Young Changemakers Are Rewriting What Is Possible in the Gun Violence Prevention Movement and Beyond

What happens when over 40 Black students from universities across the country come together to learn from each other and build the gun violence prevention movement?

You get a room bursting with power, energy, creativity, and community. You shine a light on how gun violence intersects with the challenges young Black Americans navigate every day. You bring together a growing ecosystem of young visionaries rewriting what is possible.

In short: You get the Students Demand Action Young Changemakers Summit.

The idea for the Summit started with Students Demand Action’s Makayla Jordan (then a high school Students Demand Action volunteer) and Natrina Roper. They both saw that Black students had meaningful stories and experiences. They knew those perspectives could powerfully shape the gun violence prevention movement. And Makayla and Natrina knew Students Demand Action could help fill the gap in training and support for students across the country.

A few years later, Makayla joined the Students Demand Action staff team. One of her first big goals? Work with Natrina to plan the first Young Changemakers Summit.

“We created space for students to grow, dream, and step into their power.”

—Makayla Jordan, Students Demand Action Organizing Manager and co-creator of the Young Changemakers Summit

What is the Young Changemakers Summit?

The Young Changemakers Summit is designed to show young leaders that they deserve to:

1. Demand change
2. Share their lived experiences, and 
3. Be heard in the movement to end gun violence. 

The Summit is an organizing weekend that kicks off a “Changemaker Year” program. The cohort includes:

• HBCU leaders 
• Survivors of gun violence
• Students from rural towns and big cities 
• First-generation trailblazers
• Organizers and advocates
• Artists and innovators

At the Summit, students connect with other movement leaders, challenge each other, and exchange bold ideas. The goal: Co-create real, actionable solutions to prevent gun violence in their communities. Then, spend a year putting their plans into action.

The first Summit was held in 2023. And at the biennial summit in 2025, the Young Changemakers were back and more ready for action than ever.

“This is a life-changing summit and a must-attend. Come with an open mind, and you will leave changed.”

—Young Changemakers Summit 2025 attendee

What happens at the Young Changemakers Summit?

The Summit is an action-packed weekend that focuses on knowledge and organizing skills. And, of course, there’s plenty of time for conversations and connections.

At the 2025 Young Changemakers Summit, students learned how to:

• Organize a Students Demand Action group in their communities or schools
• Create and share social media posts that tell the truth, mobilize people, and show what young Black leadership looks like in real time
• Identify the strengths and resources needed to make change that already exist in their communities 
• Plan campaigns around key gun violence prevention priorities
• Advocate for meaningful legislation at all levels of government

“Go and give it your all! This summit unlocks your potential that you may not know you even had and introduces you to so many people.”

—Young Changemakers Summit 2025 attendee

One of the most powerful moments from the 2025 Summit was the storytelling session. The key takeaway was that the lived experiences of students aren’t just personal reflections; they’re tools that can shape conversations, build community, and drive real change. During this session, students used a three-part framework to build their narrative:

1. The Story of Self: What called you into this movement?
2. The Story of Us: What values and experiences does your community share with you?
3. The Story of Now: What is the urgent challenge and the action you’re inviting people to take after listening to your story?

As students began writing their Stories of Self, something meaningful happened: A few people realized that they were survivors of gun violence. And, for the first time, many of them began to share how losing friends to gunfire, navigating unsafe neighborhoods, or growing up around shootings had directly affected them.

“What made this moment powerful wasn’t the pain,” said Makayla Jordan, a Students Demand Action organizing manager and co-creator of the Summit. “It was how students held each other through it. They created space for one another, offered support, and helped each other find language for experiences they had never named before.”

Mental health was also a key focus of the weekend. Students heard from Melvin and Monique Rodriguez, the founders of Mielle Organics. They shared how purpose, authenticity, and community shaped their journey from a small business to a global brand. They also talked about how they’ve used their platform to inspire changemakers and give back to communities impacted by gun violence through their Mielle Cares initiative. 

Later on, the Young Changemakers heard from Justin Murray, a Youth Black Engagement Liaison with Students Demand Action. He talked about how he is carrying on the legacy of his late mentor, Cornelius “Neal” McDonald, through the Motivating Our Future Tour they co-founded. Justin also explored how young leaders can carry Neal’s vision forward to make communities safer and stronger.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Pour back into the experience as much as the organizers pour into you.”

—Young Changemakers Summit 2025 attendee

Students brought their energy to the building partnerships workshop. The session underscored how relationships can move policy, shift culture, and strengthen community efforts. This year’s Young Changemakers immediately started thinking about what partnership building could look like on their own campuses and brainstormed how to:

• Build relationships with campus organizations, student governments, faith groups, and Greek life
• Bring secure storage education into spaces where students already are
• Start smaller collaborations and grow them into long-term partnerships
• Use cultural events, campus programs, and community moments to normalize safety conversations
• Bridge the gap between national work and what students need on the ground in their own communities.

Summit organizers emphasized the intersection between racial justice, gun industry accountability, and gun violence prevention throughout the weekend. In one eye-opening session, a former ATF agent broke down the basics of gun trafficking and how the issue impacts Black communities in particular. 

Many students came into the session thinking that gun trafficking was a far-off problem. But you could feel the room shift as students connected policy decisions to the realities that they’ve seen in their hometowns or around campus. Students left with clear, actionable ways to make a difference by:

1. Educating their peers
2. Recognizing the signs of trafficking 
3. Advocating for stronger state-level protections 
4. Holding gun dealers and industry decision-makers accountable 

From conflict resolution to community connections, students left the Summit ready to put their ideas into action during their Changemaker Year. 

“At the end of the day, this work is bigger than an event,” Makayla Jordan said. “We end gun violence by equipping young people from the communities most impacted with the skills, support, and love they need to transform their communities. And this Summit weekend, we got to witness exactly what that looks like.”

Transform your community with Students Demand Action

• Join a Students Demand Action group in your school or community
• Join a Students Demand Action affinity group to connect with others who share similar lived experiences