Amariyah Mallory 
About 14,000 lives have been lost in America due to gun violence, with 246 victims killed in Chicago in 2023, at the posting of this article, according to Chicago Sun Times. Unfortunately, gun violence continues to escalate. During this National Gun Violence Awareness Month True Star wanted to take the time to share some amazing violence prevention organizations and resources.
Build Chicago: www.buildchicago.org
BUILD, Broader Urban Involvement & Leadership Development, is a nationally respected gang intervention, violence prevention, and youth development organization located on the West Side of Chicago founded 1969. This organization has worked to save lives and mentor young people who live in the city’s most challenged neighborhoods. Their mission is to “inspire hope and offer opportunities so youth facing systemic obstacles can achieve positive futures.”
Chicago’s Citizens for Change / Chicago Survivors: chicagosurvivors.org
Chicago’s Citizens for Change, Inc. (“CCC”) was founded in May 2010 by Joy McCormack after experiencing the disturbing and violent loss of her son Frankie Valencia. “CCC’s mission is to reduce youth violence through programs and partnerships that strengthen communities and promote restorative peace-making by supporting families and youth who have experienced loss due to violence.”
“CCC” offers a multitude of prevention groups, immediate Crisis Intervention, Supportive Counseling & Case Management, Child/Youth Supportive Counseling & Intervention Services, Community of Survivors Events and Support; and Criminal Justice and Victim Advocacy. “CCC” is located at 1010 W. 35th St., Suite 510 Chicago, IL 60609.
Chicago Cred: www.chicagocred.org
Create Real Economic Destiny: CRED, is an anti-gun violence organization co-founded in 2016 by Arne Duncan, a former U.S. Secretary of Education, and philanthropist Laurene Powell Jobs, the founder and president of Emerson Collective, a social impact organization.
CREDS Initiatives include, the FLIP Program, The North Lawndale collaborative, and driving change in policy halls and voting booths. All goals towards reducing gun violence, and incorporating the South and West Side communities of Chicago in the fight for change.
If you have a friend or family member in need of help involving gun violence, please do not hesitate to guide them towards these resources. Gun violence has negatively affected way too many lives. Let’s use this month to come together as a community and make some change.
By Amariyah Mallory, Freshman, Whitney Young
IG: Dancemari_
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