Cornell Scholar Advocates Against Gun Violence

For Edgar Vilchez, irradicating gun violence is crucial to keeping communities safe. Since his senior year of high school, Edgar has served as a youth council member at Project Unloaded, an organization that aims to inspire youth to make data-backed decisions regarding gun usage and ownership. As a member, Edgar works with the council to advise on Project Unloaded’s campaigns, shape the organization’s social media presence, and provide young people with data that demonstrates how guns make people less safe.

The cause especially hits close to home for Edgar, who witnessed a student injured by gun violence during his senior year of high school.

“I don’t want any young person to have to experience what I did,” says Edgar. “The only way to fix the problem is to address the causes of gun violence in our communities and to provide young people with the proper tools and resources to turn toward—instead of guns.”

Edgar first learned about Project Unloaded from an experience working at Mayor Brandon Johnson’s office. “I was inspired by the organization’s specific focus on youth engagement,” says Edgar. “I wanted to be a part of the solution.”

Edgar’s work over the past two years has not gone unnoticed. Media outlets, including Variety, WBEZ Chicago, WTTW News and Univision have published stories amplifying the tremendous work of the youth council members. Edgar uses every opportunity to share the message that gun violence is a major issue, and that people should choose to live “unloaded.”

“With Project Unloaded, I get to amplify the stories of so many leaders who are working toward a gun-free world,” says Edgar. “Together, we can use our voices to advocate for meaningful and lasting change around the culture of guns in our communities.”

Edgar plans to pursue public policy and business at Cornell University. On campus, he is involved in the Cornell Latinx Association of Pre-law and a part of the pre-law fraternity Phi Alpha Delta.