In the fall of 2024, the Austin nonprofit Life Anew rolled out a student ambassador program that claims to have already stopped two potential gun incidents.
What the Program Looks Like
Life Anew has been working with Austin-area schools since 2014, but the new ambassador initiative began in the Austin Independent School District in fall 2024. Each semester principals and counselors refer 3rd-12th grade students to apply. Students meet twice a week to discuss feelings and learn practical ways to handle conflict and communicate better.
The meetings are led by Life Anew Restorative Practices Coordinators, who are trained in intentional conversation and transformative relationship building. Their goal is to improve emotional wellbeing and prevent violent escalations.
Impact Already Visible
Program Director Sean Oliver said, “The number one killer of youth 17 years and younger, in the United States, is gun violence,” adding, “And so we thought, ‘We have to intervene.'”
Coordinators provide curriculum material and realistic scenario training. In those scenarios, students practice how to respond. Oliver noted that after one year the program is already making a difference.
He added, “Oftentimes, things that occur in the streets spill over in schools. Things across schools spill over in the streets,” and that the program has prevented two acts of gun violence through the students’ involvement.
Students Speak
In fall 2025, almost 50 students participated. They gathered to celebrate the skills they had learned and give feedback.
Mathew Ledger, a 9-year-old 4th grader at Barbara Jordan Elementary, said he feels more confident and can stay calm in stressful situations after one semester. He added, “I know how to control my anger now. I can stay out of trouble now.”
Kiki Spiller, 18, senior at Travis Early College High School, shared how she helped a friend escape a dangerous situation. She recalled, “They were backed into a corner because they were told if they didn’t do something, somebody they knew would get hurt.” She continued, “I felt really relieved… like a weight was lifted off my shoulders when I was told, like, ‘Hey, you prevented this from happening because you reached out.'”
Looking Ahead
Oliver said, “We’re teaching them restorative justice practices in hope(s)… that becomes a game changer,” and that students can remain ambassadors through graduation. He hopes they choose that path.
Life Anew plans to accept as many ambassadors as possible. Applications reopen each semester. Ambassadors are encouraged to involve peers and receive a stipend at the end of each semester.
Key Takeaways
- Life Anew’s ambassador program began in fall 2024 and already claims to have prevented two gun incidents.
- Nearly 50 students participated in fall 2025, reporting increased confidence and conflict-resolution skills.
- The program, led by trained coordinators, offers curriculum, scenario training, and a stipend to ambassadors.
Life Anew’s initiative demonstrates how early intervention and restorative justice can empower students and potentially curb violence in their communities.
