WAVE Educational Fund is driven by a commitment to peace, equity, and justice. In 2025, we continued to push relentlessly for solutions to gun violence. By collaborating closely with survivors and community-rooted partners, we sparked conversations, elevated stories, and rallied people who are determined to create a safer future for our children and communities.
Public Policy
Grassroots Work
This year, WAVE supporters helped keep guns out of schools and stopped permitless carry from advancing in Wisconsin. They also championed lifesaving policies, including universal background checks, an extreme risk law, and measures shown to reduce gun suicide. Together, advocates sent more than three thousand messages to legislators, underscoring how strongly Wisconsinites support strengthening our gun laws.
Each month, our Virtual Action Team brought together people from across the state to take meaningful action. (You can join our next meeting; details are on our Events page.)
Nearly 100 supporters joined WAVE’s Day of Action in May. The morning featured speakers from national partners such as Giffords, Brady, and researchers from the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions. In the afternoon, participants met with their legislators to emphasize the urgent need for evidence-based policies that prevent gun violence.
WAVE also supported Days of Action led by Moms Demand Action and the National Association of Social Workers, helping even more Wisconsin voters raise their voices for widely supported safety measures.
Legislative Progress
One of the year’s most significant wins was the creation of a statewide Office of Gun Violence Prevention—a step WAVE has long advocated for. We look forward to working closely with this new office to advance effective, community-centered solutions.
Wisconsin’s Gun Violence Prevention Caucus now includes an impressive 40% of all Wisconsin’s legislators. Throughout the year, WAVE staff met with caucus members to provide education, share research, and encourage action on priorities that make communities safer.
More than a dozen gun violence prevention bills were introduced in 2025, with several receiving bipartisan support. This is clear evidence that momentum for meaningful change continues to grow in Wisconsin.
Community Violence Intervention
Wisconsin’s new Office of Violence Prevention will help sustain local offices of violence prevention and other community violence intervention (CVI) programs across the state through 2027, even while federal funding has effectively been eliminated.
To secure the future of this work, the 2027 biennial budget must include dedicated state funding. WAVE continues to highlight how CVI programs stop violence before it starts. We are engaging members of the Joint Finance Committee to ensure they understand the essential role CVI plays in keeping Wisconsinites safe and building stronger communities.
Community and Partner Engagement
Community Events
WAVE continued our annual role in helping organize and promote Milwaukee’s observance of National Gun Violence Awareness Day—known widely as “Wear Orange.” Each June, this event brings community members together to honor lives taken by violence and to spotlight the solutions that can make our state safer.
We also played a significant role in the Emergency Gun Violence Summit, hosted by the 80% Coalition and Forward Latino. This year’s summit drew more than 600 attendees and featured speakers including Governor Evers, Attorney General Kaul, and several members of the WAVE team. WAVE’s Executive Director and founder, Jeri Bonavia, was honored with a lifetime achievement award recognizing her decades of leadership.
Throughout the year, we collaborated with partners across the state—participating in panels, speaking at convenings, and raising awareness about both the causes of gun violence and evidence-based solutions.
Partnerships
In 2025, WAVE deepened and expanded our network of people and organizations working toward a safer Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Gun Violence Prevention Coalition now has its own logo and shared identity, reflecting the strength and unity of the local, state, and national partners who show up for this work every day.
We also strengthened our relationships with healthcare providers, bringing them together as a cohesive, collaborative group. Their shared commitment and expertise has quickly made them an energetic force in advancing evidence-based solutions.
Youth Engagement
A standout moment for our youth program came in May with the unveiling of the mural “This is Not a Drill” at Milwaukee High School of the Arts. The project was led by a member of WAVE’s Youth Advisory Board and the club they founded, Artists Against Gun Violence. The public unveiling drew strong attendance and media coverage, showcasing the creativity and leadership of young advocates.
This year, WAVE partnered with Milwaukee’s Office of Community Wellness and Safety to host our annual Youth Summer Internship. Interns connected with experts in gun violence prevention, violence interrupters, and public officials, learning how to engage others on this critical issue. They also put their knowledge into action by attending events and participating in community service projects.
Our Youth Advisory Board continued to meet throughout the year, meeting with other youth advocates across the state, setting priorities, and refining goals for 2026, ensuring that young people remain central to shaping solutions in Wisconsin.
We couldn’t achieve this impact without you! We are profoundly grateful to our tens of thousands of generous supporters and dedicated organizational partners; your commitment and collaboration make our work possible. Thank you for standing with us!
Learn about our activities and achievements from past years here. For regular updates, you can follow us on social media, including on Facebook, Instagram, and Bluesky.
