GLDU Youth Council
GLDU Youth Council

Youth Council

Youth CouncilYouth CouncilYouth Council

Empowering Youth. Preventing Gun Violence. Leading Change.

Youth Council

Youth CouncilYouth CouncilYouth Council

Empowering Youth. Preventing Gun Violence. Leading Change.

Rise Up: Youth Summit on Gun violence Prevention

The Rise Up! Youth Summit is a powerful one-day experience created by youth, for youth, bringing together high school students across the Twin Cities to tackle the crisis of gun violence head-on.


Gun violence has become the defining crisis of our generation, robbing

young people of their futures, families of their loved ones, and entire

communities of peace.


In the Twin Cities, this epidemic is especially direct youth gun deaths

have skyrocketed, disproportionately affecting African American and

Native American communities. Just last year, more than 60% of all

youth firearm-related injuries and deaths in Minneapolis and St. Paul

involved young people of color. It is clear that this crisis demands more

than reactive solutions, it requires proactive leadership, bold strategies,

and, most importantly, the mobilization of young people as the

architects of change.


That is why, on May 23, 2025, Guns Down, Love Up is hosting the

first annual RISE UP: Youth Empowerment on Gun Violence

Prevention, Leadership & Advocacy Summit in Minnesota. This

groundbreaking summit is not just an event—it is a movement to equip,

educate, and inspire 200 high school students to become leaders in

violence prevention, advocacy, and restorative justice within their own

communities.

Register Today!

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GUNS DOWN, LOVE UP: GUN VIOLENCE TESTIMONY VIDEO (2020)

In this powerful and poignant video produced by Guns Down, Love Up, community members from across Minnesota share their personal testimonies about the impact of gun violence on their lives and neighborhoods. Released in 2020, this heartfelt project aims to raise awareness and foster dialogue around the urgent issue of gun violence.

Youth Council : Building a Brighter Future

Guns Down Love Up Youth Council is a youth-led initiative aimed at reducing gun violence in our communities through education, media, and engagement. 

Creating Awareness and Positive Engagement

Creating Awareness and Positive Engagement

Creating Awareness and Positive Engagement

The Guns Down, Love Up Youth Council will focus on prevention by developing and spreading powerful messages that raise awareness about the impact of gun violence on youth and their communities. 

Collaborating to Reduce Community Harm

Creating Awareness and Positive Engagement

Creating Awareness and Positive Engagement

Partnering with established community violence-prevention programs, the council will facilitate training programs for youth on conflict resolution, de-escalation techniques, and peer mediation. 



Our Programs

Creating Awareness and Positive Engagement

Our Programs

The Youth Council will work closely with local restorative justice programs, ensuring that those who have been impacted by gun violence have access to necessary support. 


The council will organize community healing events, which will provide collective spaces for families and communities impacted by gun violence to come together, grieve, and rebuild. 

You are the change we have been waiting for; your actions will change the world

Program Objectives

We are looking for dedicated African American and Native American students from the Twin Cities to become peer educators, advocates, and role models for change and promot


  1. Educate: Youth are empowered with knowledge on gun violence and its impact on the community.
  2. Engage: Youth from different communities work together toward a common goal. 
  3. Empower: Peer educators are trained in media production, leadership, conflict resolution and advocacy.
  4. Influence: Youth will design and produce a television show that will inform the public on gun violence prevention and encourage non-violent conflict resolution.

Program Activities

School Assemblies: Teaching the Next Generation

School Assemblies: Teaching the Next Generation

School Assemblies: Teaching the Next Generation

We believe that education starts early. Our peer educators will lead assemblies at schools across the Twin Cities, focusing on:

  • Gun Safety Awareness: What to do if you encounter a weapon gun violence
  • Peer Pressure & Bullying: How to resist pressure and resolve conflicts without youth violence
  • Conflict Resolution: Effective ways to solve disputes without resorting to violence

These assemblies are designed for students aged 8-13 and aim to provide age-appropriate content that resonates with youth facing challenges in their everyday environments.

Television Show: Amplifying Youth Voices

School Assemblies: Teaching the Next Generation

School Assemblies: Teaching the Next Generation

Our youth council members will produce a monthly television show similar to BET's Teen Summit, but with a focus on gun violence prevention. Each episode will feature:

  • A panel discussion with rotating hosts from Minneapolis and St. Paul
  • Youth sharing personal stories and real-life experiences with gun violence
  • Experts and community leaders sharing solutions for reducing gun violence
  • Interactive segments for viewers to engage with the topic

The show will provide a platform for African American youth to speak directly to their peers, promoting safe communities and responsible conflict resolution.

Community Engagement Programming

Youth Gun Violence Prevention Summit

Youth Gun Violence Prevention Summit

As part of their leadership development, peer educators will engage in various community programs:

  • School Assemblies: Peer educators will lead interactive presentations for middle school students, educating them about gun violence, conflict resolution, and making positive choices.
  • Community Outreach: Youth council members will participate in neighborhood events, hosting informational booths, distributing educational materials, and connecting with local organizations to raise awareness about gun violence prevention.
  • Conflict Resolution Workshops: Youth will participate in and lead workshops teaching peers about peaceful conflict resolution strategies and ways to de-escalate violence.

Youth Gun Violence Prevention Summit

Youth Gun Violence Prevention Summit

Youth Gun Violence Prevention Summit

At the end of the program, the Guns Down Love Up Youth Council will host a Gun Violence Prevention Summit. This event will bring together youth leaders, educators, community members, and policymakers to:

  • Showcase the work of peer educators
  • Present the outcomes of the television show and community outreach programs
  • Propose actionable solutions for reducing gun violence in the Twin Cities

The summit will be a capstone event where the youth council’s work throughout the year will be recognized and celebrated, encouraging broader community involvement and lasting impact.

Coalitions & community partnerships

White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention

Guns Down Love Up is proud to be a part of the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention Coalition, formally the Community Violence Intervention Collaborative. As a member of this esteemed coalition, we participated in a year-long training and community-building cohort, where we gained valuable tools and resources to enhance our mission of reducing gun violence in Minnesota.


Through this partnership, Guns Down Love Up has been equipped with strategies and best practices to expand our work in prevention, intervention, and restorative justice. This training has empowered us to deepen our engagement with the community, build stronger partnerships with local and national organizations, and create lasting, impactful solutions to combat gun violence.

Department of Defense’s STOP THE BLEED

Guns Down Love Up is excited to announce our new partnership with the Department of Defense’s STOP THE BLEED campaign. Our organization is officially licensed to provide STOP THE BLEED® training, empowering our community with life-saving skills.


Through this partnership, we will integrate STOP THE BLEED® training into our youth gun violence prevention efforts, offering hands-on instruction to participants in our community outreach programs, school assemblies, and intervention initiatives. Together, we are taking a proactive approach to reducing harm and ensuring that everyone, especially young people, are prepared to act in the face of an emergency.

Contact Us

GDLU Youth Council

Raeisha Williams, Executive Director Rosemary Nevils, Executive Director Guns Down Love Up Website: gunsdownloveup.com Email: gunsdownloveup@gmail.com Phone: 404-493-2577

Copyright © 2024 GDLU Youth Council  - All Rights Reserved.

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