National Anti-Violence Organization Announces Strategic Rebrand: Focused Mission, Enhanced Transparency, and New Leadership for National Impact
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- Oct 16
- 4 min read
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
National Anti-Violence Organization Announces Strategic Rebrand: Focused Mission, Enhanced Transparency, and New Leadership for National Impact
TEXAS – October 16, 2025 – The Uvalde Foundation for Kids, the national anti-violence non-profit founded in the wake of the 2022 Robb Elementary tragedy, today announced a comprehensive organizational transformation. This strategic shift, implemented after three years of operation; includes a new name, a consolidated program model, and major governance reforms to maximize impact on youth safety nationwide.
The organization will officially transition its name to The Youth Peace & Justice Foundation
Why the Change? A New/Clarified Identity for a National Mission
The decision to transition the name was paramount for the Foundation's future effectiveness and credibility. While profoundly shaped by its origins, the former name presented two key strategic limitations:
* Limited Geographic Scope: The name incorrectly implied a singular focus on the city of Uvalde, obscuring the organization's essential role in addressing the nationwide epidemic of youth violence.
* Unclear Mission: It failed to communicate the organization’s actual mandate: to drive Prevention, Advocacy, and lasting Cultural Change—work that extends far beyond the physical walls of any single school.
*Please note that the name transition, along with all associated rebrands and operational changes, is an ongoing process.
The new name, The Youth Peace & Justice Foundation, clearly aligns the organization’s identity with its proactive, scalable, and forward-looking strategy to ensure safety and well-being for youth across the United States.
Summary of Past Efforts Validating the Shift
Since its founding, the organization's work has organically demonstrated the need for a national, community-focused mission:
* Beyond School Walls: Teams have consistently responded to high-trauma incidents outside school perimeters, including non-school mass violence (e.g., the Allen, Texas, Premium Outlets shooting) and requests for assistance in missing child cases across multiple states.
* Cultural Focus: Efforts have concentrated on legislative advocacy, anti-bullying and other youth violence prevention campaigns that tackle the cultural roots of violence, recognizing that the problem begins in the home and community, not just the classroom. Further, the foundation has focused its efforts on prevention of violence as opposed to response.
The new structure now codifies these expanded roles, ensuring resources are deployed where the need is greatest for comprehensive community safety.
Statement from the Founder
Daniel Chapin, Founder and National Director of the Foundation, recognized the reforms as a defining moment:
“The tragedies we address in regard to youth violence are not confined to school hallways; they are symptoms of a larger 'Culture of Violence' that exists across our communities, in our homes, and online. Our work has always extended beyond school walls, and this rebrand is necessary to clarify our national role and long-term commitment to cultural change. Furthermore, we are committing to supporting national communities through broader youth violence prevention efforts, including aiding in community disaster response and missing child searches, recognizing that trauma in any form affects youth safety.
To maximize our impact and build trust, we must be disciplined and transparent. We have made the necessary decision to retire programming—including the independent investigations and the public-facing patrol programs—that diverted critical resources and generated unwarranted controversy.
This means the STOPNOW Volunteer School Patrol Program and the National School Threat Database are both being retired. Our new, streamlined focus ensures every resource is dedicated to scalable prevention training, clear student advocacy, and critical community support that benefits all of America’s youth.”
Major Organizational Reforms
The Foundation is implementing three foundational shifts to drive accountability and impact:
1. Program Consolidation and Elimination
The organization is strategically eliminating programs that lacked verified institutional partnership or were difficult to scale responsibly, focusing instead on three core, high-impact pillars:
Core Program Pillar | Program Description | Impact Focus
Violence Prevention & Training | R.I.P. (Recognize-Intervene-Prevent) Antiviolence Training | National Scale:
Delivering verifiable training to foster an active, early prevention culture for students, staff, and parents across the country.
Student Advocacy & Legislative Action National Bullying Prevention Program (Restorative Justice Approach) | Policy Change: Dedicated resources for state and federal lobbying efforts to advance safety laws and student protection policy. This program is rooted in the "No Blame, Restorative Justice" approach, focusing on repairing harm and reintegrating students, rather than relying solely on punitive measures.
Community Crisis Support | Specialized Response Teams | Expanded Role: Providing resources and support for all youth-related crises, including community violence, disaster response, and assistance with missing child searches.
The STOPNOW Volunteer School Patrol Program and the National School Threat Database are both being immediately eliminated. The Foundation will also cease all independent school assessments and direct involvement in complex non-core crisis cases.
2. Enhanced Governance and Leadership
To foster diverse perspectives and ethical oversight, the Foundation is actively reforming its Board of Directors and expanding its National Advisory Council with experts in youth development, non-profit governance, and trauma mitigation. This move will enhance organizational structure and deepen expertise.
3. Increased Financial Transparency
In a decisive move to build public trust, the Foundation is electing to adopt a higher standard of financial disclosure:
* Beginning 2025, The organization will now file the IRS Form 990 (the detailed public disclosure form), regardless of its current financial filing requirements. This commitment provides stakeholders with the most comprehensive look at the Foundation's finances, governance, and activities.
New Unveiled Logo concept for The Youth Peace & Justice Foundation
Concept: The logo combines symbols of protection, growth, and connection, presented in a clean, modern style suitable for a national foundation.
Central Element: A stylized dove, universally recognized as a symbol of peace, is integrated.
Encircling Element: The dove is nestled within two upward-curving leaves or hands, representing growth, support, and protection for youth. The upward curve also implies progress and hope.
Color Palette: A blend of greens (representing growth, hope, community) and blues (representing peace, stability, trust).
Overall Feel: Professional, compassionate, and forward-looking.
Contact:
The Uvalde Foundation For Kids
254-499-8027
