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Former U.S. Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords’ nonprofit is getting ready to announce its next round of Courage Fellows, who will be equipped with tools and provided with opportunities to take action against gun violence.

The nonprofit, called Giffords, is dedicated to saving lives from gun violence by advocating for stronger gun safety laws and building a movement to prevent gun-related tragedies.

Entering its 7th year, the Giffords Courage Fellowship program plays a critical role in the organization’s mission and has expanded this year to introduce state-specific cohorts, starting with Arizona and Texas.

The Arizona program includes a three-day training in Tucson, a lobby day at the state capitol in Phoenix, regular check-ins with Giffords staff and the creation of a community engagement project. 

While the state-specific cohorts are new, this won’t be the first time an Arizona resident is selected as a Courage Fellow; One of Tucson’s up-and-coming leaders  participated in the most recent class.

Associated Students of the University of Arizona President Adriana Grijalva was a 2024 Courage Fellow. She told Tucson Spotlight that her acceptance into the program was a pivotal moment in her life.

“It was like a dream. I texted everybody that I got in,” she said. “It was the best program I’ve ever done.”

The fellowship provided Grijalva with hands-on experiences that helped her grow as a leader. Fellows participated in two in-person events in Texas and Washington, D.C., where they connected with other advocates and learned about gun violence prevention at a national level. 

During her time as a Courage Fellow, Grijalva spent time lobbying on Capitol Hill for gun violence prevention, learning from staffers in the Senate and U.S. House of Representatives, and meeting with both Giffords and her husband, U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly. She said the experience helped her find a new direction in her gun violence prevention advocacy work.

She said the highlight of the program was the opportunity to learn from and spend time with Giffords herself, but also pointed towards the relationships she built with fellow participants who  q= have endured beyond the program. 

“We were all able to … stay connected throughout the whole cohort and keep working on gun violence awareness around our communities, then we would come together and learn,” she said. “When things go wrong in our communities, we reach out to each other. We connect through wanting to make change.”

Grijalva’s passion for advocacy was shaped by the 2022 shooting of Professor Thomas Meixner on the UA campus, which she called a wake-up call. The tragedy deeply affected her and motivated her to take action. 

“I definitely felt a sense of wanting to do something and I kept seeing it on the news,” she said. “My first step was joining Students Demand Action, then I did an internship with Congressman Raúl Grijalva and joined Courage Fellows. That was an awakening to wanting to make change.” 

Grijalva said her experience with the fellowship also helped inform her leadership as ASUA president. With gun violence remaining a serious issue on and around campus, her role has required that she address these concerns firsthand. 

“Sadly, the first statement I wrote as student body president was about another shooting, with the recent loss of a non-student that was shot here on campus,” she said.

In September, 19-year-old Minhaj Jamshidi, a Pima Community College student, was fatally shot on the UA volleyball courts by 20-year-old Ryan Romero-Encinas, who was not a student at either school.

“We believe that safety should never be a privilege but a fundamental right for everyone, especially in places of learning, growth and connection,” Grijalva wrote in ASUA’s statement about the incident. “We stand united in our commitment to fostering a safe and supportive campus environment. Together, we will continue to advocate for meaningful change and ensure that every student feels safe and valued.”

Throughout her term, Grijalva has prioritized campus safety by collaborating with safety teams and listening to students’ concerns. 

“Campus safety was the biggest thing that was brought up to me when campaigning,” she said. “I’ve tried to meet with as many student groups as possible to get feedback on safety, whether that’s from those that live on campus or those who walk late at night from off-campus housing.” 

Grijalva has also worked to foster dialogue between students and campus safety teams through initiatives like the Leadership Series, which brought together campus safety representatives and students to discuss concerns and collaborate on solutions.

While she knows she has her work cut out in creating meaningful change in gun reform, Grijalva said she’s hopeful that so many other young people are working towards the cause. She encouraged others to find strength in the community working toward the same goal, whether it be gun violence prevention, or any other issue.

“There are so many in the community fighting for the same thing, you are not alone,” she said. ”Listen to your heart and know that it’s okay to stand up and be a voice for others, too.”

Isabela Gamez is a University of Arizona alum and Tucson Spotlight reporter. Contact her at gamezi@arizona.edu.

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