Meet 2026 BRIDGS Emergent Scholar Lexie Contreras! 👋 Lexie Contreras is a PhD Candidate in Social, Behavioral, and Population Sciences at the Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine at Tulane University. Her research examines how social and structural factors shape youth firearm-related behaviors and outcome. Her dissertation explores the role of social support in association with youth firearm violence prevention and recovery. As a BRIDGS Fellow, Lexie workshopped a quantitative paper, "Pathways From Community Firearm Violence to Youth Firearm Carriage: Roles of Perceived Safety and Social Support", which used structural equation modeling to examine how social support, exposure to community firearm violence, and perceived safety are associated with firearm carriage among youth in New Orleans, LA. "BRIDGS introduced me to an amazing interdisciplinary community, and the opportunity to learn from scholars outside my field helped me strengthen my research and think more intentionally about how to make it translatable across disciplines."

Meet 2026 BRIDGS Emergent Scholar Fellow Johari Osei! 👋 Johari Diata Osei is a PhD candidate in History at @ASU whose research focuses on Black liberation movements, revolutionary labor, political economy, and the material realities of armed resistance. Her dissertation explores how revolutionary activity within Black radical organizations can be understood through labor, survival, and extraction under racial capitalism. As a Fellow, Johari workshopped a paper titled "The Work of the Weapon: Firearms and Labor in Black Armed Struggle", which examines firearms not simply as symbols of resistance, but as tools embedded within systems of labor, discipline, strategy, and survival in Black liberation movements. “BRIDGS reminded me that some of the most exciting scholarship happens when you stop trying to fit neatly into one field and just follow the argument where it leads.”

New episode out now! rss.com/podcasts/gunsunpacke…

Our final meeting of the 2026 BRIDGS Initiative Emergent Scholars Fellowship cohort marks the end of this year’s programming, but the connections and impact of this cohort will continue beyond it. This Spring, these emerging scholars engaged with the multifaceted significance of guns in society through interdisciplinary research, collaborative dialogue, and thoughtful peer engagement.

The BRIDGS Initiative is special for our large network of academics and scholars. What makes BRIDGS special for you?

7 years ago today, I gave what was, to that point, my most important talk about guns. With 12K views, it was also the most viewed piece of work I'd ever created in my career. My recent TEDx talk has doubled that video's viewership, plus some. I'm grateful for everyone who has taken time to watch and share "Escaping the Gun Debate Trap." I hope it makes some difference. youtu.be/BzB8MX4v8ko?si=CB0n…

Have you listened to our latest episode? Listen to the full conversation now: rss.com/podcasts/gunsunpacke…

📊 New from the Rockefeller Institute of Government, written by BRIDGS Initiative incoming Assistant Professor Monte-Angel Richardson "Understanding the Factors that Influence Firearm Safety Engagement Among US Latino(a/e/x) and Hispanic Adults" Her ongoing research "examines how Latino and Hispanic communities engage with firearm safety behaviors and practices, focusing on the social, cultural, and structural factors that shape participation in prevention initiatives". 🔗 Read the full article: rockinst.org/blog/understand…

New episode with Dr. Nora Gross out now! open.spotify.com/episode/7iV…

Listen in on what our BRIDGS community thinks could change this debate. What do you think could change the debate?

📢 New research alert! Incoming BRIDGS Assistant Professor Kimberly C. Burke co-authored a new article, “Changes in firearm intentions and behaviors after the 2024 United States presidential election” in the Injury Epidemiology journal. Read more 👇 link.springer.com/article/10…

It was a pleasure having Dr. Kellie Carter Jackson @kcarterjackson the Michael and Denise Kellen ‘68 Associate Professor of Africana studies at @Wellesley College, speak to the BRIDGS Initiative community about her book “We Refuse: A Forceful History of Black Resistance”. We couldn’t imagine a better endcap for our 2026 Annual Guns in Society Symposium! Thank you to all who attended, joined in the conversation, and to our sponsors School of Historical, Philosophical and Religious Studies @ASU_SHPRS and the ASU Humanities Institute @HumIt_ASU

Be sure to listen to our latest episode with Dr. Toni Jensen! rss.com/podcasts/gunsunpacke…

New episode with Dr. Toni Jensen out now! open.spotify.com/episode/23N…

Come join us in listening to @kcarterjackson keynote address being held in the Innovation Auditorium TOMORROW at 6pm. You wouldn’t want to miss this speech about her book and more! Registration for this event is required and can be found on our linktree in our bio.

Join us at the @ASUBRIDGS Initiative Symposium, “The Gun Debate You Don’t Know: Hidden Stories of Guns in Society,” for a keynote address by Dr. Kellie Carter Jackson, “We Refuse: A Forceful History of Black Resistance.” Time: February 27th, 2026 6:00-7:30 PM ⏰ Location: Innovation Auditorium, Health North 550 N. 3rd St., Phoenix, AZ 85004 Thank you to our sponsors Arizona State University - The Humanities Institute (@HumIt_ASU) Arizona State University - School of Historical, Philosophical and Religious Studies at ASU (@ASU_SHPRS) Register: eventbrite.com/e/bridgs-keyn…

New episode out now! 🎙️ Dr. Yasser Arafat Payne, Dr. Brooklynn K. Hitchens, and Darryl L. Chambers discuss their 2023 hit book, "Murder Town, USA" - a live keynote panel from our first annual @ASUBRIDGS Symposium from January 2025.

New episode out now - G_ns Unpacked... Unwrapped! In this special episode, co-hosts Jennifer Carlson and Alex Young cover the highlights (and lowlights) of their work at the @ASUBRIDGS Initiative in 2025. rss.com/podcasts/gunsunpacke…

A new @cronkitenews article featuring @g_unpackedpod alum @RealCedricDark - "Gun violence has sharply declined. Trauma physicians have been pushing for that reduction for years" cronkitenews.azpbs.org/2025/…

New episode out now with @RealCedricDark ! open.spotify.com/episode/7fp…