As Columbus celebrates a drop in homicide rates, families affected by the city’s gun violence are taking proactive steps to create change in their communities. Programs like Guns D.O.W.N., initiated by the nonprofit Think Make Live Youth, aim to address trauma and foster nonviolent dialogue among local teens, highlighting the devastating impact as over 939 people have lost their lives to gun violence since 2019.
Among those advocating for change is Yolanda Drew, an attendance secretary at Independence High School, who has mourned the loss of 15 students to gun violence in her nine years of service. The community’s response has been fueled by tragedies, including the recent deaths of two students, underscoring the urgent need for continued efforts and new programming to support those left behind.
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