In the face of unspeakable tragedy, the Highland Park Arts Memorial traveled to Nashville to help bring hope and healing, place and purpose –a way forward. Our expression evolves at Bongo Java and in front of homes across Tennessee.

Through the power of art, music, and collaborative craft, we aim to uplift the human spirit and inspire a safer, kinder, and more hopeful future for us all.

@InvatationToAConversation

Solidarity

Send a powerful message to legislators: We, the People, demand real conversations about ending gun violence in Tennessee and beyond.

Put anything orange in front of your house. Paint a thrifted chair, hang fabric on your door nob, yarn bomb a tree …heck, set up a whole glittery living room. Have fun.

Share on Insta: #InvitationToAConversation

Alone, we are vulnerable. Together we are a collective voice for change. Pass it on.

Americans killed by guns every day

Children across the country killed by gun violence since Sandy Hook

Minors living in a home with at least one loaded, unlocked firearm

Learn the facts about gun violence across the country here.

Invitation to A Conversation

The evolving piece builds on the Highland Park Arts Memorial and ENOUGH installations from around the country. It features 30K strips of orange fabric representing all the children killed by gun violence since Sandy Hook.

At Bongo Java, we’re creating a sacred space to give our heartbroken community somewhere to come, create, and commune in a productive, deeply connected way.

Here, you will leave feeling more hopeful than when you arrived. Here, we transform pain into poetry.

Here, we aim to drive systemic change.

Yes. Amen. Let it be.

Why ORANGE

On January 21, 2013, 15-year-old Hadiya Pendleton marched in President Obama’s second inaugural parade. One week later, she was shot and killed on a Chicago playground. Her friends commemorated her life by wearing orange, the color hunters wear in the woods to protect themselves and others.

We create in orange to honor the memory of Hadiya – and Evelyn, Mike, William, Katherine, Cynthia, Hallie – and hundreds of thousands more.

We create in orange to support survivors and families.

We create in orange to inspire systemic change.

We create in orange because we are spitfire, rebirth, and above all, love.

Average gun deaths in Tennessee every year

Gun injuries in Tennessee every year

Gun violence costs Tennessee each year.

Learn the facts about gun violence in Tennessee here.

SURViVOR TOOLKIT

Find us

BONGO EAST • 107 S. 11th St.

Bongo Java East Nashville

Bongo Java

BONGO FIDO • 1812 21st Ave

Bongo Java East Nashville

Bongo Java

BONGO JAVA • 2007 Belmont Blvd.

Bongo Java East Nashville

Bongo Java

A Note to Contributors

Invitation to A Conversation is an organic, deeply collaborative, nonpartisan, exclusively positive community expression. We invite you to add your authentic voice and any handmade artistry in the orange theme. Create at home or onsite. We’ll have tons of crafting supplies on hand to engage and inspire.

Whatever you contribute, know that others will build upon your work. Organizers will be ‘gently curating.’ So, no ego. And alas, sometimes stuff we adore goes missing. It’s the way of things.

Bring what you want, take what you need. Godspeed.

Notice of enthusiastic filming and photography.

Learn more

When you enter an Arts4Impact (A4I) event or program, you enter an area where photography, audio, and video recording may occur. By entering the event premises, you consent to interview(s), photography, audio recording, video recording and its/their release, publication, exhibition, or reproduction to be used for news, web casts, promotional purposes, telecasts, advertising, inclusion on websites, social media, or any other purpose by their affiliates and representatives. Images, photos and/or videos may be used to promote similar events in the future, highlight the event and exhibit capabilities. You release A4I, its officers and employees, and each and all persons involved from any liability connected with the taking, recording, digitizing, or publication and use of interviews, photographs, computer images, video and/or or sound recordings. By entering the event premises, you waive all rights you may have to any claims for payment or royalties in connection with any use, exhibition, streaming, web casting, televising, or other publication of these materials, regardless of the purpose or sponsoring of such use, exhibiting, broadcasting, web casting, or other publication irrespective of whether a fee for admission or sponsorship is charged. You also waive any right to inspect or approve any photo, video, or audio recording taken by A4I or the person or entity designated to do so by A4I.

Youth LEDS

ALDANE BROOKS

When he was 12, Aldane’s brother Akilah was shot and killed in the 2018 Waffle House mass shooting. Since that tragic moment, the 17-year-old has devoted his life to transforming pain into progress.

