You are invited to the premiere of the youth-led micro-documentary “Talking Kids Off the Trigger” on Thursday, May 7th, from 4:00-6:00 PM!

About the project

During Camp What If Akron in the summer of 2025, fifty 6^th-8^th graders were asked to identify the biggest need in the community. Their #1 concern was gun violence. Inspired by community leaders they met during Camp What If, a group of passionate middle schoolers decided they wanted to help reduce youth gun violence in Akron. Their idea was to create a documentary about the real stories of gun violence in the community.

After camp, a team of 5 middle schoolers – Allie, Alesi, Kori, Providence, and Darrian – took on the challenge to make this idea into reality. They called themselves Akron Kids Against Gun Violence. Together, they worked after-school with mentors from TomTod Ideas and partners from the City of Akron, Red Oak Behavioral Health, Fallen Fathers Foundation, Winners and Leaders, Narrative Digital Media, and All Circles Media to research, brainstorm, interview, and create their micro-documentary, Talking Kids Off The Trigger. This film amplifies the stories of Akron leaders who are using their childhood experiences with gun violence to prevent youth violence today.

The team hopes that these stories elevate the youth-violence prevention work already making an impact across the City of Akron and that this film will be used by teachers, nonprofits, counselors, and mentors everywhere to reach kids before they ever pick up a gun.

 Discussion & Reflection Guide

How the idea started

During Camp What If Akron with TomTod Ideas in 2025, 50 Akron middle schoolers were challenged to explore the community and create ideas to help Akron thrive.

The weekend before camp began, on July 7, 2025, five young people were shot, and ten others sustained injuries at a large party of Akron teenagers. Driven by their empathy and inspired by the adult leaders they met during camp, a team of middle schoolers created the idea of a gun violence prevention film.

How the idea became reality

During the fall of 2025, five passionate middle schoolers from Camp What If formed a team to launch the idea of a gun violence prevention film into reality as part of TomTod’s Idea Mentoring Club called What If You Could.

After school, with the help of their TomTod Mentor, Ms. Carla, and in collaboration with eight community organizations, Allie, Alesi, Kori, Providence, and Darrian researched and organized to create their documentary called Talking Kids Off The Trigger.