REAL LIFE Hosts 2nd Annual Beyond Gunshots Conference

From powerful keynotes to real conversations about solutions, the weekend was all about learning, sharing, and working together to reduce violence in our communities.

Highlights included REAL LIFE’s own session on our Real Talk with REAL LIFE program, where peer facilitators joined us via Zoom from the program at Lawrenceville Correctional Center to share how they’re now helping others change harmful patterns, take responsibility, and begin to heal. We also heard moving and inspirational stories of resilience, research related to the field, and updates about how localities and programs are tackling violence.

“Our conference provided a great venue to come together and talk about solutions for reducing violence,” said Sarah Scarbrough, Founder and Director of REAL LIFE. “Many different perspectives were shared, all with one goal in mind: to learn, to grow, and to strengthen our work. Having pizza and fun at the water park was an added bonus, giving us the chance to get to know our colleagues even better.”

We are grateful to our partners, sponsors, organizations, and speakers who made this year’s conference such a success. We’re already looking forward to an even bigger and better Beyond Gunshots in 2026!