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

About GDLU Youth Council

Our Mission

Our Programs

Our Programs

At GDLU Youth Council, we are dedicated to empowering youth through innovative programs and community outreach. Our goal is to provide a safe and supportive environment for young people to learn, grow, and thrive.

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Our Programs

Our Programs

Our Programs

We offer a wide range of programs designed to meet the needs of youth in our community. From after-school activities to leadership development programs, we strive to provide opportunities that will help young people reach their full potential.

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Our Team

Our Programs

Our Team

Our team is made up of dedicated professionals who are passionate about making a difference in the lives of young people. We are committed to providing the highest quality services and support to our youth and their families.

Meet Our Team

GUNS DOWN LOVE UP YOUTH COUNCIL

What We Do

The Guns Down Love Up Youth Council is a program of Guns Down Love Up (GDLU), a Twin Cities organization dedicated to ending gun violence through community engagement, education, and empowerment. The Youth Council channels that mission directly into schools and communities, training young people to become peer educators, advocates, and role models for change.


What We Do

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

  • Gun Safety Awareness: What to do if you encounter a weapon or witness gun violence
  • Peer Pressure & Bullying: How to resist pressure and resolve conflicts without youth violence
  • Conflict Resolution & De-escalation: Effective, peer-mediated ways to solve disputes without resorting to violence
  • Healthy Coping Mechanisms: Tools for processing trauma and stress in nonviolent, constructive ways

These sessions are designed to be age-appropriate and to resonate with youth facing real challenges in their everyday environments, home, school, and community.

Beyond the Classroom

The Youth Council's work connects to GDLU's broader efforts, including partnerships with community violence-prevention programs, restorative justice and peer mediation training, and community healing events that bring families and neighborhoods together to grieve, heal, and rebuild.

Our Guiding Principle

Prevention. Intervention. Healing. By equipping young people with knowledge, tools, and a support network, we aim to stop violence before it starts and build safer, more connected communities across Minneapolis and St. Paul.

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.




Community Engagement Programming

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.




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