Quavo hosts summit against gun violence in Atlanta with Vice President Kamala Harris on Takeoff anniversary – WABE

Migos rapper Quavo’s quest to turn the tragic shooting of his nephew Takeoff into a force for change will unfold with a summit against gun violence on what would have been the late rapper’s 30th birthday.

Quavo is hosting the first Rocket Foundation summit at the Carter Center in Atlanta on Tuesday, the same day as Takeoff’s birthday. The musical artist will be joined by Vice President Kamala Harris for a fireside chat during the daylong summit, which will also include panel discussions on gun violence prevention and youth programs.

For Quavo, it’s been a tough road since Takeoff’s untimely death in 2022. But many of his family members — including his nephew’s mother — often encourage him to keep moving forward.

“It’s super hard every day. I always cry. I am still grieving. I’m still grieving,” said Quavo, who with his family launched the Rocket Foundation in Takeoff’s honor and has committed millions to invest in community violence response.

Last year, the Grammy-nominated rapper attended the Congressional Black Caucus legislative conference where he met with political figures, including Harris and Greg Jackson, who is now deputy director of the White House Office for Prevention of gun violence after his time at Community Justice Action. Funds.

“Just looking behind me and seeing that I have the vice president and guys like Greg Jackson and other survivors who have been victims of the same thing, I know I’m not alone,” Quavo continued . “It’s my second vocation. It’s very personal for me. This is what makes me even more motivated and motivated to go even further.

Police said Takeoff was an innocent bystander who was shot to death outside a Houston bowling alley after a disagreement over a lucrative dice game. Takeoff’s death is part of a series of fatal shootings in recent years involving hip-hop stars such as Nipsey Hussle, Pop Smoke, PnB Rock and Young Dolph.

Quavo calls the foundation and summit a “certified movement.” Earlier this year, he and the foundation created the Sparks Grant program, which supports organizations working to minimize community violence.

The program will award $100,000 in grants to Atlanta-focused organizations.

“I feel like a lot of people just announce foundations and keep them running for non-profit or even financial reasons,” he said. “But I’m on the ground. In fact, I work. We get things done. We get results. We collect real money. We go into the real communities where the problem is a problem.

Quavo’s discussion with Harris will focus on the impact that community violence intervention can have and the importance of youth support systems in decreasing gun violence. A separate roundtable will connect victims’ families and survivors, who are expected to share their stories.

The summit will include panels focused on the gun violence crisis in the United States and how intervening against community violence is a long-term solution to this problem. Another will discuss the importance of supporting youth in the fight against gun violence and the visibility of resources aimed at youth.

Quavo hopes the summit can lead to more partnerships between the Rocket Foundation and the White House. He is on a mission to make sure his voice is heard and honor his nephew’s legacy.

“It hits hard when it hits home,” he said. “We try to avoid that. Just because it’s next door doesn’t mean you close your door. You can open the door and help your neighborhood. It’s about joining the world and ensuring that this awareness is put on a national billboard. This is my platform.