This episode explores Make Our Schools Safe, a nonprofit founded by Lori and Ilan Alhadeff after the tragic death of their daughter Alyssa in the 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting. Driven by personal loss and professional expertise, they created an organization focused on proactive school safety through a framework called POWER: Preparedness, Observation, Willingness to act, Education, and Response. Major initiatives include advocating for Alyssa’s Law, which mandates silent panic alarms directly linked to law enforcement, and establishing Make Our Schools Safe Clubs (MOSS Clubs) to empower students as safety leaders. The organization promotes practical safety measures like threat assessments, locked doors, realistic drills, red tape safe zones, stop-the-bleed kits, and mental health training, all aimed at building a resilient, vigilant culture within schools. Their comprehensive, student-driven, and legislation-backed approach transforms grief into meaningful change, inspiring communities to prioritize school safety at every level.

Make Our Schools Safe Website