Montgomery County Youth Gun Violence Prevention Summit

May 4th, 2024

The PROGRESS team—headlined by student researchers Hannah Balcanoff and Shayla Stringfield—participated in the Montgomery County Youth Gun Violence Prevention Summit on Saturday, May 4th, at The Universities at Shady Grove.

The event was organized by Lena Kim and Kerry Grace Morrissey, both with the Leadership Montgomery CORE Program. Participants and attendees included Montgomery County students between grades 8th-12th, who had the opportunity to learn about how they can help end youth gun violence. (Click here to view the event program.)

Balcanoff and Stringfield delivered a presentation for the students on the prevalence and patterns of gun violence in Montgomery County, the state of Maryland, and across the United States. As part of their presentation, students were asked to complete a survey through Mentimeter. An excerpt of results is available below:

Left: Co-organizers Kerry Grace Morrissey (L) and Lena Kim (center) pictured with Stringfield and Balcanoff (R).
Right: Wendy Stickle, Director of Undergraduate Program at Shady Grove.

Left: Student researchers Hannah Balcanoff and Shayla Stringfield delivering PROGRESS presentation, "The Costs of Gun Violence".
Right:The PROGRESS team (left to right) Jo Richardson, Hannah Balcanoff, Shayla Stringfield, Timel Rodriguez, and Woodie Kessel.

PROGRESS Co-Directors Woodie Kessel (L) and Jo Richardson (R) address questions to event speakers.

Shayla Stringfield (L) and Hannah Balcanoff (R) addressing the audience.