Will You Hear Me Now?

23/11/2025

A few weeks ago, we shared a post about the upcoming student-led documentary "Our Time Is Not Up" and the interviews during a visit with parents who've lost kids to gun violence.

Terrez and Andre McCleary, and Tanya Anderson, of Philadelphia-based Moms Bonded By Grief Support Group spoke about their children with clarity, love, and a determination to keep their voices alive. That experience stayed with us — not just because of the subject matter, but because of the openness and strength of the parents who welcomed us into their home. They shared who their children were, and what it means to speak for them now. It was an honest, generous, and deeply moving conversation.

This short piece offers an intimate look at the stories that continue to guide our broader goal of giving young people a voice. And, it stands alongside the ongoing work of Naarah Asamoa and Farnsworth Hendrickson Jr. , the young filmmakers currently producing Our Time Is Not Up — that will focus on gun violence in our communities, and explore these parents’ stories in greater depth. Stay tuned!

Grateful to everyone who helped bring this short video to life:
Rick Barlis, Papoulis, Richard M Weiss, Naarah Asamoa, Farnsworth Hendrickson Jr., Anne Fritchman, Vijay Satyanarayana.

Most of all, a special thanks to the parents of Moms Bonded By Grief Support Group for trusting us with amplifying their children’s voices.

14/10/2025

October has been a busy month for young activist voices.
Seton Hall University student Naarah Asamoa created lyrics for “You Only Live Once,” a companion song to “Will You Hear Me Now?” She and Sara Shikowitz’s Halsey Junior High School Choir (Queens, NY) students joined us in the studio to perform. With Jim Papoulis leading, their voices carried strength and urgency.
This was about students creating, taking the lead, and speaking to the reality of gun violence in their schools and communities.

24/09/2025

An atmosphere of violence has descended on this country, a dark cloud of hate brought about through violent words, hate speech, violent political behavior, a lack of true dialogue and of course the proliferation of guns (390 million) on the streets and in the houses of angry people. There will be more and it will become more frequent unless the people in charge, deescalate, call for calm and unity, not revenge.

Investigators said anti-ICE language was found on ammunition left behind by the gunman, who died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. No law enforcement personnel were hurt.

18/09/2025

Landscape version of Vaccines and Violence -- Stop the Misinformation

18/09/2025

Vaccines and Violence--Stop the Misinformation, Start Saving Lives, In our latest Will You Hear Me Now? release, students talk about vaccine denialism and other false narratives that pull attention from ongoing violence in our communities.

They're deeply concerned that the assassination of Charlie Kirk and the most recent Colorado school shooting are evidence of a profound crisis in this country.

A Reuters/Ipsos poll after Kirk’s death found that 2/3rds of Americans worry that harsh political rhetoric will fuel even more violence. These young people want to elevate the conversation beyond blame, division, and misinformation — and move it toward real policy and lasting change.

The students say it best:
“Gun violence is a disease in our nation."
"Until policies are put in place, these tragedies will continue.”

Guns remain the leading cause of death for kids in America. In 2025 alone, there have already been 11 school shootings (K-12) with injuries or deaths.

Credits to students: Meher, Gavin, Krishi, Sarita, Precious and all young people whose raised voices make a difference. www.willyouhearmenow.com

23/08/2025

Interesting from Kate Schweit, former FBI Agent and advisor to Will You Hear Me Now? The connection between online hate and teen shooters:

Original Press Release: August 21, 2025, 7 am EST, by the ADL ADL unveils interactive timeline and associated resources exposing dangers of violent and extremist online communities and platforms; reaches out to 16,000 superintendents New York, NY, August 21, 2025 | A new research project re

15/08/2025

Today, 8/15, Congress is slated to return to session from their summer break. We created this AI story to underline just how unserious if not outright hostile they are about enacting even the most modest safe gun laws. If you’re as tired of “Thoughts and Prayers” as we are, keep in mind that Midterm Elections are a year away and the next presidential election happens in 3 years.

Four days ago a man walked into the CDC headquarters in Atlanta and killed a security guard before taking his own life. Sadly we now extend the same caution to doctors and scientists that we routinely share with students. Be safe out there. And continue to speak up, because “thoughts and prayers never solved anything.”

Credits go to Bennett Weiss Productions and Richard M Weiss, along with Michael Finan and Vijay Satyanarayana for their direction, advice and support.

18/07/2025

It's summer. What has kids worried about for the coming school year? Their answers might surprise you.

26/06/2025

Will You Hear Me Now? was created to amplify the voices of young people speaking out against gun violence in schools. But what about kids who never had the chance to speak?

For our second video, in recognition of National Gun Violence Awareness Month, we turned to AI to imagine the lives and voices of students lost too soon.

"They Never Got The Chance" doesn’t depict fictional futures. It reflects a devastating reality: gun violence against young people steals potential before it’s ever realized.

This video is not replacing real voices. It mourns the ones we never got to hear.

20/06/2025

Trump administration 3 word message to suicidal LGBTQ+ teens: "We don't care."

Your Support Saves LGBTQ+Youth's Lives Every DayDonate June 18, 2025 – The Trevor Project received official notice yesterday that the […]

12/06/2025

Imagine an alternate reality where students can go to school, free to learn and grow without ever facing the specter of gun violence. In recognition of National Gun Violence Prevention Month, we at Will You Hear Me Now?, tasked AI Generators to depict just such a world. We call it AI High and for now it only exists in the AI universe, but with collaboration, imagination and persistence, we can create real world solutions to one of today’s most urgent social issues. Credits go to: Nelson, Michael Finan, Richard M Weiss, Jim Papoulis and aspiring screenwriter Will Sherman, one of our new student contributors from Seton Hall University. Learn how you can become involved at [email protected].

19/04/2025

In 2020, gun violence became the number one killer of American kids. Five years later, our young team members are speaking out about the tragic shootings in Texas and Florida. According to health policy body KFF, the "average yearly rate of student exposure to school shooting" has increased from 19 per 100,000 students in 1999-2004, to 51 from 2020 to 2024.

This week's shootings are a stark reminder to our kids that they are not truly safe in their schools and communities as long as lax gun laws in states create an environment of lawlessness and danger.