Eight WAVE youth are gathered together, smilling at the camera. WAVE's Intern Leader, Darrell Lofton, stands with the youth.

Our 2024 Youth Summer Interns were bold and inspiring. This year, we had eight youth between the ages of 15 and 21 helping to raise awareness about the impacts of gun violence and the commonsense solutions that save lives.

What did our interns do?

  • Learned about the root causes of gun violence, including easy access to firearms, structural racism, and the lack of critical resources
  • Worked with WAVE staff to learn evidence-based policy strategies that reduce gun violence
  • Studied effective advocacy techniques for raising awareness and inspiring others to take action 
  • Spoke with people about gun violence at events around Milwaukee County, including PrideFest Milwaukee, the Emani Robinson Community Day, and several farmers markets
  • Helped run Milwaukee’s Wear Orange events for National Gun Violence Awareness Weekend (and one of our interns even spoke at the press conference!)
  • Volunteered at the Juneteenth Kid’s Zone, making sure the day was fun for people of all ages
  • Planned and hosted a Flags for Remembrance rally to honor victims of gun violence

Of course, all these activities rely in part on our vibrant network of partners. WAVE is grateful to these organizations and people for partnering with us to make the Youth Summer Internship a success:

  • 414 Life
  • Amareon Allen Foundation
  • Donovan Hines Foundation of Exuberance
  • Moms Demand Action
  • Northcott Neighborhood House
  • Prince Hall Masons
  • Safe and Sound
  • Milwaukee Office of Community Wellness and Safety
  • Café Corazón
  • Linneman’s Riverwest Inn
  • State Representative Deb Andraca

Want to meet the interns? Check out the video below to see brief bios of each of our youth interns!

Text is situated on top of the Milwaukee flag. Text says 2024 Summer Internship, and has the WAVE Educational Fund logo in the center.

What do our interns have to say about the summer? 

“[WAVE’s Youth Summer Internship] has definitely given me more of a drive to push into political science, law, and maybe even becoming a future politician. It has really increased my passion for gun violence prevention, seeing so many people who have been personally affected by it. I want to make a change, which is why I want to continue to stay involved in activism.” 
Anna, 2024 Youth Summer Intern

“It’s been really rewarding to feel like I’m doing something to help people who have been impacted by gun violence, especially hearing their stories firsthand.”
Dakota, 2024 Youth Summer Intern

Five Youth Summer Interns pose for a picture as they table at an event, summer 2024
A WAVE Youth Intern poses for a photo with Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson.
A WAVE Youth Summer Intern plays saxaphone at an event. He is joined by a trumpet player and drummer for a jazz trio.
A WAVE Youth member stands with WAVE's Youth Program Manager. They hold a sign that says End Gun Violence.
A WAVE intern stands at a podium that has a collection of microphones from varioius news outlets. She is speaking into the microphones, sharing how gun violence has impacted her life.
Six WAVE youth interns are standing on a sidewalk. They are looking at WAVE's Program Manager, listening to instructions.
Interns listen to instructions as they prepare to volunteer for Milwaukee’s 2024 Wear Orange event
The 2024 WAVE Youth Summer Interns stand with the youth program lead at their Flags for Remembrance Rally
Three WAVE Youth Summer Interns speak with atedees at a farmer's market about gun violence prevention.

For more information about our youth programs, contact Darrell Lofton: dlofton@waveedfund.org

See highlights from other years here.