2025 marked a pivotal inaugural year for Unarmed: Gun Violence Education Program as the initiative moved from vision to implementation, reaching youth across residential and community-based settings. This year reflected not only successful program launch, but also a deep commitment to education.
During 2025, Unarmed successfully launched and delivered 10 cohorts, engaging 79 youth in meaningful conversations and learning around gun violence, safety, and decision-making. All Pennsylvania Abraxas residential programs and Abraxas Ohio completed Unarmed cohorts, demonstrating strong system-wide adoption and commitment. In addition, three community-based cohorts were completed in Lycoming, Allegheny, and Dauphin counties, extending the program’s reach beyond residential settings and into the communities.
Two facilitator trainings were completed this year, resulting in 36 Abraxas employees being trained to facilitate Unarmed. These trainings strengthened internal capacity and ensured fidelity to the curriculum while empowering staff to lead critical conversations with confidence and care.
A key strength of Unarmed is the inclusion of lived experience and professional expertise. We extend our sincere gratitude to the nine guest speakers who supported the initiative this year by sharing their perspectives on gun violence. Their voices enriched the curriculum, grounded learning in real-world experiences, and helped youth better understand the complex and far-reaching impact of gun violence.
In recognition of this collective effort, Unarmed was honored by Inperium with the “Making It Happen” award, an acknowledgment of the dedication, collaboration, and perseverance that brought this program to life.
2025 also marked the successful launch of the Unarmed website, providing a centralized platform to share program information, resources, and the growing impact of the initiative.
Behind the scenes, countless hours were devoted to the continued development and evaluation of the curriculum, working to move Unarmed forward from science-backed to evidence-based. This work reflects a strong commitment to continuous improvement, accountability, and long-term sustainability.
As we look ahead to 2026, Unarmed enters the new year with momentum and purpose. The focus will remain on continuing education, strengthening program fidelity, and expanding impact. We look forward to another year of learning, growth, and collaboration as we continue this important work together.