Heal Trauma of Gun Violence: Uplift Youth!

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.