12/15/2025
It has been an absolutely devastating weekend and - if I’m being honest - season of news.
The anniversary of the Sandy Hook Elementary school shooting on December 14th is one that never escapes my notice, even though we’ve had so many mass shootings before and since. Maybe because it comes right in the middle of the holiday season, a sober reminder of the violence and cruelty that threatens our world, even during times of joy and celebration. This weekend served as another reminder of that threat, with families and communities around the world now grieving the lives of their loved ones cut unnecessarily short by gun violence. My heart breaks for them and especially for the children who will inherit this world and the fight to make it a safer and kinder place.
I am old enough to remember a time before mass shootings were a regular occurrence and hope to live long enough to see that time again. We will always need to fight for a better world - that’s just the nature of being human - but we do not need to live like this. Please - in honor of those we could not save - try to do your part to curb gun violence. Talk to your children about gun safety, vote for elected officials who support common sense gun laws and if you’re able, donate to organizations working to build safer communities. Some resources below. ⬇️
Youth ALIVE!
Oakland-based organization providing violence prevention, healing, and support services for youth and families impacted by trauma.
https://www.youthalive.org/
Robby Poblete Foundation
Bay Area nonprofit reducing gun violence through community gun buybacks and transforming surrendered guns into art for peace.
https://robbypobletefoundation.org/
United Playaz
San Francisco organization supporting youth through education, employment readiness, and community-led violence prevention initiatives.
https://unitedplayaz.org/
Gun by Gun
Grassroots effort funding community gun buybacks to safely remove fi****ms from circulation and reduce harm.
https://www.gunxgun.org/
UC Berkeley Gun Violence Prevention Project
Student-led legal research and policy work focused on gun violence prevention and responsible firearm regulation.
https://www.law.berkeley.edu/experiential/pro-bono-program/slps/current-slps-projects/gun-violence-prevention-project/
The Ana Grace Project
Founded in memory of Sandy Hook victim Ana Grace Márquez-Greene, supporting healing, connection, and resilience in children and families.
https://www.anagraceproject.org/
Everytown for Gun Safety
National movement advocating for common-sense gun laws through research, education, and policy action.
https://www.everytown.org/
Sandy Hook Promise
Organization founded by Sandy Hook families focused on preventing gun violence through education, awareness, and early intervention.
https://www.sandyhookpromise.org/
KQED: Support for Gun Violence Survivors
A Bay Area news guide outlining local mental health resources and compensation options available to people impacted by gun violence: https://www.kqed.org/news/11996268/gun-violence-mental-health-support-compensation-bay-area