Kansas City groups support designating gun violence as public health crisis [Video]

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Tuesday, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy declared gun violence a public health crisis.

The announcement encouraged organizations to implement violence prevention programs, improve access to mental health care and fund more research to better tailor prevention programs.

The advisory highlights how firearms became the leading cause of death for children from 2002-2022, surpassing car crashes.

In Kansas City, the nonprofit Youth Ambassadors empowers teenagers to learn the skills to lead anti-violence efforts.

During a six-week summer program, the organization takes teens through workshops in entrepreneurship, financial literacy, mental health, goal setting and more.

“When we can band together to create positive change and real-life solutions, we feel like we can do something,” said Youth Ambassadors Executive Director Dr. Monique Johnston. “We don’t have to sit aside and watch what’s going on. We can take action and make our community safer for us all.”

The holistic approach of Youth …