and people of color mean that the freedom to vote has been eroded to the point where many Americans aren"t able to cast a ballot. The Freedom to Vote Act would create a national standard for voting rights protections and make voting more accessible to all Americans. The bill would require all states to offer an early voting period at least two weeks before election day and expand vote-by-mail, giving voters more flexibility to cast their ballots in a way that works for them. The bill would also standardize voter ID laws, which currently vary greatly on a state-by-state level, meaning that people will have a clearer idea of what they need in order to vote. These provisions are especially important to young voters, who face disproportionate barriers to registering to vote and voting. 

Conclusion

When the people have the power in our democracy, we get better public policy. Through a number of insidious laws and policies, the democratic process has slowly been chipped away and people"s voices have been silenced. Extremist politicians have introduced over 400 bills nationwide to suppress our votes, and they are gerrymandering states to disenfranchise millions of American voters. The Freedom to Vote Act would begin to undo these policies and allow the people to vote for legislation that they support. The Freedom to Vote Act would not only have lasting ramifications on gun violence prevention, but would also impact policy across many different areas, including climate change, reproductive rights, and more. It is critical that the Senate pass this bill to strengthen our democracy and put the power back in the hands of the people.

The post Protect Our Vote, Protect Our Communities appeared first on Generation Progress.

Young people have been consistent leaders in movements that advocate for progressive solutions to the issues facing this country–and we are creating substantive change. In November, young people under the age of 35 turned out to vote in historic numbers in large part because of our desire for progressive solutions to issues like the climate crisis, systemic racism, and the gun violence epidemic. Throughout the campaign, Millennials and members of Generation Z made it clear that we want to see action from our government. Now that the election is over and a new administration has come into office, it"s important for us to know who has influence over the issues we care about and who is responsible for enacting the solutions we want to see.  

On January 20th, President Biden took the oath of office to become the 46th president of the United States. And a new president is just the start when it comes to changes in the executive branch of government. One of Biden"s first tasks as president has been appointing the leaders of the departments and agencies that make up the rest of the executive branch. This change in leadership will have a massive impact on many of the issues that young people care about.  

The new executive branch will include the President"s Cabinet which consists of heads of executive departments, independent agencies and other boards, commissions, and committees. These high-level officials serve as advisors to the president, using their expertise to inform the president"s decision-making. Within the departments and agencies that they lead, they are responsible for overseeing the day-to-day enforcement and administration of federal laws and policies. They administer programs, make funding decisions, and collect and analyze data. These agencies set the stage for what is possible in an administration, meaning that the leaders of federal departments and agencies will directly impact whether or not the goals of our generations are accomplished. This is why leadership change is so important and thinking beyond the seat of the presidency is critical. 

Many of President Biden"s appointees require Senate confirmation. As those confirmation hearings and votes continue, we wanted to break down exactly what young people can expect from the various departments and agencies under the Biden-Harris administration when it comes to the policy priorities that they want to see enacted. 

Student Debt

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)

The CFPB is tasked with protecting American consumers by regulating products and services that fall under federal consumer laws. The bureau also aims to empower consumers to make informed financial decisions through the spread of information and educational resources. In terms of student debt, the CFPB has the power to protect borrowers through the regulation of servicers and lenders. 

Biden-Harris Appointee: Rohit Chopra

Rohit Chopra is currently a commissioner on the Federal Trade Commission, and has previously served as the assistant director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), where he worked directly on protections for people with student loans. Chopra has also served as a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, where he worked alongside Generation Progress to address the student debt crisis.

Status: Awaiting confirmation

Department of Education (ED)

The Department of Education may be best known for its role in supporting and strengthening K-12 education. However, ED also regulates and enforces rules to limit or expand the power of student loan lenders, services, banks, and colleges and universities. The department has significant power to act on student debt–including, most notably, the power to cancel student debt in part or in whole. It also has the power to shore up regulations that prevent predatory institutions from  defrauding students and borrowers. The Secretary of Education can lead this department to protect borrowers through regulatory rulemaking, cancelling student loans, and issuing guidance on how federal funding for colleges can be used.  

Biden-Harris Appointee: Miguel Cardona

Miguel Cardona is a former teacher and has previously served as the Connecticut Commissioner of Education.

Status: Confirmed

Climate

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

The EPA protects natural resources like air, land, and water to defend human and environmental health. The agency leads the country in developing and enforcing federal climate policy and conducts research to further public understanding of environmental health and risks. The Administrator of the EPA has the power to fight climate change by putting in place health and environmental safeguards, creating jobs in clean energy technology, and instating more forceful environmental protections and regulations. And importantly, they can prioritize policies that build resilience in frontline communities and embed environmental justice in all the work they advance. 

