Regional Gun Violence Prevention

We had an incredible time participating in Nathan Hale High School’s annual Unity in Community Day! Unity in Community is a student‑led, student‑organized seminar that brings Hale students together through workshops grounded in equity, race, and identity. Unity in Community celebrates learning and connection while encouraging young people to shape change in their communities.

We were honored to contribute to the event, share the work of our office, and discuss the importance of student and community member involvement in gun violence prevention efforts.

Many thanks to the event organizers for the opportunity to participate, and to the thoughtful Hale students for allowing us to learn with and from them.

When a survivor of gun violence arrives at the local trauma hospital, they need support that goes beyond just medical treatment. Public Health’s Regional Office of Gun Violence Prevention partners with Harborview Medical Center to offer survivors and their families with bedside support and immediate assistance with basic needs. Learn more: kingcounty.gov/rgv

UW Medicine

The Reclaiming the Village event held on Saturday at Garfield High School brought together families, community leaders, and educators to address ongoing challenges affecting Black students and families. Event facilitators and speakers provided insights and approaches to enhancing parental involvement, increasing cultural identity, and expanding community-driven solutions.

Read more about the event from Converge Media here: https://www.whereweconverge.com/post/reclaiming-the-village-community-leaders-call-for-renewed-parental-empowerment-and-accountability

The Summit on Crime Survivors series brought together community members and representatives from King County and the City of Seattle to highlight survivors' voices and experiences, with a focus on available resources and support systems.

Check out a few moments from the event.🧡

The community action plan meeting held last night highlighted the collaborative efforts of schools, families, and the community towards promoting safety and a sense of belonging 🧡

We recently participated in the annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Day Celebration at Garfield High School and stood with a few Youth Ambassadors for Change Program participants as they presented their proposed policy priorities during the event. Highlights from their youth-led policy priorities included: Safe firearm storage requirements (HB 1152) Restrictions and penalties for fi****ms in sensitive areas (SB 5098) More support for victims, survivors, and families impacted by gun violence Expanded violence intervention services and prevention programs and more. We are proud of the leadership and courage demonstrated by the Youth Ambassadors for Change participants and pleased to see them drive Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King’s vision of peace over violence.

🎉 Celebrating the successful completion of our Youth Ambassadors for Change Program! 🎉

Throughout the program, participants connected with community leaders, a state senator, and a local advocacy group to dive into what a public health approach to gun violence truly means. They explored how elected officials and community partners are taking action, learned how our state’s legislative process works, and gained an understanding of policy from the inside out.

Our youth ambassadors completed a SWOT analysis to assess what’s working in our county’s efforts to address gun violence and where we can strengthen our approach. They concluded the program with a policy development workshop, crafting their own priorities and justifications for each one.

We are incredibly proud of our youth ambassadors! 🧡

Save the date:

GEM Annual Winter Wonderland Toy Giveaway

9:00am-11:00am

Sunday Dec 21, 2025

GEM Recreational Facility
835 Central Ave N
D101
Kent WA 98032

Hot Cider, Hot Cocoa and Candy Canes will be provided.

And of course Black Santa will be handing out special gifts and treats!!!

We had a great time at Freedom Project WA's recent Resource Fair and Progress Pushers' Annual Turkey Giveaway!

Check out some moments from each event!

Our November Stop the Bleed training showcased the importance of community care and collective readiness.

Yesterday, community members came together to learn skills to quickly recognize and control severe bleeding in an emergency. A special thank you to Build2Lead for providing the space for the training. We appreciate you!

Check out a few moments from the training!