The watchdog on quality & equality in education. With an eye on Oakland, California.
Watch These Oakland Students Tell Us How to Understand and End Gun Violence
About the Author: Sophia Sobko is a former teacher and current graduate student at UC Berkeley.
Last Friday evening E14 Gallery in Downtown Oakland buzzed as 7th and 8th graders from Lighthouse Community Charter School shared their research, artwork, and writing on gun-related violence in Oakland. The exhibit was the culmination of a year of research and creative production exploring the causes, consequences, and potential solutions of gun violence in their community and beyond.
Student ambassadors spread across the spacious gallery, leading visitors through the exhibit’s many stations: research and data, history of the 2nd amendment, narratives, art campaigns, potential solutions, and participant response. Student speakers moved between English and Spanish, sharing statistics and personal stories about gun violence with one goal: to educate others and move them to action.
David H. explains the research process behind the exhibit’s interactive infographics, including a lengthy process of data collection, interviewing, and mapping. Audience members were able to activate an area of the map of Oakland to learn what proportion of people reported owning a firearm.
Two 7th graders address audiences at their respective stations, speaking to the causes and potential solutions of gun violence.
Rammces H. shares his own story of growing up in fear because a child had been shot on his street. He says this project has helped him fight for his right to feel safe, and has given him a way to show the urgency of this problem, which is breaking apart families and communities.
A photographic wall honors and commemorates the many victims of gun violence.
Students responded creatively to the knowledge they gained, creating a visual campaign to end gun violence through a collection of posters.
Monica R. explains that people feel unsafe in the community: “People don’t take this seriously. We need to support each other. We’re all in the same community.” To create her artwork she researched, journaled, and brainstormed for weeks before coming up with the final design.
Lauren A. formed part of the “creative team” that collaborated with the Vision Quilt organization to create a visual campaign to end gun violence.
Lauren’s poster was inspired by the film “The Mask We Live In” and the idea that the pressure on men to be “manly” makes them lash out. She painted a white mask in the center to help viewers feel the depression that is behind the violence and bloodshed, where are symbolized here with red brushstrokes.
A 7th grader looks on as a visitor points to an image of a gun. Students rooted their work in the history of gun violence, learning about the 2nd Amendment and its legacy today.
7th grade activists from Lighthouse Community Charter School escorted visitors through the extensive exhibit.
At the last station, visitos were encouraged to share their thoughts and feedback at a voting station and Post-It wall.
As they left the inspiring exhibit, visitors signed a pledge to join the students in ending gun violence.
