Program teaches Atlanta students about preventing gun violence in schools

September 10th, 2024

An image of a school classroom and the logos of Communities in Schools Atlanta and Sandy Hook Promise — Communities In Schools of Atlanta and Sandy Hook Promise partner to prevent gun violence in Atlanta schools. (Courtesy of Feliphe Schiarolli, Communities in Schools and Sandy Hook Promise)

Student support organization Communities In Schools of Atlanta and Sandy Hook Promise, a nonprofit dedicated to preventing gun violence, have been partnering for a pilot program to help Atlanta-area students lead an open dialogue about the warning signs before a mass shooting and how to address and prevent school violence.

The pilot program, which launched last year, is being offered at 10 schools in Atlanta as people across Georgia are dealing with the aftermath of the mass shooting at Apalachee High School. The shooting claimed the lives of two teachers and two students and sent nine others to hospitals for treatment. While no return date has been set for students attending Apalachee High, Tuesday marked the return to school for other students within the Barrow County School District.

On Tuesday’s edition of “Closer Look,” Frank Brown, the CEO of Communities In Schools of Atlanta, Crystal Garrant, the chief program officer of Sandy Hook Promise, and Jhakia, a local high school student who is a participant in the Atlanta pilot program, discussed the success of the program and ongoing efforts to promote school safety.