Biden-Harris Appointee: Michael S. Regan

Michael S. Regan previously served as the Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality and has also served as Air Quality Controller for the EPA under Pres. Obama. The Biden administration has indicated that it will prioritize environmental justice in its climate policy, acknowledging that BIPOC communities are often most impacted by pollution, natural disasters, and other manifestations of climate change. 

Status: Confirmed

Department of the Interior (DOI)

The Department of the Interior is tasked with conservation and management of the country"s natural resources. The department also works closely alongside Indigenous communities to protect public lands. The Interior Secretary has the power to address the climate crisis by implementing comprehensive regulations and protective measures and prevent pollution and exploitation of natural resources by corporate interests.  

Biden-Harris Nominee: Representative Deb Halaand

Rep. Haaland is a U.S. Representative from New Mexico’s 1st congressional district. Rep. Haaland is the first Indigenous person to serve as a Cabinet secretary in U.S. history. Her nomination was enthusiastically supported by many young and Indigenous advocates.

Status: Confirmed

Department of Energy (DOE)

The Department of Energy develops scientific and technological solutions to address energy, environmental, and nuclear challenges.The Secretary of Energy has the power to combat climate change by supporting research and innovation that would cut down on carbon pollution, develop further production of renewable and clean energy.

Biden-Harris Nominee: Jennifer Granholm

Jennifer Granholm is the former Governor of Michigan, and the first woman to ever serve in that role.

Status: Confirmed

Gun Violence Prevention

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

The Department of Health and Human Services serves the public by advancing medicine, public health, and social services. The department has the power to combat the gun violence epidemic by declaring gun violence to be a public health emergency, which could result in the allocation of additional resources to address the issue and the promotion of community-led gun violence prevention measures at the federal, state, and local level.  

Biden-Harris Nominee: Xavier Becerra

Xavier Becerra is the current Attorney General of California and a former U.S. Representative from California. 

Status: Confirmed

Department of Justice (DOJ)

The DOJ is tasked with enforcing federal gun laws and regulating the gun industry, among its many duties. This department has the power to shape our criminal legal system, combat police brutality and white supremacy, and use a racial equity lens to address gun violence by supporting a public health approach and community-centered violence solutions. The department is led by the Attorney General.  

Biden-Harris Nominee: Merrick Garland

Attorney General Garland previously served as a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. 

Status: Confirmed

Immigration

Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

The Department of Homeland Security oversees security efforts in the areas of border security, immigration and customs enforcement, cyber security, and anti-terrorism security. The department also houses the Customs and Border Protection (CBP),  Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The DHS Secretary has the power to work with President Biden to implement immigration policy that centers human dignity and provides a pathway to citizenship.

Biden-Harris Appointee: Alejandro Mayorkas

Alejandro Mayorkas is the first Latinx person and immigrant to lead this Department. Mayorkas served in prominent DHS roles during the Obama administration, including Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and Deputy DHS Secretary, and led the development and implementation of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. 

Status: Confirmed

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

As discussed in the section on gun violence prevention, the Department of Health and Human Services serves the public through advancing medicine, public health and social services. The department, via the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), is also responsible for ensuring the care and safety of "unaccompanied children"–children who do not have lawful immigration status in the United States, are under the age of 18, and do not have a parent or legal guardian in the United States.

Biden-Harris Nominee: Xavier Becerra

Xavier Becerra is the current Attorney General of California and a former U.S. Representative from California. 

Status: Confirmed

Conclusion

When young people turned out to vote in November, we voted for a president and vice president. But the impact of our votes extends far beyond those two positions, leading to new people in key positions that will determine U.S. policy for years to come. With this new leadership, young people can expect to see bolder interagency solutions to the urgent issues facing our country that meet the needs of the lived experiences of us all. Over the coming months and years, young people will be paying close attention to who is leading these agencies, what their policy priorities are, and what they are able to accomplish. We expect these new leaders–not just the president–to keep the needs of young people in mind as they go about their work, and we look forward to seeing what we can accomplish together. 

The post Beyond the Presidency: How Biden Appointees Can Take Action on Youth Issues appeared first on Generation Progress.

St. Louis Superman Trailer from Smriti Mundhra on Vimeo.

The post St. Louis Superman Preview appeared first on Generation Progress.

Find anti-racism resources and more ways to take action with GP"s action toolkit.

