Kiara

"My plan? To start a nonprofit for youth who have had family members killed by gun violence."

Listen to Kiara

I’m a part of the PLC because I have big plans for my future. My plan? To start a nonprofit for youth who have had family members killed by gun violence. Young people need to have someone to talk to about the pain, anger and feeling of helplessness they experience after losing a loved one in such a horrible way. I know what it feels like. In 2014, my brother was killed in an act of gun violence. The anger and sadness I felt when it hit me personally went beyond just my own loss. Seeing my little cousins try to make sense of losing someone they looked up to in such a senseless and violent way led me to seek the help of others for myself so I could also help them get through it. In a way – that’s exactly what I’m doing as a part of the Peer Leadership Committee. The support of the group makes me stronger, allows me to help others in the community by talking about how to avoid falling into a life of violence and prepares me for launching the nonprofit I know will help others bring peace to themselves and our communities.