Gun Violence in African Communities

The Gun Violence in African Communities (GVAC) research initiative is a community-engaged program dedicated to understanding andpreventing firearm violence among African-origin communities in the Greater Seattle Region. Despite experiencing unique social, cultural, and migration-related experiences, African immigrant, refugee, and diaspora communities are often grouped within broader racial categories in research, leaving critical gaps in our understanding of firearm violence in these populations.

Through partnerships with community organizations, healthcare systems, and community leaders, GVAC seeks to characterize the burden of firearm violence, identify individual, social, and structural risk and protective factors, and amplify the voices and lived experiences of African-origin youth, families, and communities. Our work integrates quantitative and qualitative research methods, including epidemiologic analyses, community surveys, medical record reviews, and interviews, to generate evidence that is both scientifically rigorous and community informed.

Our mission is to build the evidence base needed to inform culturally responsive prevention strategies, strengthen community partnerships, and support policies and interventions that promote safety, health, and equity for African-origin communities.
This page will highlight our ongoing projects, publications, presentations and toolkits, community partnerships, and opportunities to collaborate as we work toward reducing firearm violence and improving the health and well-being of African-origin communities.