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Aldane shares his painful and powerful story to help bring an end to the epidemic of gun violence in America. He is a school ambassador and junior committee leader with the Akilah Dasilva Foundation. He bravely shares his story so others will not experience this same pain.

CAMERON KASKY

Cameron is the Founder of March For Our Lives and is an activist focused on gun violence prevention, LGBTQIA+ rights, and mental health advocacy. He joined Change the Ref this summer to support Guac Oliver’s advocacy across the country.

RACHEL JACOBY

Rachel is an organizer with March For Our Lives and recently graduated from the Harvard Kennedy School. She has led numerous rallies in Highland Park and advocated in Washington, D.C., and across Illinois in support for gun safety legislation.

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“My generation — Generation Z — has grown up under the constant threat of gun violence. Each mass shooting lays bare the gaping holes in our country’s basic duty to protect its citizens, especially its youth, from the epidemic of gun violence.

For too long, elected officials have gotten away with reciting the empty phrase “thoughts and prayers” after each shooting instead of passing meaningful legislation. The days of inaction are over. The fight to end gun violence takes all of us, especially young people.

SAMUEL SCHWARTZ

Samuel is a 19-year old student activist enrolled in school in Boston, MA. He first become involved in gun violence prevention work after the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, FL, where his cousin Alex Schachter was murdered.

AYDIN TARIQ

Aydin is a high school junior, youth activist, and journalist fighting for equal rights and gun violence prevention. He serves as a Student Advisor and Youth Reporter for the PBS Newshour.

LEXI COHN

Lexi is a 20-year-old student activist focused on fighting injustice. After their cousin was murdered at the July 4th mass shooting in Highland Park, Lexi focused on turning their families’ anguish into action.

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“Mass shootings and gun violence are preventable. In a country where most Americans support an assault weapons ban, congressional inaction both murders and showcases that we live in an oligarchic state — not a democracy. We the people, must stand up and fight back to take back our democracy. It’s time to end gun violence — it’s overdue. This is a uniquely American problem and it is solvable. The most American thing is that the Fourth of July is the day with the most mass shootings of any day of the year, but that’s not the America I believe in. It’s time for people — not the NRA and corporate interests — to dictate policy because we are the ones who suffer, we are the ones with trauma, we are the ones being killed. Don’t wait until it happens to you, your loved ones, or your town because ultimately, you are next — we’re all next.”

WYATT BASSOW

Wyatt is a recent graduate of Nashville’s Hume-Fogg High School and headed to the University of Tampa this fall to study political science. He is active in March for Our Lives and Protect Kids Not Guns using his powerful voice for change.

AMBER SHERMAN

Amber is a native Memphian and a graduate of Hodges University with a Master’s degree in Legal Studies. She is a nationally known political strategist, activist, organizer, and podcaster.

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Her thesis, “Innocent until proven guilty: An argument for the unconstitutionality of the US Bail System” has been studied at law Schools and used to draft End Money Bail legislation in Tennessee.

She was most recently honored as one of the Memphis Flyers’ “Top 20 under 30” class of 2023. She is currently the Rapid Response Coordinator for In Our Names Network and the “The Law According to Amber” blog and podcast.

SARAYAH SHAW

Sarayah is a high school senior, Nashville native, and youth activist fighting for LGBTQIA+ rights and gun violence prevention. After the Covenant shooting, Sarayah began using her music and powerful voice for change.

EMMIE WOLF-DUBIN

Emmie is a 15-year-old Nashville writer and activist with 30+ local and international pieces publication credits. Her work focusses on gun violence, antisemitism, and social inequality.

SHAUNDELLE BROOKSYouth Team Den Mom

Since the tragic death of her son Akilah Dasilva in the 2018 Waffle House mass shooting, Shaundelle has committed her life to gun violence prevention advocacy.

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Shaundelle is the co-founder and president of The Akilah Dasilva Foundation, where she a ceaseless advocate for Smart Gun technology, universal background checks, and preventing senseless gun violence.

FRIENDS

https://www.instagram.com/march4ourlivesnashville/

https://www.instagram.com/covenantbrightertomorrows/

https://www.instagram.com/commonsensetn/

https://www.instagram.com/studentsdemandtennessee/

https://www.instagram.com/voices4safertn/

https://www.instagram.com/the_akilahdasilva_foundation

PARTNERS

https://www.instagram.com/bongoroastingco/

https://www.instagram.com/bradygreaternashville/

EMPOWERING PEOPLE WITH THE POWER OF THE ARTS

Engage. Inspire. Drive Impact.

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