Heartland Coalition Against Gun Violence
COMMUNITY FORUM
Gun Violence – Finding Common Ground. Taking Action
Monday Oct 13, 2014
9am - 3pm
All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church
4501 Walnut Kansas City Missouri
The cost for the day is just $15 and includes a box lunch.Register here. Space is limited – by pre-registering and paying, you will be assured a box lunch.
Background:
Lobbies that represent open access to weapons have a disproportionally loud voice, ready access to our lawmakers and almost limitless funds to support their cause. The only way to stand up to this abuse of power is to come together as citizens, voters and leaders to coalesce around our common concerns. While many organizations do have concerns about aspects of gun violence, there is no unifying group to bring them together for the common cause. We plan to fill that void.
Purpose:
The purpose of the event is to share common experiences and concerns related to gun violence – including gun safety, suicide, murder, mental health and more– and to identify effective strategies and action steps to reduce its damage in our society. Our influence will only be felt if we educate ourselves on the issues and show our elected officials that we are a block of concerned citizens who will vote based on this issue, and will hold them accountable for the needless loss of life caused by gun violence.
Schedule
9: 00-9:30 AM- Registration
9:30-10:00 AM
Welcome remarks from Reverend Dr. Kendyl Gibbons, All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church, Judy Sherry, President, Grandmothers Against Gun Violence Missouri/Kansas Chapter;
Mayor Sly James, Kansas City, Missouri, or Mayor Marc Holland, Kansas City, Kansas.
Poem reading by Mary Moore.
Recognition of co-sponsors of Heartland Coalition Against Gun Violence.
10:00-10:30 AM
Keynote address by Representative Stacey Newman of St Louis, Missouri House of Representatives, and proponent of stricter gun regulation in the state.
10:30-10:45 AM
Personal Stories of persons affected by gun violence and how they have responded to it.
n TBD Parent who has lost a child and is a member of Mothers and Families for Healing & Justice
(AdHoc Group), Kansas City, Missouri.
n Paul Temme, witness to the Jewish Community Center shootings in May 2014 and member of Brady
Campaign Against Gun Violence, Northeast Kansas Chapter.
10:45 – 11:15AM
Panel discussion of what is being done now in Missouri and Kansas to combat gun Violence.
n Nae-Na Oliver, Director, AdHoc Group Against Crime, Kansas City, Missouri;
n Loren Stanton, President, Northeast Kansas Chapter of Brady Campaign Against Gun Violence; n Judy Sherry, President, Grandmothers Against Gun Violence Missouri/Kansas Chapter.
11:15 – 11:30 AM BREAK
11:30 AM-12:30 PM – LEARN AND LISTEN
Breakout sessions, each lasting about 30 minutes.
n Dr. Kimberly Randall, Emergency Room Physician, Children’s Mercy Medical Center
Kansas City, Missouri,on children and gun violence;
n Tracie McClenden-Cole, Director, Aim4Peace, Kansas City Health Department,
speaking about Gun Violence as a Public Health Issue; and
n Rep. Stacey Newman, Missouri House of Representatives, about how to advocate for gun legislation.
12:30-1:30 PM BOX LUNCH
Guided questions for discussion over lunch including what are the keys to solving the gun violence epidemic. Music provided by Toni Oliver and Senior Choir
1:30-2:15 PM – TALK & ACTION
Small group discussions to develop action ideas. Each group will have a moderator and scribe at its meeting to take notes.
2:15-3:00 PM WRAP-UP SESSION
Presentation of reports from small group discussions and development of action steps
and future activities. Facilitator for this discussion will be Alana Muller, independent Management Consultant and former President of the Kauffman Foundation’s FastTrac program for entrepreneurs.