October 9, 2025

Asheville High School Joins National Gun Violence Initiative

Asheville, North Carolina, October 9, 2025

News Summary

Asheville High School’s Theatre Arts Program is collaborating with Different Strokes! Performing Arts Collective to present ‘Enough! Plays to End Gun Violence’. This national initiative aims to spark crucial conversations on gun violence by showcasing plays written by teenagers. On October 6, performances will take place simultaneously across 150 communities, including Asheville, reflecting on the pressing issue of gun violence, particularly after a series of shootings in the area.

Asheville, North Carolina – Asheville High School’s Theatre Arts Program and Different Strokes! Performing Arts Collective are joining forces for a significant national gun violence initiative titled “Enough! Plays to End Gun Violence.” This initiative is aimed at enabling critical conversations surrounding solutions to gun violence across the U.S. by presenting new plays authored by American teenagers.

On Monday, October 6, six new plays will be performed simultaneously in over 150 communities, including Asheville. The performance is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at the Asheville High School Theatre Arts Building, marking a pivotal moment in engaging local youth on an issue that resonates deeply within communities nationwide.

The goal of the movement is to empower teenage playwrights, encouraging them to create works that tackle the pressing issue of gun violence from various perspectives. This collaboration is particularly significant in light of recent events in Asheville, where the city faced four shooting incidents within a week in July. These tragic events prompted a response from Mayor Esther Manheimer and Police Chief Mike Lamb, who called for community cooperation with law enforcement to help prevent crime and retaliation.

The Asheville Police Department (APD) is actively investigating these incidents as part of a multiagency Gun Violence Task Force, which is focused on addressing repeat violent offenders. The task force emerged from discussions among APD officials beginning in 2020 and started to take shape by 2021. While there is no formal agreement for the task force, it functions as an organic coalition led by Capt. Joe Silberman from the APD investigations division.

The task force comprises representatives from local and federal agencies collaborating to gather intelligence and coordinate actions against gun-related crime. It employs a data-driven approach through the APD’s crime analysis unit, which identifies emerging threats and patterns in gun violence, enabling effective resource allocation in addressing these issues.

Current statistics reveal that a significant portion of urban gun violence in Asheville is linked to gang activity and drug trafficking. The proactive strategies employed by the task force are designed to prevent retaliatory violence before it begins. The APD has reported a notable 37% year-over-year decrease in aggravated assaults related to gun violence between January 1 and July 12, 2025. Although definitive causation cannot be confirmed, the efforts of the Gun Violence Task Force have been cited as a key factor in this reduction.

Beyond immediate law enforcement strategies, a central objective of the task force is to engage with individuals at risk of becoming either victims or perpetrators of violence. The aim is to deter future incidents through outreach and support. Asheville’s city officials stress the importance of teamwork in combatting gun violence, insisting that community and organizational involvement is essential in conjunction with law enforcement efforts.

Public safety initiatives in Asheville continue to include increased police patrols in areas that have experienced gun violence. Local officials encourage residents to share information that could help prevent violence and contribute to safer neighborhoods.

FAQ

What is the Enough! Plays to End Gun Violence initiative?

The initiative aims to explore solutions to gun violence across the U.S. through the staging of new plays by American teenagers.

When and where will the performances take place?

On Monday, October 6, six new plays will be performed simultaneously in over 150 communities, including Asheville, at 7:30 p.m. in the Asheville High School Theatre Arts Building.

What sparked the community’s response to gun violence in Asheville?

Asheville experienced four shooting incidents in less than a week in July, prompting a statement from Mayor Esther Manheimer and Police Chief Mike Lamb urging community cooperation with police.

What efforts are being made to address gun violence in Asheville?

The Asheville Police Department is investigating the shootings with a multiagency Gun Violence Task Force focused on addressing repeat violent offenders.

What are the goals of the Gun Violence Task Force?

The task force aims to engage individuals at risk of becoming victims or perpetrators of violence to prevent future incidents, employing a proactive, data-driven approach.

Key Features of the Initiative

Feature	Description
Initiative Name	Enough! Plays to End Gun Violence
Collaborators	Asheville High School’s Theatre Arts Program and Different Strokes! Performing Arts Collective
Performance Date	October 6 at 7:30 p.m.
Location	Asheville High School Theatre Arts Building
Total Communities Involved	Over 150 communities, including Asheville
Key Focus	Engaging teenagers in creating dialogue about gun violence solutions
Recent Incidents	Four shooting incidents in Asheville in July
Task Force Formation	Initiated from discussions in 2020, shaping up by 2021