Building A Future Without Gun Violence: Pittsburgh

Southwest PA Senior Coordinator, CeaseFirePA

Beth Foringer became a vocal advocate for gun violence prevention after the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida — a moment that shook her to the core as a young mother. Inspired by the powerful testimony of 17-year-old survivor Edna Chavez, Beth committed herself to ensuring that no child should have to learn to duck bullets before they learn to read.

She began her journey with the Pennsylvania chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America and rose to become the volunteer state co-lead for the Be SMART for Kids campaign, a national public health education initiative promoting secure firearm storage.

Today, Beth serves as the southwest PA senior coordinator, where she focuses on community building, survivor empowerment, and legislative advocacy. She works to connect individuals and families impacted by gun violence with healing resources and amplifies their voices in the fight for life-saving policy reform.

A graduate of La Roche University, Beth lives in North Pittsburgh with her family. In her spare time, she enjoys volunteering, creating art, hiking, traveling, and adventuring with her kids — often with muddy boots and joyful hearts.

Founder & CEO, Freedom Thinkers Academy | Artist | Health Advocate

Leslie Pridgen, known globally as Philadelphia Freeway, is a legendary hip-hop artist, Presidential Medal of Honor recipient, and kidney transplant survivor whose career spans over two decades in the music industry. Following a life-altering battle with kidney failure, Freeway transformed his personal journey into purpose by founding the Freedom Thinkers Academy (FTA)— a pioneering organization at the intersection of music, health, and education.

FTA uses culturally responsive mentoring, STEAM-based career exploration, and CIY (Create-It-Yourself) music workshops to empower youth and adults impacted by poverty and systemic inequity. Its workforce development program equips participants with industry certifications and real-world skills to break generational cycles of disadvantage — particularly in Black communities.

Under Freeway’s leadership, FTA is reshaping the narrative around urban youth and health equity, blending lived experience, artistic expression, and community-based solutions to spark transformational change.

Co-Founder, 1Hood Media | Artist | Social Justice Leader

Jasiri X is a trailblazing hip-hop artist, cultural strategist, and nationally recognized voice for justice and liberation. As the first independent hip-hop artist awarded an Honorary Doctorate— conferred by Chicago Theological Seminary — he merges artistry with activism, giving voice to a generation confronting systemic injustice.

Through powerful tracks like Justice for Trayvon and Strange Fruit, Jasiri has chronicled the tragedies and resistance that define the modern civil rights movement. A co-founder of 1Hood Media, a Pittsburgh-based nonprofit, Jasiri helps build liberated communities through art, education, and political engagement.

His influence stretches from street-level protests to Ivy League classrooms — he has performed and spoken at Harvard, Yale, NYU, and Stanford, and his work has been featured at the Smithsonian and the Apollo Theater. Internationally, he co-produced War on Us with Rhymefest in collaboration with the Open Society Foundation, exploring the U.S. drug policy’s impact in Colombia.

His accolades include the Nathan Cummings Foundation Fellowship, USA Cummings Fellowship in Music, the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation Fellowship, and the President's Volunteer Service Award. Jasiri X remains one of the most potent cultural and political voices of his generation, using hip-hop not just as music, but as a tool for liberation.

Executive Director, We Are Better Together: The Warren Daniel Houston Project/Operation Lipstick | National Advocate for Healing & Violence Prevention

Ms. Ruth Rollins is a nationally respected advocate, healer, and community leader with over 20 years of experience working at the intersection of domestic violence, trauma, and systemic harm. She currently serves as the executive director of Operation LIPSTICK (Ladies Involved in Putting a Stop to Inner-City Killing), a groundbreaking organization that empowers women and girls to disrupt the illegal gun trade and prevent gun violence in their communities.

Before leading Operation LIPSTICK, Ms. Rollins spent 18 years at the Elizabeth Stone House, where she served as the supervisor of Domestic Violence and Community Services. There, she supported countless families navigating the aftermath of abuse and trauma, providing crisis intervention, housing support, and empowerment-based services.

In addition to her work at LIPSTICK, Ruth also serves as the executive director of We Are Better Together: The Warren Daniel Hairston Project— a powerful initiative rooted in restorative justice. The organization bridges families who have been impacted by both community harm and incarceration, creating spaces for transformational healing, addressing intergenerational trauma, and nurturing agents of change to interrupt cycles of violence.

