On a warm August afternoon, the True Reformer Building on U Street is alive with energy. Teens and young adults, ages 14 to 24, are showing off their talents — moonwalking to Michael Jackson, rapping original verses, and guiding peers through calming breathing exercises.
It’s the graduation celebration for TRIGGER University, a six-week summer violence prevention program that offers paid jobs, conflict resolution training, and emotional wellness tools. The initiative, run by the nonprofit T.R.I.G.G.E.R. Project, gives youth not just skills, but also hope.
A Mission Born from Experience
Founder Tia Bell knows the toll of gun violence firsthand. Born in 1989 — the year D.C. earned its “murder capital” title — she grew up surrounded by shootings. Her mother was shot, she lost friends, and her uncle was killed.
Gun violence, she says, is a “disease” — one that shaped her perspective but also gave her a mission. She founded T.R.I.G.G.E.R. (“True Reasons I Grabbed the Gun Evolved from Risks”) to address root causes of violence through mentorship, socio-emotional learning, and community engagement.
“Everything I do is about giving young people what I had — unity, protection, guidance — so they don’t pick up a gun to solve their problems,” Bell says.
Why Prevention Over Policing
While D.C.’s homicide numbers have fallen from the record-high 274 in 2023 to a projected lower rate in 2025, youth involvement in violence remains a pressing issue. Bell believes the solution lies not in stricter curfews or mass arrests, but in building trust, creating opportunity, and teaching self-regulation.
With over 200 youth coming through the doors each week, the program focuses on helping them “unlearn and relearn” healthier responses to conflict.
Youth Voices
Onesti Hill, 19 – Joined in 2021 through the Summer Youth Employment Program.
“It was like therapy. I learned what’s worth my energy and how to help my peers. We need real life skills — how to get good-paying jobs, certifications, apartments. Tia calls us her babies, and she makes us feel that.”
Zion Stewart, 17 – Connected to the program after a friend’s house was shot at.
“From day one, Tia came with open arms. This city is messed up — you can get hurt for nothing. Here, you feel safe and have a goal to reach. If every kid had someone guiding them from a young age, it would be different.”
Dijon Proctor, 21 – Discovered T.R.I.G.G.E.R. through a friend; now a college student.
“It changed my life. I found my purpose, went back to school, and even picked my major. Miss Tia helped me every step of the way. I’ve learned to not let 30 seconds of anger cost you 30 years of your life.”
Impact and Challenges
The T.R.I.G.G.E.R. Project has reached over 50,000 young people since its founding. Funding has grown from $57,000 to $600,000 in five years, but most comes from competitive grants, leaving long-term stability uncertain.
Bell’s ultimate goal? Zero homicides in D.C.
“One day, it’s just going to be over,” she says. “We’ll prevent future gun violence by working with the youth today.”
In Wards 7 and 8, where gun violence has taken too many young lives, the T.R.I.G.G.E.R. Project offers more than training — it offers family, purpose, and the belief that change is possible.
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