The Cost of Access: Youth, Guns & the Path Forward

Recent acts of violence involving young people have shaken families and neighborhoods across Seattle. As our community reflects and searches for answers, Seattle CityClub invites you into a thoughtful, solutions-focused conversation about youth gun access, disproportionate involvement in violent crime, and what it will take to create safer pathways for young people.

While schools are central to this discussion—because they are central to young people’s lives—this conversation extends beyond school grounds. Civic Cocktail will bring together students, community leaders, educators, and subject-matter experts to examine the factors driving youth violence and the complex realities facing young people today. Together, we’ll explore prevention strategies, intervention efforts, mentorship models, and the role of trust, opportunity, and accountability in disrupting cycles of harm.

Panelists will discuss how city leaders and community organizations are responding—and what meaningful collaboration between families, schools, policymakers, and neighborhoods can look like moving forward. With perspectives from those closest to both the challenges and potential solutions, this program aims to foster clarity, compassion, and shared civic responsibility.

5:30–6:30 p.m. | Reception & Networking

Guests arrive early to enjoy lite appetizers, connect with fellow civic-minded attendees, and purchase cocktails or mocktails from The Collective’s bar.

6:30–7:05 p.m. | Segment One

Speakers:

• To be announced

7:05–7:10 p.m. | Intermission

7:15–7:50 p.m. | Segment Two

Panelists:

• To be announced

7:50-8:00 p.m. | Audience Q&A

Ticket holders are encouraged to arrive early, grab a bite, and engage with fellow civic enthusiasts! From 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., enjoy lite appetizers (included with your ticket) at The Collective Seattle, and connect with the Seattle CityClub community before the evening’s conversation begins. Sip on a craft cocktail or mocktail and engage in meaningful discussions, before settling in for an evening of insight and engagement.

Seattle CityClub is a 40-year-old nonpartisan, civics-focused nonprofit, providing a platform for insightful and educational conversations that include a diverse range of perspectives.

Civic Cocktail connects elected and community leaders with the public for lively conversations about important issues facing our region. Whether you’re new to the Pacific Northwest, a self-described “civic nerd,” or looking to meet people engaged in their communities, your evening at this beloved program is sure to be friendly, fun, and fascinating. Civic Cocktail’s welcoming and conversational tone is inspired by our Dialogue Across Differences initiative. We hope you can join in person, where the conversation happens over tasty bites and festive libations, but you can still enjoy the experience wherever you are by watching virtually.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

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Host or Publisher Seattle CityClub