March for Our Lives Houston
As the Co-executive Director of March for Our Lives Houston, I collaborate closely with my core team to create local and national initiatives aimed at reducing gun violence while empowering youth to take a leading role in addressing this issue in their communities. In March 2023, I had the opportunity to participate in organizing rallies, where I addressed an audience of over 100 Texans in Austin, stressing the importance of youth-led legislative advocacy.
During August 2023, March for Our Lives Houston organized an Art Gala, showcasing nationally recognized poets, local artists, and musicians. The event aimed to raise awareness about the pressing issue of gun violence. Additionally, our organization arranged a national youth-led webinar on Gun Safety, featuring activists who have received presidential recognition and a researcher funded by the CDC.
I also had the privilege of testifying before the Houston City Council on this critical issue. Currently, I am actively engaged in developing a social media campaign that delves into the intersectional nature of gun violence, highlighting its connections to domestic violence, suicide, and trauma.
Saami’s speech at the March for Our Lives Texas Capitol Rally.
Meta4 poetry team performing at the Art Gala.
Saami at the March for Our Lives Houston Art Gala organized in August 2023.
The 2022 Houston Policy Plan. Click to read more. →
Houston Policy Plan
Recognizing the glaring absence of youth-led legislative solutions to address the issue of gun violence, I collaborated closely with the legislative team of March for Our Lives Houston. Together, we co-authored the Houston Policy Plan (HPP), which served as a comprehensive document outlining the most effective research-based solutions to combat gun violence.
Following the creation of the Houston Policy Plan, we presented it before the Harris County Commissioners Court. As a result of our efforts, the legislative team achieved a significant milestone – the passage of Resolution 236. This resolution, in turn, led to the appointment of a youth representative to a local commission with the mission of ending gun violence. Through a rigorous interview and application process, I was honored to be appointed as the sole student representative to the Safe Schools Commission.
Harris County Safe Schools Commission
During my tenure on the Safe Schools Commission, I had the privilege of generating policy recommendations aimed at improving the safety of over 1137 schools in the third most populous county in the United States. This endeavor involved extensive communication with policy experts from various backgrounds and affiliations. I also delved into research conducted by trauma surgeons, research doctorates, and local government officials to inform my recommendations.
The culmination of this effort was the creation of a highly-ranked policy recommendation for the Safe Schools Commission Report. The recommendation focused on spreading education related to gun violence prevention, with the goal of raising awareness about accidental gun-related deaths and suicide. In August of 2022, our team presented the report to the Commissioner Court, and I’m pleased to share that a unanimous resolution was passed to extend the Commission’s work, underscoring the importance of our efforts in addressing school safety.
Saami with the Safe Schools Commission and Harris County Commissioners following the presentation of the Safe Schools Commission Report.
Saami at the Harris County Safe Schools Commission presenting with activist Calandrian Kemp
My speech at the Harris County Safe Schools Commission Report.
Saami with the interns at the Baker Institute, posted by Dr. Bindi Naik.
A photo I took at the Baker Institute during the “Preventing Firearm Injury in the Greater Houston Area Through Purpose and Policy Event”
Research
As a Youth Advisor collaborating with the National Opinion Research Center, I had the unique opportunity to amplify the voices of youth researchers and local trauma surgeons. Our primary goal was to fine-tune the questions for a national, multi-wave longitudinal study involving over 4500 youth and young adult participants. This important study, generously funded by the CDC, is dedicated to delving into the root causes of gun violence.
In my role, I focused on increasing youth involvement in gun violence research. I worked closely with Houston’s young community members to gain deeper insights into the complexities of gun violence, ultimately with the aim of implementing effective policy solutions on a local level.
Furthermore, I had the privilege of collaborating with Rice University’s Baker Institute, where I played a key role in documenting Houston’s policy recommendations during an annual firearm policy event. Engaging in meaningful conversations with activists from all corners of the United States, I documented valuable insights from local trauma surgeons, police chiefs, and researchers. I then compiled this information into a comprehensive summary to be published on the Baker Institute’s website, furthering the dissemination of innovative solutions to address gun violence.