Gun violence impacts families, first responders, and communities in profound and lasting ways. In 2023, more than 18,000 persons died by homicide in the United States. And on June 26th, 2024, the U.S. Surgeon General declared gun violence a public health crisis.
In this episode of WestEd’s Leading Voices podcast, host Danny Torres talks with violence prevention experts from the JPRC and developers of the Violence Prevention Navigation Framework (VPNF): Lori Toscano, Shaun Ali, and Kerwin Henderson. Together, they help state and local leaders better understand the factors that contribute to or prevent violence within their communities—helping promote safe and equitable futures for all children, youth, and adults.
Their conversation covers the following topics:
- Identifying the underlying factors that give rise to or mitigate gun violence
- Leveraging big and local data to prioritize, assess, and develop appropriate strategies to reduce and prevent gun violence
- Working with community and state leaders to improve violence prevention efforts across systems
- Promoting equity and fostering growth