Evergreen Strong: Lessons from Tragedy, Healing Together, and Building a Better Future

On September 10th, a shooting took place at Evergreen High School in Evergreen, Colorado. Two students were injured, and countless other students, teachers, and community members were left shaken by an event that has become tragically familiar across the United States. In this episode of Be the change. Podcast, I sit down with my dad, Chad Mott, who has taught at Evergreen High School for 21 years. Together, we reflect on what happened that day, the history and causes of school shootings and political violence in America, and explore the changes we need to keep schools safe and protect future generations. This conversation is about more than the events in Evergreen on September 10th, 2025; it’s about a national crisis. With more than 100 incidents of gunfire on school grounds already in 2025, we explore how we got here, what families, schools, and communities can do to protect young people, and what policies and cultural shifts are urgently needed to prevent further tragedies. Above all, this episode is about community, empathy, and the power of education to make change. Resources to Learn, Support, and Take Action: Resilience 1220: Offering one-on-one counseling, community drop-in listening circles and public presentations. Colorado Healing Fund: Donate to support the victims and the needs of the Evergreen community. Everytown for Gun Safety: America’s largest gun violence prevention organization, advocating for stronger laws and community-based solutions. Sandy Hook Promise: Trains students and adults to recognize warning signs and intervene to prevent gun violence before it happens. Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence: Works to enact and enforce gun laws and promotes awareness to end gun violence. March For Our Lives: A youth-led movement pushing for legislative action and cultural change to reduce gun violence. Giffords: Fighting to end gun violence through policy, education, and community engagement. Please leave a rating, share a comment, and subscribe! Follow Be the change. Media Network on Instagram: @bethechangemedianetwork. Follow Be the change. Podcast on Instagram: @bethechangepodcast. If you have any questions, please email Lily Mott at [email protected].