For our final action project in Policy, CA, GL, DC, GF, JP and I worked together to prevent gun violence in Chicago through a youth-led organization called Project Orange Tree that affiliates itself closely with Lupe Fiasco’s foundation. Project Orange Tree is a campaign that wants to teach youth about gun violence and the roots of structural violence that perpetuate it. We got out on the streets and passed out buttons and flyers in neighborhoods around Chicago to help build awareness. In the end, we created a video with interviews that we conducted, footage of us around Chicago, a poem we wrote about gun violence, and other violence prevention efforts such as Cure Violence and the Chicago Police Department. For this project, I was in charge of creating a storyboard for this video, helping write the group poem, and just filling in wherever I was needed. My experience throughout this process was really transformative. I learned so much about this epidemic which I had previously been admittedly blind and somewhat ignorant to. It was particularly special to take part in handing out buttons and flyers on Saturday because I felt like I was actually taking action to put an end to this major issue that is plaguing our city, instead of just talking about it and living in fear of where it will go. I’m so glad I got to have the experience that I did and feel more well-rounded and globally aware because of it. Please check out the short documentary my group and I created below!
POLICY PROJECT AS ACTION: Project Orange Tree from GF on Vimeo.