In a poignant response to the weekend of violence in Atlanta, Quavo’s Rocket Foundation has unveiled a new emergency trauma fund that will focus on helping families and young people recover from the traumatic effects caused by gun-related incidents. Last weekend alone, 49 people fell victim to shootings across the city, a grim figure that acted as both a catalyst and facilitator of swift and meaningful action.
Announced on Wednesday via a press release, the trauma fund is more than simply symbolic. It is a boots-on-the-ground effort aimed at offering immediate, trauma-informed therapy to those affected themselves. The situation hit home for the Rocket Foundation as 18-year-old Deshawn Johnson, a camper from The Rockets’ camp, which is funded by the foundation, and community mentor Aaron Hines, “Coach Ball,” were two lives taken.
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The emergency trauma fund will work in collaboration with two grassroots organizations that are already having a significant impact: HOPE Hustlers and the Offender Alumni Association. These are front-line organizations that focus on violence intervention, mentoring, and long-term community healing. With support from Rocket Foundation, they can scale access to professional therapeutic aid and offer crucial mental health services in communities that often go ignored. The Atlanta-native and co-founder of the Rocket foundation explains he’s vocally supported ending senseless gun violence after losing so much, including his nephew, and a member of Migos, Takeoff.
This new commitment adds to his emphasis on long-term, community-based solutions that extend beyond policing and policy. Through this fund, the Rocket Foundation will work not only to mend trauma but to also break down the roots of violence by arming youth and families with avenues for healing, mentorship, and hope as an outreach against gangs. But, as Atlanta mourns still, this trauma therapy initiative is a reminder that while the wounds of violence are deep, there’s also a communal will to heal and rebuild, starting with mental health. For the Rocket Foundation, this marks only the beginning of a more focused struggle for peace, hope, and renewal in Atlanta’s heart.
