Heal Trauma of Gun Violence: Uplift Youth!

This spring, Visioning Beyond Violence hosted a powerful Addressing Gun Violence (AGV) Exhibition, where young people stepped into leadership roles to guide conversations about violence, healing, and hope. 150 eighth-grade students served as trained docents, presenting their research-driven artwork and sharing solutions with visitors. Over two days, more than 500 youth, families, educators, and community members attended the exhibition, including local civic leaders whose presence reinforced to students that their voices matter.

Students shared that presenting their artwork helped them speak openly about gun violence for the first time. Through art, storytelling, and facilitated dialogue, students led visitors through conversations about the realities of violence and the possibilities for prevention. The exhibition also featured a short film honoring mothers who have lost children to gun violence, reminding participants that this work is rooted in lived experience and community healing.

Feedback from participants showed meaningful shifts in awareness and empathy.

88% reported seeing new perspectives, 84% became more aware of the impacts of gun violence, 79% reported a shift in their thinking, and 82% expressed motivation to protect future generations. An overwhelming 91% rated the experience as Excellent or Good, with many participants describing the exhibition as emotional, eye-opening, and hopeful.

The strong response to this exhibition demonstrates the importance of creating safe spaces where youth can reflect, imagine, and express their experiences. Each exhibition strengthens confidence, empathy, and leadership among young people while helping communities better understand the realities of violence and the importance of prevention.

Links:

• AGV Blog Post
• VBV Website

In November, the Art For Social Change/Visioning Beyond Violence/Portland Office of Violence Prevention  Community Art Exhibition and Community Dialogue successfully engaged community members in reflective, healing, and action-oriented conversations about gun violence. Through art viewing, art-making, and facilitated dialogue, participants deepened their understanding of the impacts of gun violence and strengthened their commitment to prevention within their families, schools, and communities.

Key Outcomes & Evaluation Results

Increased Understanding of Gun Violence

• 79% of participants reported that the exhibition and dialogue increased their understanding of how gun violence affects people “a great deal” or “quite a bit.”

Increased Intention to Prevent Gun Violence

• 88% of participants reported increased intention to prevent gun violence “a great deal” or “quite a bit.”

Art as a Catalyst for Change

• 100% of respondents (35/35) agreed that art creation can impact change when reflecting on gun violence in their community.

Participants emphasized that art:

• Creates heart-centered, vulnerable conversations
  
  
• Allows people to share experiences without needing to speak
  
  
• Supports healing, trauma processing, and imagination of new futures
  
  
• Makes complex and painful issues visible and accessible
  
  
• Helps people understand perspectives beyond their own
  As one participant shared: “A picture shows more than a thousand words.”

Overall Program Quality

• 91% rated the exhibition and dialogue as Excellent
  
  
• 9% rated it Good
  

Community Demand & Replication

• 91% believe OVP should sponsor more art exhibitions and dialogues
  
  
• Participants recommended expanding to:
  
  
• High schools and youth-centered spaces
  
  
• Community centers and public buildings
  
  
• Areas most impacted by gun violence (SE Portland, East County, 82nd & Sandy)
  
  
• Police precincts and juvenile detention settings
  
  
• Citywide public spaces, museums, and cafes

Participant testimonials consistently highlighted the program’s emotional resonance, accessibility, and healing power:

• “Art is therapeutic, healing, and helps us imagine an inspiring future.”
  
  
• “This experience certainly made me think.”
  
  
• “A great discussion and creative outlet.”
  
  
• “Art provides avenues for individuals to share their experiences without needing to speak.”
  
  
• “I really love the art that people made and the conversation that resulted.”
  

Several participants also encouraged deeper partnerships to support trauma recovery for victims and families impacted by gun violence.

ConclusionThis project demonstrates that art-based community dialogue is a powerful, effective tool for addressing gun violence, fostering healing, and inspiring prevention-oriented action. The overwhelmingly positive feedback and strong demand for expansion affirm the value of continued investment through GlobalGiving to sustain and scale this work.