My name is Rozella Apel. I’m 18 years old and a senior at Nipomo High school. I’ve been fiercely passionate about social justice and activism from a young age. I’ve participated in protests and vigils addressing a range of issues spanning militarism, nuclear disarmament, farm workers rights, racial equality, women’s rights, and environmental destruction. I’ve been fortunate to attend multiple conferences on activism including but not limited to the annual Fellowship of Reconciliation conference in Washington and the Pacific Life Community gathering nearly a dozen times. I also had the opportunity to accompany two delegations one to Cuba and the other to Nicaragua with the organizations CodePink and Witness for Peace, which focused on the negative impacts our country’s policies have had on the global community. I am grateful to have the chance to work with my peers to address the gun violence epidemic which has so deeply shaken us all.