First-of-its-Kind Gun Violence Prevention Initiative Convenes Health Care and Business Leaders to Curb Impact of Firearm Injuries and Deaths on America’s Youth

While some may believe that gun violence is a divisive topic with limited opportunity for alignment on progress research shows common ground exists especially around the impact of firearms on children and teens and many Americans agree on a range of solutions This firstofitskind effort amp8220Agree to Agreeamp8221 aims to comprehensively address the issue by building on shared beliefs to address the full spectrum of gun violence in the United States inclusive of gun suicides intentional shootings and unintentional shootings by convening partners across the advertising business health care marketing media and tech industries to create meaningful changeamp8220Gun violence in America impacts us all and tragically it is the leading cause of death for children and teens in the United Statesamp8221 said Michelle Hillman chief campaign development officer the Ad Council amp8220It is time we change the belief that conversations about gun violence always end in a heated debate or impasse This powerful new work shows that we all have a role in creating positive change starting from the common ground we shareamp8221The campaign is releasing two distinct efforts today reaching two unique audiences The first speaks to parents and those with youth in their lives amp8212 relatives caregivers and neighbors amp8212 and the second reaches health care professionals who are on the front lines and are trusted messengers for patients39 health and safety Both components of the amp8220Agree to Agreeamp8221 effort are based in common ground They raise awareness of the fact that everyone amp8212 including gun owners and nongun owners amp8212 can agree that firearms shouldnamp8217t be the leading cause of death for children and teens in this country and that we can take action to protect these vulnerable communitiesDeveloped probono by creative agency GUT Miami the new public service advertisement PSA for parents and those with youth in their lives features real students and their parentsamp8212not actorsamp8212attending what they think is a student debate on the question amp8220Who holds the greatest responsibility to address the gun violence that impacts children and teensamp8221 As the students answer it becomes clear that gun violence prevention is not a divisive twosided debate and that we can agree on a lot when it comes to the issue The amp8216debateamp8217 stops as the students confront the audience and unite behind the chilling stat that gun injuries are the number one cause of death for children and teens in America Viewers are encouraged to take action by visiting AgreeToAgreeorg where individuals can learn about gun violence and how to have conversations with their communities supported by conversations guides and resources Award winning filmmaker Lauren Greenfield Founder of Institute amp8220The Queen of Versaillesamp8221 and amp8220Thinamp8221 directed the PSAWATCH THE PSA httpsyoutubechbELtuBAHQamp8220Gun violence is perceived as a highly charged and divisive topic so we knew we had to take a different approach to break throughamp8221 said Juan Javier Peamp241a Plaza Chief Creative Officer of GUT Miami amp8220Instead of continuing the debate we grounded the spot in the power of truthamp160No oneamp160wants children and teens to die from gun violence By upending the amp8216debateamp8217 and starting from common ground weamp8217re able to open hearts and minds in a new way Thatamp8217s why we featured real people amp8211 especially young people and showcase diverse stories and perspectives from gun owners and nongun owners alike We wanted as many people as possible to see themselves in the final testimonials with the hope that this PSA sparks meaningful conversation bridges divides and encourages collective action to create a safer future for our childrenamp8221As firearm injuries and deaths have risen over the last several decades hospitals and health care systems and clinicians have been on the front lines of this crisis treating tens of thousands of firearm injuries annually As trusted pillars within their communities health care professionals are pivotal in keeping the countryamp8217s children healthy and are uniquely equipped to engage with their patients about proven public health practices that can keep young people safeamp8220We need all handson deck to fight the public health crisis of gun violence Partnerships with groups like the Ad Council are critical to amplifying the message and reaching more peopleamp8221 saidamp8239Michael Dowling Northwell Health president and CEO whose outreach efforts led to the creation of the National Health Care CEO Council on Gun Violence Prevention and Safety which provided initial funding for the amp8220Agree to Agreeamp8221 campaign amp8220We all agreeamp8212senseless gun violence is unacceptable By working