“I made this trauma my entire personality”: how negative experiences in gun violence prevention impact the organizing, well-being, and healing of black and Latine youth

Abstract This article explores the impact of negative experiences in gun violence prevention organizations on the well-being and organizing work of Black and Latine youth organizers and how they engage in healing afterward. Interview data were analyzed from 20 Black and Latine youth (Mage = 19.7, 70 percent women) involved in gun violence prevention organizations in the United States. The results focused on two major themes: youths’ experiences of organizational, external, and intrapersonal threats to their well-being and their responses to the harm that they experienced and how they moved forward. These findings highlight the critical need for tailored mental health support and intersectional approaches in youth organizing to address the unique challenges faced by Black and Latine organizers. Addressing burnout and systemic barriers is essential for sustaining their engagement in social movements and ensuring their long-term well-being and effectiveness as changemakers.