Project Unloaded held a weeklong program during Chicago Public Schools’ spring break to teach teenagers about the risks of gun ownership and how to communicate those statistics through social media. The program, which ran from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. each weekday, included 23 participants between the ages of 13 and 17, according to an April 3 report.
The initiative aimed to provide young people with information on firearm risks while also building their skills in social media content creation. Nina Vinik, founder and president of Project Unloaded, said, “All of our programs combine firearm risk education for young people with social media skill building, so we’re effectively teaching young people how to use social media as a way to make positive change in their communities.”
During the sessions at After School Matters offices in Kilbourn Park, teens learned that having a gun at home can double the risk of homicide and that gun owners are four times more likely to be shot during an assault compared with non-owners. Olivia Brown, associate director of youth engagement at Project Unloaded who led the program, said students learned video production techniques such as creating hooks and calls-to-action for effective messaging. “They were like, ‘Oh, it’s kind of like writing a persuasive essay,’” Brown said.
Participants produced short videos addressing misconceptions about gun safety for an ongoing campaign called “Goofies Got Guns.” Some videos used humor or fictional news segments to present statistics on gun violence.
Vinik emphasized that the goal was not persuasion but education: they want teens “to make the best decision that they can for themselves.” According to Project Unloaded representatives cited in the report, there was a notable shift among participants—a reported 30% drop in interest in future gun ownership after completing the program.
Sixteen-year-old Makayla Mason said her views changed after participating: “I wouldn’t even want to get one anymore.” Meanwhile Josiah Owens appreciated learning more about both risks and digital skills: “Now I just know the risks of it, which is good,” he said.
