We All Start Somewhere

By Addison Moore- Not My Generation Diversity & Inclusion Director

Throughout elementary and middle school, I found myself having conversation after conversation about gun violence. Whether it was a friend who had lost someone,my parents preparing me for a mass shooting, or a lecture about how to avoid encounters with law enforcement going wrong, it seemed like I was always talking about gun violence. 

I didn’t, however, understand the impact of these conversations until I was in high school. When I became an upperclassman, there were a few incidents where people I knew and cared about were directly impacted by gun violence. 

I didn’t know what to do. 

Despite my organizing efforts in school, I still couldn't find a community of folks doing meaningful gun violence prevention work. I was upset. It felt like nothing was being done in my community -- I felt lost and alone. Around that same time, a good friend of mine posted on social media about an upcoming gun violence prevention summit happening in my city, DC. I hesitated about applying, but finally (after some thought and encouragement) I applied and was accepted to the inaugural Not My Generation Summit for Young Adults Against Gun Violence.

Since attending the Not My Generation Summit in November of 2019, I was able to find a community of young, passionate gun violence prevention organizers, not only in DC, but throughout the country. After the summit I applied to join Not My Generation’s national leadership and was offered a position on the Board of Directors. Being able to serve on the Board as the Director of Diversity & Inclusion has been a true privilege. Joining this group of young people -- who are passionate about gun violence and its intersections with different communities and different issues -- has given me hope that we can empower and uplift other people who were in my position not too long ago; people who want to do gun violence prevention work but just need the community and the resources to make it happen.