Defiant Optimism in Response to Gun Violence: Meet Whitney Austin

In this episode of Community Possibilities, Whitney Austin joins me to talk about how her life changed during what was otherwise a normal day on the Sept. 6, 2018 during a mass shooting in Cincinnati, Ohio. Three weeks after the shooting, she founded Whitney Strong with her husband, Waller Austin.

Episode Highlights: 

• How she and her husband went from knowing nothing about nonprofits to where the organization is now.
• Why they choose a path of inclusivity and common ground, a hard thing to do when working to prevent gun violence. 
• Why they take a data-informed approach.
• Whitney Strong’s Safe a Life Initiative
• Why a public health approach to gun violence research is needed. 
• Why WS pursues policies that people from both parties support and their commitment to having conversations that unify.

As Whitney says, she is a defiant optimist and "We can do better, when we come together." 

Find out more about Whitney and Whitney Strong at https://www.whitneystrong.org/ 

Whitney’s Bio

Impassioned after surviving the Sept. 6, 2018, mass shooting in Cincinnati, Ohio, Whitney cofounded Whitney/Strong with her husband, an organization focused on finding common ground to end gun violence through data-driven, responsible gun ownership solutions.

Under her leadership, Whitney/Strong has executed on a number of responsible gun ownership solutions including securing the first hearing on gun safety legislation in Frankfort in over a decade. Joining Ohio Governor Mike DeWine to announce the STRONG Ohio legislation, a response to the community call of “Do Something” after the Dayton Oregon District shooting in 2019. Distributing over 12,000 gun locks across Kentucky and Ohio thanks to a partnership with the American Academy of Pediatrics and with the support of the National Shooting Sports Foundation. Training over 500 people in neighborhoods disproportionately impacted by gun violence in methods to reduce gun violence. And most recently, lobbying Senator Mitch McConnell and Rob Portman to ensure passage of the federal Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.

Prior to her calling, Whitney was employed by Fifth Third Bank for 15 years as Vice President, Digital Lending Product Manager. In 2018, Whitney and her team launched the first omnichannel digital lending application in the industry.

A wife and a mother of two, Whitney resides in Louisville, Kentucky where she earned both undergraduate and graduate degrees at the University of Louisville. She enjoys traveling to new locations with her family, musical theatre, the Bengals, college basketball, and getting outdoors.

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Community Possibilities is Produced by Zach Price
Music by Zach Price: Zachpricet@gmail.com