together on multiple fronts amp8211 education prevention communication and community support amp8211 we can make a difference and save livesamp8221The second content series launching today developed in partnership with Electric Park Films features health care professionals speaking directly to other health care professionals on the responsibility and unique role they hold to help prevent firearm injuries through supportive conversations with their patients The video series directs audiences to AgreeToAgreeorgHealthCare to learn moreWATCH THE PSA httpsyoutubeinYjSjLzsamp8220Preventing firearm injuries remains a top Intermountain Health focus working in partnership with the communities we serveamp8221 said Rob Allen president and CEO of Intermountain Health which operates a health system across 620000 square miles in six western states amp8220Over the past year Intermountain caregivers have done extensive work in the areas of suicide prevention and gun safety By raising awareness and offering training and resources we help to both save lives and remove the stigma around conversations on gun safety and mental health We too have found that there are many people in our communities who agree with our stance on this important workamp8221Funding for this initiative has been provided by American Medical Association Aya Healthcare BJC Health System Children39s Hospital Association Childrenamp8217s Wisconsin Dartmouth Health Childrenamp8216s Endeavor Health Froedtert Health Hackensack Meridian Health Intermountain Health Johns Hopkins Medicine LifeBridge Health MedStar Health Michigan Medicine Northwell Health OhioHealth Press Ganey University of Michigan and Yale New Haven Health Additionally as part of an evidencebased approach the Ad Council has convened an Issue Advisory Council comprised of subjectmatter experts in firearm injury prevention These advisors represent a wide range of expertise including pediatric trauma surgery suicide prevention community and interpersonal violence research and policy as well as gun owners and gun violence survivorsThe work launching today is part of a longterm and multipronged approach reaching distinct audiences Through robust and tailored programming including trusted messengers strategic partnerships community engagement efforts and ongoing research this national campaign will aim to move the needle on the crisis of firearm injuries and death Current supporters of the campaign representing brand partners agencies data and technology providers and publishers include AMC Networks The Atlantic Chemistry CMI Media Group Datonics DeepIntent Levi Strauss ampamp Co and TranslationIn the months ahead the program will expand and focus on additional resources for parents and those with children and teens in their lives as well as for health care professionals This includes a new suite of creative assets currently in development with Ogilvy Health to empower health care professionals driving them to an expanded digital resource hub being developed with the American Medical Association Also more work is in development focused on expanding this effort to reach specific audiences and communities to address all forms of gun violence to ensure a comprehensive approach to combating this complex crisisamp8220Agree to Agreeamp8221 is the latest effort that expands the Ad Councilamp8217s Gun Violence Prevention Initiative including the successful quotEnd Family Firequot and amp8220Pause to Healamp8221 campaigns developed in partnership with Brady These campaigns focus on raising awareness among firearm owners and their loved ones about secure gun storage and statelevel extreme risk lawsFor more information on the amp8220Agree to Agreeamp8221 effort and to access resources such as conversation guides and shareable graphics that educate and empower audiences to take individual steps to protect communities and children visit AgreeToAgreeorgPosted at MediaVillage through the Thought Leadership selfpublishing platformClick the social buttons to share this story with colleagues and friendsThe opinions expressed here are the author39s views and do not necessarily represent the views of MediaVillageorgMyersBizNet

Click to Make Your 2025 Contribution to Support the MediaVillage Education Foundation

First-of-its-Kind Gun Violence Prevention Initiative Convenes Health Care and Business Leaders to Curb Impact of Firearm Injuries and Deaths on America’s Youth

Publish date

Channel

Archived in

Empowering Women in Media: Insights from Industry Leaders (Video) - By E.B. Moss

More Videos:

Click to Make Your 2025 Contribution to Support the MediaVillage Education Foundation

First-of-its-Kind Gun Violence Prevention Initiative Convenes Health Care and Business Leaders to Curb Impact of Firearm Injuries and Deaths on America’s Youth

Enjoying This Commentary? There's More to Love

TAGS:

Empowering Women in Media: Insights from Industry Leaders (Video) - By E.B. Moss

The payment was successful

Cookies