Advocacy Grand Rounds: Channeling Your Outrage into Action

Many of us are outraged when we watch the news and see the Supreme Court rolling back state-level gun laws. We may feel helpless–but we don’t have to. DFA speakers and leaders are here to discuss how we can turn our outrage into meaningful change: How do I recognize an advocacy opportunity when I see it? What can I do as a physician to speak out and make change happen? Join us as we channel outrage into action. 

In this session we’ll learn more about how to:

1. Identify opportunities for meaningful advocacy around gun violence
2. Choose concrete methods to advocate for gun violence reduction policies
3. Propose patient-centric solutions for violence reduction

Session Speakers:

Greg Jackson, Executive Director of the Community Justice Action Fund, is a community organizer, political strategist and issue advocate.

Prior to becoming the organization’s Executive Director, Greg served as the National Advocacy Director for 2 years. In this role he worked with communities, elected officials, community leaders and impacted residents to advocate for proactive and preventive solutions to end gun violence. Greg led the effort to build political power through electoral participation, spearheading the 2020 Elect Justice Campaign that mobilized over a 1,000 volunteers and connected with over 1.6 million voters across the country. 

As a gun violence survivor, gun violence prevention is personal for Greg. While being questioned by law enforcement in his hospital bed, Greg remembers being treated like a criminal and not like a victim. This experience and his recovery propelled Greg into action, becoming a vocal and leading voice on gun violence prevention for Black and brown communities. 

Following his recovery, Greg became an avid mentor to local at risk youth and built multiple youth engagement movements like #WeReadDC that empowered hundreds of volunteers to support Washington, DC area youth through monthly reading events.

As the youngest member of Washington, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser’s administration, Greg served as Director of the Mayor’s Office of Community Relations and Services. Greg then went on to lead Community Engagement and Communications for the Washington, D.C.’s Office of Neighborhood Safety & Engagement (ONSE). At ONSE, Greg oversaw community events, outreach activities, policy development, violence reducing programs and direct engagement of residents most at risk to gun violence. 

Before dedicating his life to gun violence prevention, Greg worked as a community organizer through various roles, including the Co-Chair of DC for Obama, the Obama for America, North Carolina – Field Director, the Southern Regional Director at Organizing for Action and the National Field Director, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, where he ran the largest mid-term election voter registration program in U.S. History. 

Greg, an avid runner that has completed 5 half marathons, enjoys recreational sports and created a citywide organization offering recreational sports activities for thousands of young adults throughout the D.C. area.

Follow Greg on LinkedIn

Dr. Joseph V. Sakran is a trauma surgeon, coalition builder, policy advisor, public health expert, and nationally recognized advocate for gun violence prevention. He is currently Director of Emergency General Surgery, Associate Professor of Surgery, and Associate Chief of the Division of Acute Care Surgery at The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. 

A survivor of gun violence himself, Dr. Sakran’s interest in medicine and trauma surgery began after a stray bullet nearly killed him during his senior year of high school. He has subsequently dedicated his life to treating the most vulnerable, reducing health disparities among marginalized populations, and advancing public policy that alleviates structural violence in low-income communities. More information can be found here: https://www.josephsakran.com/about

Follow Dr. Sakran on Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn

Moderator: Kayla Hicks

A motivated leader with proven proficiency in developing innovate solutions to challenges and achieving favorable results. Committed to leading community-based violence prevention initiatives to ensure the voice of those most impacted are central in policy and program  decisions.

Kayla has 35 years of leadership experience and continues to work towards eradicating policies,

procedures, and social norms that create barriers for black and brown communities, particularly Black women, to ensure efforts to reduce violence are consistent with a racial equity and justice focused approach.