A key function of the Alliance for Gun Responsibility Foundation is facilitating strong relationships with individuals, partner organizations, and community groups across the state through our outreach and programming work.
Community Outreach
Gun violence impacts everyone but it does not impact all of our communities equally. In Washington state and across the country, gun violence takes a disproportionate toll on black and brown communities. The Alliance for Gun Responsibility Foundation is committed to lifting up organizations and individuals working to reduce gun violence in the most impacted communities.
Throughout the legislative session, the Alliance supports and hosts coalition advocacy days in Olympia and coordinates gun violence awareness events to call for legislative action and increased funding and support for communities that are disproportionately impacted by gun violence. In 2018, the Alliance, along with A. Philip Randolph Institute, organized the Charles Roland African American Legislation Day, the Alliance’s first lobby day in Olympia specifically aimed at those in the black community.
Read more about the impacts of gun violence on black and brown communities here.
Youth Engagement
Education to Action
Through our Education to Action program, the Foundation works to educate and build youth power by facilitating workshops with young activists in some of the most most impacted communities in our state. These workshops encourage political engagement and prepare young people to be a part of the legislative process. In 2018, students involved in our Education to Action program traveled to Washington DC to join students and teachers from across the country to discuss gun violence and draft a Student Bill of Rights on school safety. More on “Ed2Ac.”
Intern and Fellow Program
Our intern and fellow program is designed to introduce students and community members to the inner workings of nonprofits and grassroots campaigns. We recruit for this program primarily from universities across Washington, opening the opportunity for any student who would be able to work remotely or in person at our office. Our intern and fellowship positions are not just open to students. We also work with partner organizations and community groups to offer positions to community members in all stages of life.
Volunteers and Chapter Teams
The Alliance has a robust volunteer program with gun violence prevention advocates across the state. Our Chapter Team model empowers volunteers to drive change in their communities by engaging in a wide range of grassroots activities, from organizing a phone bank to visiting with a legislator. Learn more about our chapter teams here.