Webinar | From Problem to Purpose: Choosing Research Questions That Drive Change in Firearm Violence PreventionIn this session, experts will share how they work with community partners to develop research questions that matter — questions that are meaningful to communities, fill critical gaps, and can realistically be answered with available resources.
In this session, experts will share how they work with community partners to develop research questions that matter — questions that are meaningful to communities, fill critical gaps, and can realistically be answered with available resources.
Speakers include:
Durell Green is the Teaching & Advancement Project Manager at CHOOSE 180. Durell is a community cultivation advocate who was born in Tacoma, Washington. His lived experience as a child who was funneled through the school to prison pipeline is the main motivating factor behind his work in restorative practices with Choose 180. He believes strongly in learning and recovering from mistakes, the resiliency of our youth, and the power of choice. He envisions a world where systems and “isms” do not rob young people of recognizing and operating in their gifts and purpose. His passion led to being appointed to serve for 6 years on the Washington Statewide Reentry Council to help inform government on policy. He has also designed curriculum focused on assisting young people to mitigate the negative impacts of gun violence and incarceration to successfully integrate into society
Ali Rowhani-Rahbar, PhD, is the Bartley Dobb Professor for the Study and Prevention of Violence, and Director of Firearm Injury & Policy Research Program, at the University of Washington. He evaluates community-based interventions, social programs, and public policies for their impact on multiple forms of violence with a focus on preventing firearm-related harm. He serves as a member of the Black & Brown Collective for Community Solutions to Gun Violence, Board of the National Research Society for the Prevention of Firearm-Related Harms, and Advisory Committee of the Kaiser Permanente Center for Gun Violence Research & Education. In recognition of his research on firearm violence, he was elected to the National Academy of Medicine in 2023. He received his MD from Mashhad University of Medical Sciences in Iran, MPH from Yale University, and PhD from the University of Washington.
Christina Umali, MPH, is the Teaching and Advancement Project Manager at CHOOSE 180. Growing up in South King County, Washington, Christina witnessed many of her peers and family members impacted by incarceration and gun violence. At 21, after making mistakes of her own, she experienced firsthand what it was like to navigate the criminal legal system. This turning point inspired her to dedicate her life and career to supporting individuals and families affected by incarceration. After being incarcerated, she went on to earn both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Public Health from the University of Washington and now serves as the Teaching and Advancement Project Manager at CHOOSE 180, a Washington State nonprofit that works to transform the juvenile legal system and provide young people with opportunities to thrive outside of it. Grounded in the belief that representation matters, Christina is committed to showing youth who share her lived experience that there are many pathways to success and that their voices, resilience, and brilliance can drive meaningful change.
ABOUT THE SERIES: This event is part of the Center’s bimonthly webinar series designed to build the capacity, confidence, and visibility of researchers and practitioners working to prevent firearm-related violence. Future sessions include:
- December 2025 | Navigating IRBs in Firearm Violence Research: What You Need to Know
- February 2026 | Built on Trust: Community Partnerships for Firearm Violence Prevention Research
- April 2026 | It’s Not Just What You Do – It’s How You Do It: Implementation Science for Firearm Violence Prevention
- June 2026 | Not Just a Report: Disseminating Firearm Violence Research for Impact
Subscribe to our enewsletter to stay informed on dates and registration information for subsequent webinars!
When: Friday, October 24, 2025 2:00 PMFriday, October 24, 2025 3:00 PMTagged: Events
In this session, experts will share how they work with community partners to develop research questions that matter — questions that are meaningful to communities, fill critical gaps, and can realistically be answered with available resources.
Speakers include:
Durell Green is the Teaching & Advancement Project Manager at CHOOSE 180. Durell is a community cultivation advocate who was born in Tacoma, Washington. His lived experience as a child who was funneled through the school to prison pipeline is the main motivating factor behind his work in restorative practices with Choose 180. He believes strongly in learning and recovering from mistakes, the resiliency of our youth, and the power of choice. He envisions a world where systems and “isms” do not rob young people of recognizing and operating in their gifts and purpose. His passion led to being appointed to serve for 6 years on the Washington Statewide Reentry Council to help inform government on policy. He has also designed curriculum focused on assisting young people to mitigate the negative impacts of gun violence and incarceration to successfully integrate into society
Ali Rowhani-Rahbar, PhD, is the Bartley Dobb Professor for the Study and Prevention of Violence, and Director of Firearm Injury & Policy Research Program, at the University of Washington. He evaluates community-based interventions, social programs, and public policies for their impact on multiple forms of violence with a focus on preventing firearm-related harm. He serves as a member of the Black & Brown Collective for Community Solutions to Gun Violence, Board of the National Research Society for the Prevention of Firearm-Related Harms, and Advisory Committee of the Kaiser Permanente Center for Gun Violence Research & Education. In recognition of his research on firearm violence, he was elected to the National Academy of Medicine in 2023. He received his MD from Mashhad University of Medical Sciences in Iran, MPH from Yale University, and PhD from the University of Washington.
Christina Umali, MPH, is the Teaching and Advancement Project Manager at CHOOSE 180. Growing up in South King County, Washington, Christina witnessed many of her peers and family members impacted by incarceration and gun violence. At 21, after making mistakes of her own, she experienced firsthand what it was like to navigate the criminal legal system. This turning point inspired her to dedicate her life and career to supporting individuals and families affected by incarceration. After being incarcerated, she went on to earn both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Public Health from the University of Washington and now serves as the Teaching and Advancement Project Manager at CHOOSE 180, a Washington State nonprofit that works to transform the juvenile legal system and provide young people with opportunities to thrive outside of it. Grounded in the belief that representation matters, Christina is committed to showing youth who share her lived experience that there are many pathways to success and that their voices, resilience, and brilliance can drive meaningful change.
- December 2025 | Navigating IRBs in Firearm Violence Research: What You Need to Know
- February 2026 | Built on Trust: Community Partnerships for Firearm Violence Prevention Research
- April 2026 | It’s Not Just What You Do – It’s How You Do It: Implementation Science for Firearm Violence Prevention
- June 2026 | Not Just a Report: Disseminating Firearm Violence Research for Impact
Subscribe to our enewsletter to stay informed on dates and registration information for subsequent webinars!