How many dead kids is too many?
In Indiana, 81 kids were killed from firearm misuse in 2023. Over 1/2 were from Indianapolis.
The G.U.N. Project is a bold, youth-led initiative tackling the #1 cause of death for American youth by creating a unified narrative around gun violence.
One where Hoosier youth choose peace, hope, and community over violence.
This is a call to choose peace over violence, hope over fear, and love over hate.
It isn't just a play, it is a movement reshaping youth gun culture.
It will be made in collaboration between student actors and professional theatre makers starting in 2026, and will be performed to 6th-12th grade school groups and the general public across the city and state starting in 2028.
The team, Asante Art Institute and React, are renowned for creating educational and socially-engaged theatre with youth in Indianapolis. They have provided transformative spaces for youth to learn, grow, and build community through theatre training for decades.
Theatre has the power to mobilize a generation to choose nonviolence.
Theatre has been a tool for investigating society, facilitating democratic dialogue, and building empathy for millenia.
The G.U.N. Project continues this tradition by using informed theatrical storytelling to lead youth through conversations about:
- Responsible gun ownership
- The historical, political, and social roots of American gun culture
- Nonviolence conflict resolution strategies
Local organizations, victims and perpetrators of gun violence, and both pro- and anti-gun activists will contribute to this project to ensure that the play and educational materials are nonpartisan, informed by current data, and encourage good decision making.
Partners currently include: Peace Learning Center, IU School of Public Health, IU School of Medicine, Indiana Prison Writers Workshop, and Hoosiers Concerned about Gun Violence.
The G.U.N. Project will bridge race, class, and politics to inspire change, nonviolence, and hope in youth.
Project in partnership with:
