Educate for SAFETY. Empower for CHANGE.
The UNARMED program is a 12-session, group-based initiative that takes a practical and reality-based approach to gun violence prevention. Developed through rigorous participatory research that incorporated the vital voices of both our youth and our partners, UNARMED focuses on equipping youth with real-world knowledge and essential skills. Rather than relying on abstinence-only messaging, the program’s design helps young people recognize risks, confidently navigate complex situations, and ultimately make safer choices within communities impacted by gun violence. The program is already demonstrating success, currently serving 70+ youth with measurable positive outcomes.
Questions & Answers
This program is for male and female youth ages 12+ in residential programming, community-based organizations and educational settings.
Unarmed is a closed group with a minimum of 3 participants, maximum of 10 participants.
Only those that have gone through training and receive a certificate may facilitate the Unarmed curriculum. Initial certification training includes a 16-hour in-person training. To maintain certification, subsequent annual booster trainings are required.
Participants may miss two (2) lessons of the 12 sessions. The lessons are cumulative and require regular interaction among group participants.
It can take several years for a new curriculum to become evidence based. Currently, Unarmed is evidence informed and is currently being evaluated to become science backed. As data continues to be collected and analyzed, the program anticipates to become evidence based in the future.
Please reach out to us at
Join The Movement
Or send us an email at unarmed@abraxasyfs.org to discuss your organization’s needs.
Youth Speak Out.
“I learned from attending this group that people can be traumatized in many ways.
Trauma can affect the way people live. If you become involved in gang activity, you will probably carry a gun at all times. If you shoot at someone, it can affect the people who witness the shooting or are caught in the crossfire. Stores and schools can be shut down due to shootings. Judges may be harder on adults but there are a lot of kids picking up guns and killing each other. This has to stop!”
“I learned that the things I was involved in before coming to Abraxas will eventually get me in jail for a long time or lead to my death. I learned that not everyone is who they say they are or pretend to be. Through Unarmed groups, I know I am not alone – all of the kids in this group participated in the same kinds of gun violence even though we were from different counties, we did the same things and made the same mistakes. It doesn’t matter what you say, it is what you do and how you do it that matters. I’ve learned I don’t want this as part of my life.”
“In the UNARMED groups I learned how gun violence affects families and communities not only in the moment but long after it occurs. Before UNARMED, I didn’t understand the ripple effect in a community after gun violence happens. I am going to return to my community and talk to other kids about how we can work together to keep our community safe.”
