City of Tucson News Release: Gun Violence Prevention Youth Summit

What: Gun Violence Prevention Youth Summit

When: Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Mayor Romero available beginning at noon 

Location: El Pueblo Activity Center, 101 W. Irvington Road, Building 9 

The City of Tucson’s Community Safety, Health, and Wellness program is convening a Gun Violence Prevention Youth Summit. Topics for discussion include prevention, history of gun violence, honoring/remembering, healing, storytelling, and collective action. The summit centers teens and young adults alongside educators, clinicians, violence-interruption practitioners, and public safety partners to interrupt cycles of gun violence, expand opportunities, and support healing.  

Special guests include Tucson Mayor Regina Romero and Jose Alfaro, Executive Director of Community Justice. Local Hip-Hop artist Cash Lansky will MC the event, which will include Boys to Men Tucson, Goodwill of Southern Arizona: The Village Program, Tucson Youth and Peace, The Nonviolence Legacy Program, and Community Justice Action. Attendees at the free event will have access to a raffle, food, and a resource fair.  

Mayor Romero led the creation of the Community Safety, Health, and Wellness program in 2020, which includes the Violence Interruption and Vitalization Action (VIVA) initiative. Community Safety, Health and Wellness is a driving force in the Safe City Initiative by engaging young people and families in prevention, expanding opportunity pathways, and strengthens trusted, non-policing interventions to prevent violence before it occurs. Through the Safe City Initiative, the City of Tucson is committed to violence intervention and prevention while improving quality of life for all Tucsonans.  

“As Mayor, one of my first actions in office was joining Mayors Against Illegal Guns, pledging my commitment to reducing gun violence in Tucson,” said Mayor Romero. “Gun violence has impacted far too many lives in our community. Through Safe City and the ongoing work of VIVA, we’re preventing violence by supporting our youth - a mission we continue to advance through the Gun Violence Prevention Youth Summit.”