An important part of activism is continuous education. It is the duty of every activist  to learn about the history of racism in America and what steps they can take to combat racism in all forms. It is not enough to not be racist; we must be anti-racist to overturn centuries of injustice. Use the links below to get started on your anti-racism education so you can be a more informed and effective advocate for racial justice in America.

As a team, we are regularly learning and aim to evolve the conversation we"re having. This is by no means a comprehensive list.

If you have a resource suggestion you think fits here, please email us at hello@genprogress.org.

Guides and articles on anti-racism

• Mapping Our Social Change Roles in Times of Crisis 
• An Antiracist Reading List
• The Color of Choice: White Supremacy and Reproductive Justice
• Anti-Racist Resource Guide  
• National Museum of African American History and Culture: How to Talk About Race
  • Including, Being Anti-Racist

Books

Try to purchase from local and Black-owned businesses, such as Phenomenal Girl, where possible. Many selections on this list are courtesy of @diversereads.

• How to be an Anti-Racist, Ibram X. Kendi
• This Book Is Anti-Racist, Tiffany Jewell
• So You Want to Talk About Race?, Ijeoma Oluo
• Stamped, Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi
• The Underground Railroad, Colson Whitehead
• Eloquent Rage, Brittney Cooper
• Black Enough, Edited by Ibi Zoboi
• They Were Her Property, Stephanie E. Jones-Rogers
• Ghost Boys, Jewell Parker Rhodes
• Me and White Supremacy, Layla F. Saad
• Citizen, Claudia Rankine

Podcasts

• The New York Times" "1619" 
• Pod Save the People

Series to watch on Netflix to educate yourself on Black oppression

.Many selections on this list are courtesy of @unity.celeste.

• Explained: The Racial Gap
• Time: The Khalif Browder Story
• When They See Us
• 13th
• Who Killed Malcolm X?

The post Educate Yourself on Anti-Racism appeared first on Generation Progress.

Our generations are the largest and most diverse in the history of this country, and the injustice consistently perpetrated by the U.S. criminal legal system is antithetical to our values as young people. It is imperative that we use our collective power to demand justice for Black Americans and an end to this cycle of state-sanctioned violence. 

Use the action tools below to demand justice for Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd. Then find ways to take action demonstrate to people in power that we are paying attention and will not stay silent. 

If we take action, we can create change.

Amplify this on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

Other ways to participate and additional resources:

• Mental Health Resources
  • @therapyforblackgirls on IG
  • @blackmenheal on IG
  • Black mental health resources from To Write Love on Her Arms
  • Black LGBTQ+ youth mental health resources from The Trevor Project
• Buy swag that gives back
  • Official BLM store
  • Trayvon hoodie – a portion of proceeds go to the Trayvon Martin Foundation

The post RESOURCE TOOLKIT: Take Action for Black Lives appeared first on Generation Progress.

Find anti-racism resources and more ways to take action with GP"s action toolkit.

Are you looking for additional ways to get involved with the Black Lives Matter movement? Do you want to help fight for justice for the countless lives impacted by police brutality and systemic racism? We"ve compiled some great places you can get started or continue your efforts. There are many ways to support Black members of our communities right now.

If you are unable to attend an in-person protest, or you want to support the efforts in addition to protesting, these resources are for you!

Attend a meeting, donate, and show your support in more than one way. 

• Minnesota
  • Black Visions Collective
  • Communities United Against Police Brutality
  • Reclaim the Block
  • Minnesota Freedom Fund
• DC-area 
  • Black Lives Matter DMV – Donate, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook
  • Freedom Fighters DC – Instagram, Twitter
• GP"s #Fight4AFuture network members are working for grassroots orgs across the country 
  • Justice League NYC
  • Youth Justice Coalition LA
  • Black Youth Network
  • Youth Justice Coalition
  • Vegas Freedom Fund
  • Leaders of A Beautiful Struggle
  • COR Health Institute
  • The Gathering for Justice
  • Youth Over Guns
  • Juvenile Justice Initiative 
  • No Kids in Prison
• Terms to Google to find on-the-ground organizations near you:
  • "Local Black Lives Matter chapter"
  • "[TOWN NAME] Black Lives Matter Facebook"

The post On-the-Ground and Local Movements to Support, Follow, or Donate to to Help Fight Racism and Police Brutality appeared first on Generation Progress.

This year"s State of the Union address will be delivered by a president who has been impeached by the U.S. House of Representatives on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. At this critical juncture, with the integrity of our democracy called into question, it is worth taking a step back to consider all that happened in 2019. 

