Club Spotlight: Don't Want to be First Shot Club
by Deliliah Sabatella, Senior, iPreparatory Academy
by Deliliah Sabatella, Senior, iPreparatory Academy
Don’t Want to be First Shot Club is an academic, nonprofit organization formed in 2018 at Everglades K-7 after the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas high school by sponsor, Mr. Major, and when Major arrived at iPrep as a mathematics teacher, he brought this club to our school.
The Mission
In an interview with Mr. Major, he explained the origins of the Firstshot program: “I started The Firstshot Project to give students a voice in the gun violence debate because students were being killed and injured at an increasing rate during mass shooting events. The escalation in mass shootings prior to the shooting at Parkland prompted me to contemplate how I could assist, in a sustained way, in bringing awareness to the epidemic of gun deaths that was occurring in America's schools, churches, colleges, and other public places. […]When Parkland occurred, my humanity compelled me to organize my middle school students and to support their efforts in bringing awareness to the proliferation of gun violence deaths that were occurring across America.”
Students in the Firstshot program conduct research, record podcasts, memorialize victims through art, hold interviews, speak at public events, and write editorials, poetry, and letters to legislators. To honor victims, inform the public, and compel elected officials to fix legislation, the members upload work into content for the Firstshot social media pages and annual magazine.
In an interview with Mr. Major, he explained the origins of the Firstshot program: “I started The Firstshot Project to give students a voice in the gun violence debate because students were being killed and injured at an increasing rate during mass shooting events. The escalation in mass shootings prior to the shooting at Parkland prompted me to contemplate how I could assist, in a sustained way, in bringing awareness to the epidemic of gun deaths that was occurring in America's schools, churches, colleges, and other public places. […]When Parkland occurred, my humanity compelled me to organize my middle school students and to support their efforts in bringing awareness to the proliferation of gun violence deaths that were occurring across America.”
Students in the Firstshot program conduct research, record podcasts, memorialize victims through art, hold interviews, speak at public events, and write editorials, poetry, and letters to legislators. To honor victims, inform the public, and compel elected officials to fix legislation, the members upload work into content for the Firstshot social media pages and annual magazine.
Graphic designed by a Firstshot student contributor
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My Role in Firstshot
In the beginning of the 2020-2021 school year, when I heard about the new club at iPrep, I was immediately intrigued and knew that I wanted to get involved. After meeting with Mr. Major, I ran in the election for club president. For the past year, since 11th grade, my experience has been truly eye opening and humbling. As President, I organize and lead meetings, act as an arbiter between different committees, make sure deadlines are followed, and assist with overall communication. I feel fortunate to be able to watch and help First Shot club grow into a community of passionate students who support each other as we learn and work together. |
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Our Accomplishments
Since inception at Everglades K-8, the Project has attracted the attention of various media sources including National Public Radio, CBS, and WLRN, and has had student contributors in over ten Miami Dade County Public Schools. Last year, we worked on the 2020-2021 edition of the magazine which memorialized victims of the PULSE nightclub shooting, which is currently in publication. Students from schools all around Miami worked together to draw artistic renditions of all fifty victims, write biographies for all victims, compose poetry, include articles, pen letters to their legislative representatives, and hold interviews recording the testimonies of victims, parents of victims, and workers who were present the night of the shooting. Personally, as I have gathered information for our magazine, I’ve heard the testimonies from victims, parents of victims, and so many others who have been impacted by the terrors of gun violence. |
Portrait of Kimberly Morris, a victim of the PULSE shooting
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Our goals for the 2021-2022 School Year
Right now, the 2020-2021 edition of the magazine is in publication.. In the words of Mr. Major, our main goals this year are, “to use The Firstshot platforms to honor one child from each of The Fifty States [who] lost her/his life during the summer of 2021. Hence our working theme, ‘Present in Spring Absent in Fall,’[is] to tell compelling stor[ies] of innocence lost in order to shift public opinion on unfettered access to guns and to motivate elected officials to enact meaningful legislation to reduce senseless deaths.”
Right now, the 2020-2021 edition of the magazine is in publication.. In the words of Mr. Major, our main goals this year are, “to use The Firstshot platforms to honor one child from each of The Fifty States [who] lost her/his life during the summer of 2021. Hence our working theme, ‘Present in Spring Absent in Fall,’[is] to tell compelling stor[ies] of innocence lost in order to shift public opinion on unfettered access to guns and to motivate elected officials to enact meaningful legislation to reduce senseless deaths.”
Portrait of Tate Ethan, a victim of gun violence from Alabama
Your place in DWTB First Shot club
If you decide to join our project, you can choose a committee depending on your interests, so whether you are interested in politics or art, there is a spot for you! You can choose to work with Joshua Epstein, the head of our Government Relations committee; Isabella Briceno, the head of our magazine design Committee; Estrella Martin, the head of our Research Committee; Ava Slar, the head of our Social media Committee; Maximo Martin, the head of our Website Design Committee; Sophia Maya, the head of our Art committee; or Ivo Duwin, the head of our Creative Film Committee.
We meet every Wednesday after school from 3PM to 4PM in Mr. Major’s class (room number 221), but if you can’t make it to every meeting don’t worry! Meetings are optional since most things can be done remotely and on your own time. All middle and high schoolers are welcome to participate. You can scan the QR code below or come to our next meeting to join the club or for more information!
If you decide to join our project, you can choose a committee depending on your interests, so whether you are interested in politics or art, there is a spot for you! You can choose to work with Joshua Epstein, the head of our Government Relations committee; Isabella Briceno, the head of our magazine design Committee; Estrella Martin, the head of our Research Committee; Ava Slar, the head of our Social media Committee; Maximo Martin, the head of our Website Design Committee; Sophia Maya, the head of our Art committee; or Ivo Duwin, the head of our Creative Film Committee.
We meet every Wednesday after school from 3PM to 4PM in Mr. Major’s class (room number 221), but if you can’t make it to every meeting don’t worry! Meetings are optional since most things can be done remotely and on your own time. All middle and high schoolers are welcome to participate. You can scan the QR code below or come to our next meeting to join the club or for more information!