Tuesday October 20, 2026

Gun Violence in Chicago: What Works, What Doesn’t, and What’s Next

Gun Violence in Chicago: What Works, What Doesn’t, and What’s Next
Chicago’s gun violence crisis is complex, deeply rooted, and resistant to easy answers. But there is growing evidence about what can make a difference—and important lessons from those working every day to create safer communities.

Join the Harvard Club of Chicago on Tuesday, October 20 for a candid, solutions-oriented conversation with four leaders bringing distinct perspectives to one of Chicago’s most urgent challenges. Teny Gross, a nationally recognized violence-prevention leader; Arne Duncan, former U.S. Secretary of Education, longtime Chicago education and community leader and Managing Partner of Chicago CRED; Dr. Selwyn Rogers, trauma surgeon and founder of the University of Chicago Medicine Trauma Center; and Nekenya Hardy, a Chicago-based outreach worker with direct experience engaging young people and communities affected by gun violence will share what they have learned about prevention, intervention, education, trauma, and community investment.

Together, our panelists will explore:

• What approaches to reducing gun violence have demonstrated measurable results—and which have not

• The roles of schools, hospitals, community organizations, law enforcement, and neighborhood leaders

• How violence prevention and intervention can reach young people before they become victims or perpetrators

• What we can learn from Chicago communities that have successfully reduced violence

• Where philanthropy, government, business, and civic leaders can make the greatest impact

• What Chicago should do next

This will be a conversation about solutions rather than simply statistics—grounded in evidence, informed by experience, and focused on what is possible when institutions and communities work together.

Please join us for an important conversation about how Chicago can become safer—and what each of us can do to help make that happen.

Arne Duncan, AB’86

Managing Director, Emerson Collective

Arne Duncan served as U.S. Secretary of Education from January 2009 through December 2015 as part of the Obama Administration. Prior to joining the Obama Administration, Duncan served as chief executive officer of Chicago Public Schools. He currently leads Chicago CRED, a nonprofit trying to achieve a transformative reduction in gun violence in Chicago. Through partnerships with local business leaders, community organizers, and nonprofit groups, Duncan aims to provide outreach, therapeutic, education, and employment opportunities for the young men most likely to be engaged in gun violence. He is also the managing partner at Emerson Collective, an organization dedicated to removing barriers so people can live to their full potential. Secretary Duncan graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University in 1987, majoring in sociology.

Teny Oded Gross

Chief Executive Officer, Institute for Nonviolence Chicago

Teny Oded Gross founded the Institute for Nonviolence Chicago in 2016. Before then, Teny was the Executive Director of the Institute for the Study and Practice of Nonviolence in Providence, RI—a pioneering organization that teaches Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s principles and practices of Nonviolence locally, nationally, and internationally. Thirty years of street outreach and mediating conflicts among sworn enemies led him to this work in Chicago. At the same time Teny was launching Institute for Nonviolence Chicago, he led efforts to build a comprehensive violence reduction strategy for the entire city—the Civilian Architecture. This group includes 15 neighborhood organizations, three major nonprofits, and City of Chicago representatives who now coordinate daily to respond to shootings and offer services that guide people into a safer, more productive life.

Teny earned a Master of Theological Studies from Harvard University in 2001 and has presented at numerous colleges and universities, as well as the National Institute of Justice, Department of Justice, The White House, as well as abroad on the topic of violence reduction. Teny serves as an advisor to The National Network for Safe Communities at John Jay College and has advised many cities in the U.S. and abroad.

Nekenya Hardy

Associate Director of Community Violence and Intervention

Nekenya Hardy has been working in violence prevention for over 20 years, with a focus on the Austin community in Chicago. Since 2017, he’s grown with the Institute for Nonviolence Chicago, where he's been promoted five times and now serves as the Associate Director of Community Violence and Intervention. His work centers on community organizing, violence intervention, and building relationships to create lasting change. In 2024, he graduated from the Community Violence Intervention Leadership Academy (CVILA) and in May 2025, he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Organizational Leadership and Change from College Unbound. Nekenya was introduced into violence prevention after he was shot and chose not to retaliate. Now he's helping to reduce violence and promote peace by creating real opportunities off the streets.

Selwyn O. Rogers Jr., MD, MPH, FACS

Founding Director of the UChicago Medicine Trauma Center

Selwyn O. Rogers Jr., MD, MPH, FACS, is a widely respected surgeon, professor, researcher, advocate, and public health expert. As founding director of the UChicago Medicine Trauma Center, Selwyn oversees an interdisciplinary team of specialists that treat patients who suffer injury from life-threatening events, including gun violence. As Executive Vice President for Community Health Engagement, he works with faculty across UChicago as well as members of the community to develop a multidisciplinary approach to trauma care and reducing health disparities on Chicago’s South side. In his medical practice, Selwyn is committed to improving the understanding of disparities in surgical care to close the quality chasm for underserved populations and provide the most patient-centered care possible. Selwyn holds degrees from Harvard College and Harvard Medical School as well as a Master of Public Health degree from the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. Selwyn is a founding member of Nonviolence Chicago’s board.

EVENT DETAILS:

Date: Tuesday October 20, 2026

Time: 4:30-6:30pm
4:30 - Gather
5:00 - Program
6:30 - Conclude

Location: Downtown near Ogilvie Transportation Center
Exact location will be in your registration confirmation email and details will be sent to registrants in advance.
For security purposes, advance registration is required - no walk-ups.

Registration coming soon!