Overview
In 2018, Jonathan helped organize a historic youth press conference that brought together Chicago youth organizers and survivors of the Parkland school shooting. The gathering, held at City Hall and covered by Windy City Times, united young people from communities separated by distance but connected by grief — each carrying the weight of gun
Story
When Parkland students traveled to Chicago, they came to listen — not just to speak. Together, the two groups shared stories of loss, resilience, and the different ways violence shapes their worlds. Chicago youth spoke from neighborhoods where shootings are a daily reality, while Parkland students shared the pain of a mass tragedy that captured national attention. Instead of comparing experiences, they found common ground: a shared determination to make sure no more lives are lost.
Jonathan and fellow youth organizers from GoodKids MadCity, March for Our Lives, and Brave Youth Leaders helped plan and lead the event. They opened the space with poetry — one of the most powerful forms of youth expression in the city — reading original works that captured both mourning and hope.
Impact
The press conference didn’t just merge two movements; it reframed the national conversation. It showed the country that youth organizing isn’t confined to one city or one kind of tragedy — it’s a collective movement rooted in care, creativity, and courage. For Chicago’s youth, it was a moment to be seen. For Parkland survivors, it was a moment to expand what solidarity looks like.