Ms. Rollins is a fierce believer in the power of unity, healing, and community transformation. Her work is grounded in the principle that in order to end violence, we must hold space for both those who have been harmed and those who have caused harm. Through love, accountability, and collective healing, she continues to lead efforts that center justice, peace, and healing — because We Are Better Together.

Storyteller | Advocate in Progress | Voice for Redemption and Accountability

Ms. Quinniea Gross is a powerful emerging voice in the movement to end gun violence through lived experience, accountability, and second chances. She first garnered national attention after going viral on TikTok for courageously sharing her real-life story of being sentenced to federal prison for illegally purchasing a firearm on behalf of her boyfriend — a decision that changed the course of her life.

Quinniea’s honesty and vulnerability struck a chord across social media, sparking critical conversations around gun access, love, loyalty, and the high-stakes consequences of illegal firearm transactions. Her story not only shed light on the human side of supply-side gun violence, but also became a cautionary tale for young women navigating similar pressures.

Now on a determined path of redemption, Ms. Gross is rebuilding her life with unwavering dedication. She is the proud mother of a young daughter and has recently earned her Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) — taking bold steps toward long-term stability and independence.

Quinniea’s voice stands as a reminder that people impacted by the criminal justice system deserve opportunities for healing, growth, and contribution. She is committed to using her platform to inspire others to make informed choices and to advocate for policies that address the root causes of gun violence and incarceration.

Gun Violence Survivor | Music Executive | Advocate for Healing and Prevention

Mr. Charles Dockery is a gunshot survivor, respected music manager, and passionate advocate working at the intersection of culture and community healing. With over a decade of experience in the music management industry, Mr. Dockery has helped shape the careers of rising artists while remaining deeply connected to the realities of street violence and survival.

After being shot, Mr. Dockery faced a critical turning point — one familiar to many survivors of gun violence. He speaks candidly about the two paths that often follow such trauma: either becoming further entangled in cycles of retaliation and violence, or stepping into the difficult but transformative role of a violence prevention advocate. Mr. Dockery chose the latter.

Today, he shares his lived experience to shed light on the psychological and emotional toll of surviving gun violence, particularly the hypervigilance that lingers long after the physical wounds heal. His story underscores the weight of trauma, the courage required to break the cycle, and the urgent need for community-based solutions that support healing, accountability, and peace.

Mr. Dockery continues to use his voice, platform, and influence to uplift others and help guide a new generation away from violence and toward purpose.

Senior Manager, Mid-Atlantic Combating Crime Guns Program | Brady

Marion Wilson serves as the senior manager for the Mid-Atlantic region under Brady Combating Crime Guns program, where he spearheads efforts to reduce gun violence by addressing the illegal supply of firearms in impacted communities. In this role, Marion leads cross-sector collaborations that unite community leaders, researchers, and survivors to strengthen firearm tracing, prevent straw purchasing, and hold irresponsible gun dealers accountable.

With over a decade of experience in nonprofit leadership, violence intervention, and community engagement, Marion brings a unique combination of grassroots credibility and strategic vision to his work. Prior to joining Brady, he served as director of Community Support Services at NET Community Care in Philadelphia, where he developed trauma-informed programming, coordinated reentry initiatives, and helped launch mobile expungement clinics in high-need neighborhoods.

At the heart of Marion’s work is a deep commitment to public safety, equity, and the lived experiences of those most affected by gun violence. He is a skilled facilitator, storyteller, and coalition-builder who believes that data must be paired with dignity to achieve lasting change.

A Philadelphia native, Marion also uses his platform as a spoken word artist to uplift communities and challenge systems of injustice — performing nationwide and collaborating with cultural icons including Sonia Sanchez and Freeway. His leadership continues to inspire a movement grounded in justice, healing, and hope.

Senior Research Manager | Brady

Anneliese has been a public policy professional for over 30 years, focusing on local government issues important to neighborhoods and families. After the Sandy Hook massacre, Anneliese left her position as the research director of the Midwest's oldest think tank to dedicate her skills to reforming gun policy. She joined Brady in 2018 as the program manager for the Combating Crime Guns Initiative in Milwaukee.