Elizabeth Charash

University of Connecticut

Elizabeth Charash, a member of the class of 2018, is a student leader on the poignant, personal and epidemic issue of gun violence prevention. Elizabeth has a triple major in history, human rights and public policy. These three intersect for her activism work in gun violence prevention. She knows the legislative system through her internship work with Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty. She has actively lobbied in Washington DC and throughout Connecticut as a member of the Newtown Action Alliance. She knows that gun violence prevention is multifaceted and in her quest to examine the issue holistically, she is currently in South Africa working with Cease Fire and understanding the complexities of social conditions. In Fall 2016, Elizabeth will start the UConn Against Gun Violence organization rallying UConn students to address this issue in their home communities. Elizabeth is the UConn student we desire...one who identifies and issue, learns all that there is to learn about the issue and then takes action to address the issue head on. She knows how to use her sources of power to effect change and inspires others to get involved.

Susan Herbst PhD
President
University of Connecticut

Personal Statement

It was a little over three years ago that the gun violence epidemic was brought to my doorstep when the shooting of 20 five to six year olds and six educators occurred five miles from my high school at Sandy Hook Elementary. I was then made aware of the gun violence tragedies that happened not just in Aurora five months prior, but every night on the streets of Hartford, New Haven and Bridgeport, a short drive from my house. Following some advice, I applied and was awarded a UConn IDEA grant to examine why there are differences in urban and suburban gun violence prevention organizations. I will use this research to help shape the gun violence prevention organization I am starting at UConn this coming fall. UConn Against Gun Violence will focus on educating students of all different backgrounds on the issue of gun violence from a holistic approach, looking at gun safety, active shooter trainings and mental health. Currently, I am in Cape Town , South Africa examining the issues that cause gang violence through the Cease Fire program, which sets out to end gun violence through mediation, community involvement and rehabilitation. We can all educate each other to end this epidemic of violence.

Elizabeth Charash
History; minor Human Rights and Public Policy: Class of 2018
written 2016

2016 Fellows Alphabetical by Institution

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Karmen Kurtz, UNC Asheville Erin Coggins, UNC Charlotte Juan Emilio García Estrada, Universidad de Monterrey Sonce Reese, University of Baltimore Lillian McEntire, University of Central Arkansas Katie Richard, University of Central Oklahoma Joshua Higginbotham, University of Charleston Elizabeth Charash, University of Connecticut Kayla J. McLaughlin, University of Dayton Ciera Kathryn Blehm, University of Denver Andy Garcia, University of Florida Brittany Shipman, University of Great Falls Rima Nimri, University of Illinois at Chicago Maribel Hernandez, University of La Verne Benjamin Webster, University of Maryland Eastern Shore Rachael Parran, University of Maryland, Baltimore Max Poole, University of Maryland, Baltimore County Joel Colon, University of Massachusetts Boston Chris LaPorte, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Alexis Musick, University of Miami Hawa Ali, University of Minnesota Rochester Daniel Mueller, University of Missouri - St. Louis Mackenzie Lombardi, University of Montana Katelyn Gonczy, University of Mount Union Antonio Campbell, University of Nebraska Omaha Zachary Bolster, University of New Hampshire Michael Elliott, University of New Hampshire - Manchester John Blessing, University of North Georgia Shelby Yates, University of Northern Iowa Caitlin Hodges, University of Notre Dame Jeffrey Wiseman, University of Pennsylvania Ian Kanterman, University of Rhode Island Jennifer Paradis, University of Saint Joseph Jessica Villa, University of San Francisco Theresa M. Lacey, University of South Carolina Beaufort Cindy Kuo, University of Utah Mirella Espino, University of Wisconsin Colleges-University of Wisconsin-Extension Nasitta Keita, University of Wisconsin-Madison Marley Uran, University of Wisconsin-Parkside
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