Strides For Peace Gun Violence Prevention Expo
Gun Violence Prevention Expo2024 Program Booklet.
THE EXPO
The goal of the Gun Violence Prevention Expo is to bring together resource providers, civic partners, public officials, community organizations and those for whom making Chicago a safer city is a top priority. The Expo is designed to build a collective impact approach across leaders, communities and the sectors they represent.
Attendees will have opportunities to connect with organizations and civic partners in Chicagoland and beyond in order to identify and align common interests and available resources.
The theme for this year’s Gun Violence Prevention Expo is "Legacy of Leadership: Inspiring the Next Generation to Rise." This event will bring together current high school students along with the organizations that support them with young adult leaders, aged 25-35, who have transformed their passion for change into impactful leadership roles within their communities. They will share their journeys and the tangible actions they’ve taken to reduce gun violence, aiming to inspire the next wave of leaders among high school students. By empowering these students to envision their own paths to leadership and action, we seek to create a ripple effect of positive change.
SPONSORS
For our sponsors and supporters, this Expo is not just an event; it's an investment in the future of our communities, fostering the leaders who will continue the vital work of building safer, stronger neighborhoods. We are grateful to Chicago CRED, EveryTown, UC Crime Lab, Leva Family Foundation, and the Cook County Justice Advisory Council for their generous sponsorship of the Expo. We could not bring this event to you with out partners like them who work tirelessly to combat gun violence.
PROGRAM ELEMENTS
***Exhibitor Booths start setting up at 9 am***
"Legacy of Leadership: Inspiring the Next Generation to Rise."
9:45 Students arrive, Browse Youth Booths, find their seats
10:00AM: Morning Meditation-Jeremy Walton
10:10AM: Making a Difference Host: Hot Rod Participants: Trevon Bosley, Christine Goggins, Ade Osadolor, Marquis McCoy, Victor Taylor, Klyn Jones
11:00AM: Interactive Workshops: Choose from 13 options or Browse Booths
CrimeDrought: Restorative Justice training led by Mashaun Ali
First Step - Students are given a creative outlet to express themselves through custom sneaker design all while fostering open conversations about mental health and well-being. Led by Shaun Redwell
Mikva Challenge: Understanding Your Community and Its Leaders: In this interactive workshop, students will explore the structure of their community by learning about the elected officials who represent them. With recent elections both nationally and globally, it is essential for students to be equipped with the tools they need to hold their leaders accountable and advocate for the issues they are passionate about. Through engaging activities, students will gain a deeper understanding of how different individuals, groups, and government entities work together to shape their community. This activity helps students connect the elements of their surroundings with the leaders who make key decisions, fostering a sense of civic awareness and responsibility.
Rebels for Peace: Through activities and interactive discussion, Prince and the Rebels for Peace team will lead attendees through a simple process for how anyone, regardless of background can uncover their inner leader, be a force for good in their community, and become a Rebel for Peace.
Collaboraction: Building Bridges With Your Bars - A song/rap/spoken word writing workshop using youth creativity, emotions and experiences to craft songs for social change.
Project Unloaded: Project Unloaded teaches students how to use their voices and social media platforms to help stop gun violence. Attendees will learn about what goes into developing social media content that pops while spreading a simple, fact-based message to their peers: you’re safer unarmed. As part of this workshop, participants will get practical tips for content creation that you can apply to any mission or work that matters to you, and they’ll get time to practice using their new skills to help stop gun violence.
Shine Hope: Hope is a protective factor for anxiety, depression, addiction, and violence. Learn how to measure hope and improve skills to build your hope muscle. Also learn from a student on how to write your Shine Hope Story, and if so inspired to create a movement at your school for teaching all the ‘how’ to hope. Also learn about resources available in the city for your mental health, and how to Join the Hopeful Cities Movement!
Stop the Bleed – Practical first-aid skills, led by Dr. Abdullah Pratt.
This Is Your Brain On Guns- Life Centered reeducation program focused on educating youth on the importance of understanding your trigger not to pull triggers.
UCMedicine: De-escalation Training - Dwayne Johnson, LCSW
EveryTown/Students Demand Action- Advocacy Training
Math Masters - Students flex their muscles in a timed exercise that tests their math knowledge. Led by Sylus Green, Founder, 530 Scholars
11:00AM: Lunch provided for students
Opportunity to Browse the Youth Focused Expo Booths
11:50A -12:15PM: Lights, Camera, Action
What Should You Do?
Collaboraction Beat Performance
City Wide Council Announcement
Community Action Showcase Announcement
12:20P-12:45PM: Closing Remarks
1:00PM Youth Dismissal, Head to Buses
***Any booths not already set up can start now.
Community Partners Focus: Resources for Building
Effective Organizations
1:30P-2:10P Welcome, Remarks & World Cafe
Joel Hamernick, Strides for Peace, Executive Director
Dar’tavous Dorsey, Strides For Peace Board, University of Chicago Crime Lab
Rubye Lane, Strides For Peace Board, Mustard Seed Vision
World Cafe Conversations led by Mashaun Ali Hendricks
2:10PM-4:00PM: Connect and Collaborate
(Exhibitor Booths-Networking Open Floor)
3:15PM-5:00PM: Afternoon Reception
4:15PM-4:45PM: Gun Violence Prevention Panel, cross-sector “CALL TO ACTION”
Moderator: Dar'tavous Dorsey
Kevin Brown, Senior Policy Advisor (Office of the Governor, Office of Firearm Violence Prevention)
Anna Valencia, City Clerk, (Office of the City Clerk)
Avik Das, Executive Director, (Cook County Government)
Anthony Wright, Chief Executive Officer, (Ring Of Hope Community Action leader)
The 2024 Expo Steering Committee Includes:
Ade Osadolor, Andrea Saenz, Antonio Davis, Arne Duncan, Avik Das, Bradly Johnson, Chondra Wright, Christopher Crater, Craig Leva, Daisy Vega Dar’tavous Dorsey, Dawn Valenti, Deborah Gorman-Smith, Don Wardlow, Donovan Price Sr., Erica Bauer, Evan Shy, Father Pfleger, Glen Brooks Jr., Jeff Shapack, Joanie Friedman, Kandace Lenti, Kim Smith, Kimberly Burt, Ladell Johnson, Laura Grossman, Lisa Saul, Lt. Jermaine Harris, Maggie Shapack, Maria Pike, Matt DeMateo, Meredith Stricker, Monica Guerrero, Monica Gutierrez, Pastor Anthony Wright, Pastor David Watkins, Patrick Owens, Rev. Veronica Johnson, Rosa Rubio, Roseanna Ander, Rubye Lane, Saba Ayman-Nolley, Sally Bown, Samantha Chatman, Sonia Wang, Sandip Amin, Sydne Peck, Tareef Michael, Te’Aira Malone, Theresa Ashford, Tika Washington, Vondale Singleton, Wendy Williams