Los Angeles Rams Host Students Demand Action Summer Leadership Academy Impact Day at SoFi Stadium with Inglewood Mayor James Butts and Other Community Partners

Graduates of the Students Demand Action Summer Leadership Academy Leadership Presented Project Proposals for Reducing Gun Violence in Their Communities

Judge Panel Included Rams Legend Brandyn Harvey

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Yesterday, volunteers with Students Demand Action, part of Everytown for Gun Safety’s grassroots network, joined Los Angeles Rams Legend Brandyn Harvey and Inglewood Mayor James Butts at SoFi Stadium to discuss gun violence prevention as part of Impact Day, an event to close out the 2022 Los Angeles Summer Leadership Academy. The Student Demand Action Summer Leadership Academy is a program to enable communities disproportionately impacted by gun violence to host summer programs and empower low-income students and survivors to become community organizers. Student participants presented project proposals for reducing gun violence in their communities to a panel of judges, including Brandyn Harvey, Inglewood Mayor James Butts, Carlos De Santiago, Regional Program Manager with Gang Reduction & Youth Development, Johnathan Franklin, the Rams’ Director of Social Justice and Football Development, and Ashley Castillo, a Students Demand Action volunteer and former Summer Leadership Academy participant. 

“As mayor of Inglewood and former law enforcement, I am all too familiar with gun violence,” said Inglewood Mayor James Butts. “While making our communities safe requires a multi-faceted approach, addressing the number of guns flooding our streets is a critical and necessary first step. I’m proud to see these young leaders from across Los Angeles rising up to become leaders in this movement.”

“At the Los Angeles Rams, we pride ourselves on listening and responding to the greatest community needs,” said Johnathan Franklin, Rams Director of Social Justice and Football Development. “In California, every three hours someone receives a call of a family member, spouse or child impacted by gun violence.  We’re grateful for Everytown for Gun Safety and the critical work they are doing to create change and address this public health crisis that is affecting our community, our state and the nation.” 

“Taking part in Summer Leadership Academy last year was an incredibly meaningful experience for me that made getting to be a judge this year all the more special,” said Ashley Castillo, a volunteer with Students Demand Action and former Summer Leadership Academy participant. “My experience is a proof-point that this program truly empowers young people like me to become leaders in the gun violence prevention movement, and I’m excited to see what comes next for this year’s participants.”

Founded in Summer 2019, and now in its fourth year, the Summer Leadership Academy initiative prioritizes removing barriers that keep marginalized student leaders from becoming leaders in the gun violence prevention movement. More information about Summer Leadership Academy is available here. 

Since the tragic shootings in Buffalo and Uvalde, teams from the NFL and every other major professional sports league have stepped up to speak out against gun violence. But even before this pivotal moment, professional athletes have had a history of working to promote gun safety. In 2019, players from the NBA, NFL and WNBA partnered to launch the Everytown Athletic Council, a group of athletes working alongside Everytown to advance both cultural and legislative changes that support common-sense solutions to reduce gun violence across the country. Three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year and and Super Bowl LVI Champion Aaron Donald of the Los Angeles Rams and retired Rams wide receiver Stedman Bailey, whose career was cut short by gun violence, are both members of the council. More information about the Everytown Athletic Council is available here.

If you would like to speak to a Summer Leadership Academy participant, please do not hesitate to reach out.