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The Youth Peace and Justice Foundation has announced that 19-year-old Camila Mendoza Olmos will be permanently honored in its national Trees for Peace Youth Gun Violence Memorial, marking a significant moment for the organization’s remembrance efforts.
Founded in response to the 2022 Uvalde school shooting, the national advocacy group works to address youth gun violence and promote prevention through education and community engagement. Olmos, whose remains were recovered earlier this week, will be memorialized with the planting of a dedicated tree in the Davy Crockett National Forest in Texas.
According to the foundation, this tribute represents a first in the history of the memorial. While the initiative was originally created to honor young people lost to interpersonal gun violence, Olmos will be the first individual recognized as a victim of gun-related suicide. Foundation leaders say the decision reflects a broader acknowledgment of the many forms gun violence can take, including those tied to mental health struggles.
“Camila’s passing underscores the complex and often unseen dimensions of gun violence,” said Daniel Chapin, founder of the Youth Peace and Justice Foundation. “Honoring her life in our national memorial affirms that every loss involving a firearm is a tragedy and a call to do more.”
To assist Olmos’s family, the foundation has established an interim fundraiser to help cover funeral expenses while a verified family-led GoFundMe campaign is arranged. Contributions are being accepted online through PayPal under the designation “Camila Olmos Memorial.”
In response to the tragedy, the organization is also renewing its push for preventative solutions, including expanded gun safety education and mandatory safe firearm storage. Chapin emphasized that increased awareness and responsible storage practices could help reduce impulsive, life-altering incidents.
The Youth Peace and Justice Foundation continues to provide round-the-clock peer and professional support for young people and community members in need, offering assistance online and via its 24-hour phone line.