Thank you to our community partner ALMA for hosting our official relaunch event! We’ll be featuring a spoken word piece from Tacoma youth, Cadence Williams, a thought-provoking screening of ‘Under the Gun’, and an impactful panel discussion with local guest speakers, detailed below!

Get your free tix here https://MMT_relaunch.eventbrite.com and come enjoy an evening of art, film, meaningful discussion & a call to action. You don’t want to miss this special night.

UNDER THE GUN examines the events and people who have kept the gun debate fierce and the progress slow, even as gun deaths and mass shootings continue to increase. Through the lens of families impacted by the mass shootings in Newtown, Aurora, Isla Vista, and Tucson, as well as those who experience daily gun violence in Chicago, the documentary looks at why politicians are finding it difficult to act and what is being done at the state and local levels.

GUEST SPEAKERS:

Cadence Williams

10 years old, a fraternal twin, and the oldest of 4. He enjoys sports and video games like most youth his age yet the hilltop area struggles and shortcomings at home have created a bit of frustration. He is working through this by focusing on his love for branding and aspirations, with the goal to one day own a clothing line called “Wealthy by C.W.” (In which “wealth’ was the first definition he learned in the financial literacy program.)

Shalisa Hayes

The founder of the Billy Ray Foundation, an organization in Tacoma, WA whose mission is to reduce violence and teach young people to be civically engaged while connecting them to educational and employment opportunities. A strong advocate for the safety and well-being of children, Shalisa successfully lobbied local, state and federal officials, as well as met with numerous donors and investors to construct a new $32 million, 55,000 square foot community center in Tacoma’s eastside neighborhood, one of the poorest in the city. After suffering the loss of her teenage son to gun violence, Shalisa also founded the ‘Mothers of Magnitude (M.O.M.)’ Life and Grief Coaching agency and support network which works to connect mothers of deceased children. With M.O.M.’s she acts as a conduit for a mother’s grief while looking to inspire these mothers to move forward in life after loss. Her mantra: “When he died, he gave me purpose”

Dash Jefferson

Father, executive director of my organization The Creatives Collective, an entrepreneur, and financial program facilitator. I created my organization to honor a friend that committed suicide the morning after our birthday party, in hopes to raise awareness of the disparity that young black entrepreneurs face due to a lack of resources.

Jefferey Katz

Ryan Mello