Our Work

WAVE Educational Fund focuses on gun violence prevention education and awareness, community engagement, and policy through an equity lens.

WAVE fills a vital role rallying public support, pressing for action, and giving people across our state a place to turn for trusted information and bold leadership on gun violence prevention policies.

WAVE volunteers outside of Respresntative Ott's office

Advancing Public Policy

We work at the local, state and federal levels to push for lifesaving, evidence-based policies and laws that will keep us safe and support peace. 

2025

In January, Governor Evers signed an executive order establishing a statewide Office of Violence Prevention, marking a change WAVE had championed for years. We were proud to stand alongside partners and advocates at the signing as this long-sought step toward a more coordinated, public health–driven approach to violence prevention became a reality.

Building on that momentum, WAVE’s legislative allies introduced a broad slate of gun violence prevention bills aligned with each of our top policy priorities, reflecting sustained public engagement and growing demand for action.

In May, nearly 100 advocates gathered at the State Capitol for our Gun Violence Prevention Day of Action, meeting directly with lawmakers to share their stories and underscore the urgency of preventing violence in our communities.

Throughout the year, legislators told us that the consistent, unified presence of gun violence prevention advocates is notable, distinctive, and impossible to ignore — a testament to the strength and persistence of this movement across Wisconsin.

2024

WAVE supporters made their voices heard, sending thousands of messages to Wisconsin’s elected officials in support of commonsense gun laws. Once again, not a single one of the gun lobby’s deadly priorities became law.

We continued our work leading Wisconsin’s Gun Violence Prevention Coalition and the Wisconsin Community Violence Intervention (CVI) Coalition. Wisconsin now has more local offices of violence prevention than any state other than California. 

We worked with other grassroots organizations to defeat a proposed constitutional amendment in the August election, which would have made it difficult for the governor to respond quickly to emergencies.

Wisconsin received new legislative maps, leading to a state legislature that will more accurately reflect the will of Wisconsinites. In response, we updated our strategic plan to meet the moment and be well-prepared for the next legislative session. 

Federally, the ATF finalized a new rule, which we had heavily advocated for, drastically reducing the number of gun sales that can take place without a background check.

Community Engagement

WAVE’s supporters actively participate in our work for gun violence prevention, justice, and democracy. We come together to support one another in person and at virtual events. We host film screenings, memorials, rallies, and educational presentations. We support civic engagement and help educate the public about important issues like voter registration and voting.

WAVE also frequently takes part in events hosted by partner organizations. We especially seek to partner with and support Black- and Brown-led organizations focused on gun violence prevention, equity, and civic engagement.

2025

This year, WAVE fully reactivated our Virtual Action Team, which now meets monthly to provide advocates with consistent, concrete ways to take action against gun violence.

We also launched a healthcare wing of the Wisconsin Violence Prevention Coalition. As medical professionals confront the realities of gun violence in their emergency rooms and clinics, they have increasingly developed a passion for getting involved in preventative solutions. An early event with coalition members in the spring offered a revival of Terminal Exhale, a play showcasing the devastation witnessed by medical professionals as a result of gun violence. Some of our coalition members shared personal stories that were included in the script. 

In June, we helped organize and promote Milwaukee’s Wear Orange events for National Gun Violence Awareness Day in close partnership with local organizations.

Over the summer, we hosted a free screening of American Coup: Wilmington, 1898. This event sparked important conversations about the racist overthrow of a democratically elected government and its lasting implications.

Throughout the year, we promoted and participated in over two dozen additional community events to strengthen relationships and deepen public understanding of gun violence prevention.

2024

We hosted a virtual discussion with Dominic Erdozain, author of One Nation Under Guns, as well as educational events to raise awareness about Community Violence Intervention and to update people about important policy progress. 

In the spring, we worked with the Carthage College Theater Department and ENOUGH! Founder, Michael Cotey, to support and promote an original play telling the story of healthcare workers who see the impact of gun violence in their clinics and operating rooms. 

Inspired by the success of the 2023 Emergency Gun Violence Summit, we once again worked with Forward Latino and the 80% Coalition to host a second summit, this time with nearly 500 attendees. WAVE’s executive director, Jeri Bonavia, once again was a featured speaker alongside representatives from Johns Hopkins University, the deputy directors of the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, Governor Tony Evers, and others. 

Family smiling at the camera holding a sign that says "We Care"
Two hands are holding a tablet. On the tablet is information about gun violence in Wisconsin. Photo is taken from above, so it seems like you are the person holding the tablet.

Education & Awareness

We work to educate the public about gun violence through speaking engagements, attending public events, our email list, and our social media channels.

2025

In the spring, we hosted an author event featuring Thomas Gabor and Violet Lemay to discuss their book, Gun Violence 101: A Graphic Guide to How Gun Safety Policies Save Lives. Their book makes gun violence solutions easy to understand, even for readers with no prior knowledge about gun violence.

In the fall, we partnered with the Violence Policy Center to release the latest edition of Gun Death in Wisconsin, an annual analysis of CDC and FBI data that examines the true impact of gun violence in our state. This report shares information that is crucial in advancing lifesaving efforts and showcased stories of advocates who have made a difference in their communities. 

WAVE staff served on panels, spoke at community events, engaged with the media, and tabled at public gatherings. Staff attended events including local Pride festivals and Milwaukee’s LaborFest and shared evidence-based solutions to gun violence with the community.

Throughout the year, we continuously educated the public through email and social media. WAVE continues to update downloadable resources highlighting both the causes of and solutions to gun violence. These resources serve as digestible ways to further understand the data around and solutions to gun violence.

2024

We partnered with the Violence Policy Center to publish Gun Death in Wisconsin, a report highlighting the ways in which gun violence devastates both rural and urban communities across the state. 

We tabled and spoke at many events throughout the year, raising awareness about the root causes of, and solutions to, gun violence. 

In addition to our gun violence prevention education, we also notified people about important election deadlines throughout the year, ensuring that all Wisconsinites were prepared to use their voices in every election. 

Our annual Youth Summer Internship culminated in a special event organized by the young people to raise awareness about the disturbing number of people in Wisconsin who are killed each year by guns. 

See Our Activities and Achievements by Year