"Uvalde: What's Next?"

STORYTELLING CATEGORY

Texas Standard
08/15/2022

In May 2022, in the wake of the deadliest school shooting in Texas’ history, it once again became impossible to write anything that felt like it contained real meaning. Words like “devastating” and “tragedy” did not feel adequate for a shooting that targeted kids, leaving 19 of them – as well as two longtime teachers – not just dead but mutilated. Once again, we grieved, we got mad, and we pored over the details of what happened in Uvalde, a small Texas town that's unaccustomed to being the center of state and national news. Finally, we tried to make a bit of sense as to why.

As always, the summer months went by quickly. But the memories of this school shooting were particularly fresh for Texans as families started to prepare to return to classes in August. The statewide NPR program Texas Standard felt like there was an opportunity for a community conversation, not necessarily about what happened in Uvalde, but about what the state could and should do to prevent future school shootings. Was it possible to have a show like this without becoming immediately politically divisive? Isn’t there anything we can largely agree on? Those questions drove our special program Uvalde: What’s Next?

For help answering those questions, we reached out to the families of mass shooting victims, survivors, educators, and policy and mental health experts. It was also very important to our team to include the voices of young people – our state’s future leaders -- in the program. Our goal was to not let the passage of time dampen the intensity of attention dedicated to conversation and action to prevent future school shootings.

Though this single program is over, that effort is not. Texas Standard is committed to following up on the ideas presented here and to holding Texas’ leaders accountable. This process is ongoing as the state Legislature prepares to convene in early 2023 and Texas Standard plans follow-up programs and events.

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Submitted by Laura Rice.