The Town of Surfside hosted the Remembering Arya: Gun Safety Forum on Thursday, Dec. 11, at 96th Street Park, bringing together residents, youth leaders and local officials for an evening of reflection, education and action.
The event opened with remarks from the Youth Council, Vice Mayor Tina Paul and Surfside Police Chief Charles Press, followed by a moving remembrance from the Gray family. Attendees also heard a joint presentation on gun safety and violence prevention from Hilary Feldman, Ph.D., and Chief Press.
Throughout the evening, speakers emphasized the importance of community responsibility and youth empowerment.
“We honor Arya by doing everything in our power to protect our children,” Chief Press said. “Safety is a shared commitment, and tonight reminds us that when a community comes together, real change is possible.”
As part of the Pledge for Arya, attendees were invited to write personal commitments to promote gun safety. A compilation of the pledges included commitments to have conversations about gun safety (9), increase awareness (5), securely store firearms in the home (2), encourage others to properly secure firearms (2), and report concerning behavior through a “see something, say something” approach (1). Additional pledges included preventing access to firearms for individuals who should not have them (1), advocating for gun safety–related policies (1), and presenting gun safety information to community groups (1).
The forum also inspired youth-led action, with one attendee expressing interest in starting a gun safety group at their high school.
The event concluded with the introduction of the Arya Gray Higher Education Scholarship. Pizza and refreshments were provided by the Surfside Police Department.