Over the past year, we"ve seen the Trump administration continue to push an agenda that is deeply at odds with the values and priorities of young adults in this country–people who disproportionately struggle with student debt, gun violence, and our broken criminal justice system, and who are especially determined to address the climate crisis and reform our immigration system.

Thankfully, their agenda has not gone unchallenged. We"ve seen young people raising their voices–staging massive climate strikes across the country, protesting human rights abuses at the border, and rallying in support of impeachment. We also saw the youngest and most diverse freshman class of U.S. representatives in history take office after being elected, in part, as a result of a surge of young voters in 2018. Over the past year, leaders in the House of Representatives have managed to forcefully push back against the worst impulses of the Trump administration while advancing progressive policies with the potential to create massive change. It is important to note, however, that Senate leaders have obstructed nearly every bill the House has put forward, which has meant that many of these policies are–for now– unlikely to ever even be taken up for a vote. 

To get a better sense of where we are now and what we"ll need to build on in 2020, we"ve taken a closer look at the statuses of the issues that Generation Progress network members have been advocating on in recent years.

Democracy

In addition to conducting extensive impeachment hearings and voting to impeach President Trump, the House of Representatives introduced two bills designed to restore and protect voting rights for all Americans. HR-1 "For the People Act," introduced and passed in January of 2019, would prioritize voting rights and election integrity by expanding and improving access to the ballot box for the most marginalized communities, including young people. HR-4 "Voting Rights Advancement Act," passed in December of 2019, would restore Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which ensured oversight of states and local governments that have a history of undermining voting rights, especially for communities of color. 

Gun Violence

Just one month after its historically young and diverse freshman class was sworn into office, the House of Representatives passed HR-8 "Bipartisan Background Checks Act," the first major gun violence prevention legislation passed in over two decades. Six months later, the House Judiciary Committee, under the leadership of Chairman Jerry Nadler, held a markup of three new gun violence prevention bills: an extreme risk protection order bill that would allow judges to issue an order to remove firearms from persons determined to be at risk of harming themselves or others, a bill that would outlaw large-capacity magazines, and a bill that would bar those convicted of a misdemeanor hate crime from owning a weapon. Despite the fact that there were 417 mass shootings and over 35,000 gun-related deaths in the United States in 2019, Senate leaders have refused to take up any bills related to gun violence, and have indicated that they will not cooperate on any gun violence prevention measures moving forward. 

Climate Change

From the devastating wildfires in Australia to the humanitarian disasters created by Hurricane Dorian, it"s clear that climate change is already impacting the lethality and intensity of extreme weather throughout the world. Despite these concrete examples and the findings of research released by the United Nations and others, Trump"s EPA continues to attack climate science and roll back important environmental protections, increasing air and water pollution. While Trump and his team deny climate change, the House is taking action–they introduced the 100% Clean Economy Act in November, which aims to help the country reach a 100 percent clean economy with net-zero emissions across all sectors of the economy by 2050. Young people have also continued to speak up, coordinating the Youth Climate Strike in March and the Global Climate Strike in September and demonstrating to the world that young people, and particularly young people of color, are passionate and influential leaders on this issue. 

Immigration

It may not come as a surprise that the Trump administration"s immigration policy in 2019 continued to prioritize cruelty for cruelty"s sake. Deaths in detention are at a historic high, but rather than address the gross mismanagement and human rights abuses occurring within those agencies, the Trump administration instead made drastic cuts to our legal immigration system– proposing higher fees for immigrants trying to renew their DACA status or applying to citizenship through naturalization; charging people to exercise their right to apply for asylum, effectively ending the asylum program and forcing tens of thousands of asylum seekers "˜remain" in dangerous and even deadly conditions in Mexico; and implementing "public charge" rules that would impose a wealth test that would drastically restrict legal immigration. Meanwhile, the House of Representatives passed HR-6, the American Dream and Promise Act, which represents the most broad effort to date to protect young undocumented immigrants without compromising their safety by giving additional funds to agencies like ICE and CBP. This year, advocates and activists will be looking to the Supreme Court, as it prepares to make a decision on whether protections for DACA recipients will remain in place after the Trump administration attempted to end the program. 

Student Debt 

As of February 2020, forty-three million Americans collectively owe $1.5 trillion in federal student loan debt. And young adults have a disproportionate share of this debt: roughly one-third of all people ages 25-34 have a student loan. Despite clear evidence that this crisis will only grow in severity, the Trump administration"s Department of Education, led by Betsy DeVos, continued to deny justice to cheated students and ignore the needs of future borrowers. A reauthorization of the Higher Education Act is also several years overdue–the House approved legislation on this front in 2019, but the Senate remains at an impasse on the package. Recognizing the urgency of the situation, Generation Progress and the Center for American Progress released a report in June of 2019 that outlines six steps that policymakers can take to alleviate and eliminate the student loan debt crisis–and the issue has since become a major area of discussion in the presidential primary elections. 

