Take action – volunteer
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Volunteer in an underserved community today.
Urban gun violence is often concentrated in a few, specific neighborhoods, typically predominantly Black and Brown communities that have faced a long history of racial segregation, systemic discrimination, and disinvestment. With the appropriate COVID-19 safety precautions, we encourage you to volunteer for organizations in these communities and work to overcome the socioeconomic factors that contribute to gun violence. We’ve gathered some organizations together that could use your help.
The Boys & Girls Club of America (Opens in a new tab)
Boys & Girls Clubs throughout the country provide a safe haven for more than 4 million youth, giving them an opportunity to discover their great futures.
Community Justice Reform Coalition (Opens in a new tab)
The Community Justice Reform Coalition addresses the intersection of gun violence prevention and criminal justice reform in urban communities of color.
Credible Messenger Justice Center (Opens in a new tab)
Have you been transformed after being through the justice system? Do you have a valuable story to share? Do you find helping younger people meaningful? If so, consider becoming a credible messenger through the Credible Messenger Justice Center.
Lost Boyz Inc. (Opens in a new tab)
If you’re in Chicago, you can volunteer with the organization Lost Boyz which works to decrease violence, improve the social and emotional conditions, and provide financial opportunities among the youth in Chicago’s South Shore community. And be sure to watch our feature (Opens in a new tab) on the meaningful work Lost Boyz is doing in our City.
VolunteerMatch (Opens in a new tab)
VolunteerMatch connects you with non-profits in your area who are in need of volunteers. They also have virtual volunteering options in their COVID-19 resource hub.
The YMCA (Opens in a new tab)
With a presence in over 10,000 communities in the U.S., the Y focuses on youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Y volunteers give men, women and children of all ages and from all walks of life the resources and support they need to be healthy, confident, connected and secure.
When we engage in meaningful conversations with our neighbors we are doing real, important work to build strong communities. We’ve identified two documentaries on violence prevention and interruption. Watch them with members of your community, then hold a virtual community conversation about what you’ve seen and ways you can make a difference. Photo Courtesy of Kartemquin Films
Learn more (Opens in a new tab)
Urban gun violence is often concentrated in a few, specific neighborhoods, typically predominantly Black and Brown communities that have faced a long history of racial segregation, systemic discrimination, and disinvestment. We encourage you to volunteer for organizations in these communities and work to overcome the socioeconomic factors that contribute to gun violence.
Learn more
If you want to stand for something, stand for someone. Research shows that one-in-three at-risk young people do not have mentors, but that those that do are 55 percent more likely to take on leadership roles and extracurriculars in school and enroll in college. Become a mentor today.
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