Summer is in full swing, and so is our team. This month, we’re proud to welcome a new face, introduce our hardworking interns, and share a story from the road that captures why these conversations matter.
#1 What We’re Tracking: Safe at Home
Summer means baseball games, melting popsicles, and making memories with friends. For Tennessee families, it should be a carefree time. But for too many families it isn’t. Firearms are the leading cause of death for kids in Tennessee, and every summer the risk rises. July alone sees nearly 44% more accidental shootings than September.
Voices for a Safer Tennessee gives cable locks to Tennessee gun owners to secure their firearms at no cost. For $25, you can provide five locks. For $50, ten. Every one of those locks could secure a firearm and save a life.
For the past three years, we’ve been putting free cable locks in the hands of firearm owners across all 95 counties at community events, hospital emergency departments, maternity wards, and rural clinics. At Erlanger Children’s Hospital in Chattanooga, distribution has grown by 700% in just three months. Families are asking for them everywhere we go.
This summer, we are raising $75,000 to fund a full year of distribution. The Urban Child Institute and the Elsie Marshall Charitable Fund have already committed $20,000. Now we need our community to raise $55,000 to bring it home.
Help us keep kids Safe at Home.
#2 What We’re Tracking: Meet Our Summer Interns
This summer, Voices for a Safer Tennessee welcomed a large class of interns bringing energy and talent to our communications, policy, and coalition work. We’re introducing four of them today, with more to come in our August edition.
Mimi Bowen, Communications Intern, is a rising sophomore at Washington and Lee University, studying Politics and Business. A Nashville native, she spent two years as marketing chair for her high school’s Dance Marathon chapter and earned her Girl Scout Gold Award by organizing a dress drive for teenage girls who couldn’t afford dresses for school dances. She was drawn to Safer TN’s mission and to the chance to be part of an organization during a formative stage of its growth.
Sydney Gatewood, Policy Intern, is a rising senior at East Tennessee State University, majoring in Political Science with a minor in Public Administration. A Nashville native, she served as a legislative intern at the Tennessee General Assembly earlier this year, researching legislation and observing the policymaking process firsthand. She was drawn to Safer TN’s nonpartisan approach to bringing people together around responsible firearm ownership and meaningful policy solutions.
Kristian Ozane, Coalition Growth Intern, is a rising senior at The University of Tennessee — Chattanooga, studying Political Science and Public Service. Originally from Lake Charles, Louisiana, he has worked as a field organizer for The Vessel Project of Louisiana, a grassroots nonprofit focused on environmental justice, community advocacy, and mutual aid. He was drawn to Safer TN by his passion for public service and the chance to see advocacy, community engagement, and legislative work come together.
Mary Grove Gilbert, Coalition Growth Intern, is a rising senior at The University of Alabama, studying Political Science with a minor in Public Policy. Originally from Memphis, she has gained experience in public policy, community outreach, and advocacy through her father’s judicial campaign and an internship with the Shelby County Election Commission. Safer TN stood out for its commitment to advocacy, prevention, and improving the well-being of Tennesseans.
#3 What We’re Tracking: A New Face to the Safer TN team
We are pleased to welcome a new addition to Voices for a Safer Tennessee.
Katie Fayard has joined our staff as an Advancement Associate. A Nashville native with a background in fundraising, event planning, and strategic communications, Katie spent nearly a decade in New York City building her career in advertising and managing global events before returning home. She later served in development roles at Vanderbilt University and The Harpeth Hall School.
As the mother of a school-aged daughter and the wife of an avid duck hunter, Katie believes that protecting Tennessee’s families and respecting our state’s outdoor traditions can, and should, go hand in hand. We are thrilled to have her on the team.
#4 What We’re Tracking: Stories from the Road
Our Southeast Tennessee Coalition Coordinator, Emily Holden, shares a moment that stays with her.
“The night before our first trip together, after I had tucked my three-year-old son into bed, I received a text from my best friend. We’ve had many conversations about the work I do, and she has always been supportive of our mission. This time, though, the conversation felt especially personal.
She reached out to ask if I was comfortable with her bringing her firearm on our trip and to talk about how it would be stored safely. I was incredibly grateful that she started the conversation before we left. I told her I had no problem with her bringing it, but I also shared how relieved I was that she asked instead of leaving it to chance that my son might come across it.
My son knows not to touch firearms, but he’s three years old — and like any curious little boy, that alone isn’t enough. Knowing my friend had a plan for safe storage gave me tremendous peace of mind.
That simple conversation made all the difference. My child was safer because we talked openly. My friend felt confident traveling with her firearm, and I felt reassured knowing we had addressed safety together. Most importantly, she was willing to speak honestly, even though conversations like these can sometimes feel uncomfortable. Those moments of authenticity and transparency are exactly what help prevent life-altering tragedies.”
— Emily Holden, Southeast Tennessee Coalition Coordinator
If you’d like to volunteer at an upcoming event or have us speak to your community group, email our community engagement coordinator, Katy Dieckhaus.
Join us as a volunteer, or just stop by to say hello, at an event near you!
July 14–18: Bedford County Fair, Shelbyville
July 15: Lauderdale County Library Summer Reading Craft, Ripley
July 15: Hixson Council of the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce, Hixson
July 17: Adamsville Library Summer Reading Craft, Adamsville
July 18: Back to School Fair (location TBC)
July 23: Greenfield Library Summer Reading Craft, Greenfield
July 24: Germantown Farm Park Friday, Germantown
August 2: Manchester Watermelon Festival, Manchester
August 7–15: Williamson County Fair, Williamson County
August 8: American Legion POST 207 Breakfast, Spencer
- Two young children shot and killed in West Tennessee
- 12-year-old shot and killed in downtown Nashville
- 8-year-old pulls bullet fragment from her back during Nashville Fourth of July fireworks
- Teen survivor sues AI security company over failed gun detection at Antioch High School
- Middle Tennessee teens arrested for smash-and-grab burglaries resulting in dozens of stolen firearms
- If you own a gun, prevent accidental injuries by following these safety practices — Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital
- Life With Ferris: All The Empty Rooms — Chattanooga