Criminal Justice Reform

As of 2016, people ages 18-35 comprised more than fifty-five percent of all arrests, which is nearly double their percent of the population. Young men of color are overrepresented in that group, with Black men of these ages between seven and nine times more likely to end up in prison compared to their white peers. Recognizing the need for reform in the justice system, the House introduced the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act, which would remove marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act, expunge prior convictions, and use federal tax revenue from marijuana sales to reinvest in communities most harmed by the war on drugs. The House also introduced the Clean Slate Act, which would require automatic sealing of certain criminal records to remove barriers for people so they can find housing and employment after they have completed their sentences.

The post State of Our Union 2020 appeared first on Generation Progress.

Applications are now being accepted for the 2019 Generation Progress Fight4AFuture Summit. This year’s summit will take place December 4-7 in Washington, D.C. The annual summit brings together activists, policy experts, and students to foster a conversation on the importance of training young people.

In 2018 GP brought together more than 80 young activists to tackle gun violence through trainings, seminars, the arts, and network-building opportunities. This year we invite you to grow the network by exploring the intersection of criminal justice reform and gun violence prevention, to engage and activate young leaders to lead the movement, and to take on bolder policy solutions in the new era.

There has been no greater time to put forth solutions to the gun violence crisis and the injustices of our criminal justice system, and we want to make sure you have the tools to turn ideas into policy change.

Travel scholarships, lodging, and meals are provided to all accepted summit applicants. Applications will remain open until October 3, 2019 at 12 midnight ET.

Apply online.

The post The Summit appeared first on Generation Progress.

America"s Youth Under Fire

You can start your meeting off like this:

Hi [[NAME]], thank you for taking the time to meet with me. I"m a constituent of yours from the XXX area in your district. I wanted to meet with you in-person to tell you a little bit about my concerns regarding our country’s rise in gun-related deaths and to hear from you on policy fixes you are working on to address this issue.

From there, launch into your talking points. This guide contains sample scripts for visiting lawmaker offices to discuss gun violence.

At the conclusion of the meeting, allow the staff member or representative to ask questions and respond to your concerns. Capture any follow-ups or commitments they make to stay on top of the issue and reiterate them at the end of the meeting. Thank them for hearing you out and be sure to get their contact information to touch base with them periodically on your issue. If the staff member or representative cannot offer you any assurance that they will be taking action on the issue, be sure to let me them know that you will continue to be vocal by notifying your friends, neighbors, and local media about your representative"s lack of commitment to the issue.

Say this:

Hi [[NAME]], thank you for taking the time to meet with me. I"m a constituent of yours from the XXX area in your district. I wanted to meet with you in-person to tell you about my work and hear from you about your plans to prevent gun violence and make our community safer.

Tell your story about how your life has been impacted by gun violence. Tell them about the impact violence has had on your life and the steps you and your community have taken to prevent violence. If you have not been impacted by gun violence directly you can share how the country as a whole has, and how you plan to be an activist on this issue.

Be prepared:

Print out these sources to reference or leave with your representative"s office:

• America"s Youth Under Fire: The Devastating Impact of Gun Violence on Young People
• Fighting for Our Future: A Series of Case Studies

Ask this:

• Q1: Congressman/women, I am concerned about the rate of gun violence in our community and across the country. As a Millennial/member of Gen Z, my generation is disproportionately affected by gun violence and I am concerned for my safety and the safety of my friends and family. We also need to ensure that people who pose a heightened risk to community safety, such as domestic abusers and people convicted of violent crimes, do not have easy access to guns. What are you doing to reduce the rate of gun violence in our community and ensure that young people have the opportunity to grow up with a sense of genuine security?

• Q2: Congressman/woman, more specifically what are you doing to address the growing gun-related deaths in black/brown communities? Young African Americans are eighteen times more likely than their white peers to be victim of gun homicide. How are you and your office addressing these concerns? As a society we need to be addressing the growing deaths of Black boys and girls.

• Q3: While we are addressing the increasing rates of gun deaths, it is also important to address programs and policies that work to  address the root causes of gun violence, and how we can support these region-specific efforts. Would you consider allocating more funding for gun violence research and demanding resources and support to address the root causes of gun violence in communities that have been left behind?

The post Call Congress! Tell them to act on gun violence prevention measures NOW. appeared first on Generation Progress.