Our Virtual Art Gallery is a living archive of visionaries reimagining safety. Moving beyond statistics, we focus on the person behind the perspective. Each digital panel is a "visual testimony," shifting us from subjects of history to architects of a peaceful future. Through digital art and animation, creators process emotions, build empathy, and visualize alternatives to violence. This is our collaborative blueprint: proof that what we can imagine, we can create.

In times of uncertainty, when systems feel fragile and trust in institutions falters, where do we turn for hope? We turn to each other. Across the globe, communities are witnessing deep fractures—from the struggles in Venezuela to challenges right here at home. In moments like these, connection becomes a lifeline. Community-based organizations like Visioning Beyond Violence (VBV) remind us that real power lies not in distant policies but in our shared humanity, in the healing

This week, as the holiday season begins, one community remains grief-stricken. We are confronted with the strength of community and the heartbreak of escalating gun violence across California. Amidst loss, youth leadership demands acknowledgment, not forgetting.

Measuring gun violence makes the true scope of harm visible beyond headlines and incomplete police reports. Reliable data (including non-fatal injuries and lived experiences) helps identify patterns, reveal racial and age disparities, and guide support and prevention. Visioning Beyond Violence pairs research with storytelling and art so numbers become human, actionable, and healing because we can’t solve what we can’t see.

Every day, an average of 125 people are killed by guns in the U.S., while more than 200 are wounded. Gun violence's harm is not just physical; it perpetuates mentally, leaving deep psychological scars on millions, especially youth. Gun injuries are the leading cause of death among children. Organizations like Visioning Beyond Violence address this trauma by providing support, tools, and safe spaces centered on physical, emotional, spiritual, and mental well-being to empower y

Gun deaths in the U.S. are declining, but remain far above pre-pandemic levels. In 2023, the firearm homicide rate was 5.6 per 100,000—still higher than 2019’s 4.4. Each day, seven children lose their lives to guns, with Black youth most affected. At Visioning Beyond Violence, we turn trauma into vision through art, dialogue, and healing. Together, we can disrupt the “new normal” and create safer futures.

“What we can imagine, we can create.” In 2015, artist-activist and educator Cathy DeForest, Ph.D.,  a former high school teacher and a longtime believer in the power of art to heal, sat heartbroken at the rising tide of gun violence in our country. Her mind turned to the AIDS Memorial Quilt and its quiet power to transform sorrow into solidarity. And she asked herself a bold question: Could we create a similar platform for people to envision an end to gun violence, together?

In a time of polarization, the latest 2025 Johns Hopkins National Survey of Gun Policy   reveals a powerful truth: Americans agree on...

In Oakland, the reality of gun violence runs deep—but so does the determination to create change. From grassroots organizers to citywide coalitions, these ten powerful organizations are not just responding to violence—they are reimagining what safety looks like, centering healing, and igniting community-led transformation. Together, they are stitching a new narrative for our city—one rooted in justice, hope, and collective resilience.

Gun safety laws in the U.S. vary widely by state, with California, Washington, and Colorado leading new reforms in 2025. While federal efforts remain stalled, states are advancing permit requirements, assault weapon bans, and red flag laws. This article explores the current landscape, recent developments, and what the future may hold for gun policy in America.

As 2024 ends, we thank you for standing with Vision Quilt. From community art exhibits to global peace poems, your support helped amplify youth voices and spark healing through art. Here's to creating change, together.

Vision Quilt is growing in 2025—with a new website, new team members, and deep community impact. From Oakland 8th graders creating powerful panels to Portland artists leading healing workshops, our work continues to uplift youth voices and spark change. Art remains a lifeline in hard times. Thank you for standing with us—together, we’re building a safer, more just future. Explore more: www.visionquilt.org

Students in Oakland and Portland led powerful art exhibitions addressing gun violence, healing, and justice. From Vision Quilt panels to bold community dialogue, youth voices are leading the way—amplifying hope, equity, and the urgent call for change.

Discover 10 innovative, community-led solutions addressing gun violence in the U.S. These approaches—from youth art activism to healing-centered education—highlight the power of creativity, connection, and collective action. Dive into stories that inspire change and reimagine what safety can look like.

Gun violence leaves lasting emotional, financial, and social scars on families and communities. At Vision Quilt, we use art to help youth express their experiences and imagine safer futures. Through trauma-informed workshops and public exhibitions, students turn pain into purpose and lead the way toward healing and change. Explore the Vision Quilt gallery and join us in building a safer, more compassionate world.

Healing and Transforming Violence with Art Research Paper Written by High School Senior Wendy Bruneau

Why Do Anti-Gun Violence Nonprofit Organizations Exist? Every day, communities across the U.S. feel the devastating impact of gun...

Walk Like a Visionary" by Lawrence Siulagi is a powerful meditation on healing, accountability, and collective love. Through poetic reflection, the piece invites readers to move forward—individually and together—toward a vision rooted in spiritual resilience and communal care. This poem speaks directly to Vision Quilt’s mission: creating safe, connected communities through art and dialogue.

“Traveler, there is no path… Walking we make the path.” In both English and Spanish, Diego Zarate’s poem reminds us that visionary change begins with each step we choose to take together.

“Awareness proves there are no U-turns… You have arrived — Wisdom Avenue.” BA Short’s poem gently guides us through the discomfort of change into the light of inner knowing and collective love.