TOP STORIES:
YSA's Everyday Young Hero Feature - September 26th, 2019:
On February 14, 2018 Jules Oringel (17, Charlotte, North Carolina) was texting her friends who were hiding in their school, Marjory Stoneman Douglas in Parkland, Florida, as a violent shooter shot and killed 17 students and staff. Jules’ closest friends survived the massacre, but Alyssa Alhadeff, a fellow camper at URJ Camp Coleman, was murdered. In the aftermath of tragedy, Jules organized her peers through walkouts, voter registration, and more. She has continued to lead others around the country in their gun safety advocates efforts.
In June, 2018, Jules founded the non-profit, Return Home Supplies, to fight gun violence. The nonprofit sells school supplies with designs meant to spark meaningful conversation around the topics of gun violence prevention and civic engagement. All profits are donated directly to organizations fighting to solve the epidemic of gun violence. Return Home Supplies believes every student and teacher deserve to Return Home safely from school each day.
Every day, an average of 96 Americans will be shot and killed in their homes, neighborhoods, schools, and houses of worship. This statistic holds deep significance in Jules’ life, as fellow camper, Alyssa Alhadeff, was one of those 96 taken on February 14th, 2018. Since the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School last year, Jules has committed herself to changing the 96 in that statistic to ZERO.
In just a year – Jules and Return Home Supplies have:
• Attended and spoke at over 30 events across North Carolina and the United States
• Sold conversation-sparking school supplies to more than 650 people
• Donated nearly $3000 to the fight against gun violence
• Engaged over 13,000 people online
• Sent more than 500 handwritten postcards to Congress and state legislatures nationwide
Through speaking with people in many different communities she is inspiring other people to join the fight against gun violence. Other teenagers help sell Return Home Supplies at events and students and community members proudly use these supplies and welcome the opportunity to explain the messages to their co-workers and friends. Return Home Supplies has sparked countless conversations to continue the fight against gun violence.
Check it out!: https://leadasap.ysa.org/share_story/everyday-young-hero-jules-oringel/
In June, 2018, Jules founded the non-profit, Return Home Supplies, to fight gun violence. The nonprofit sells school supplies with designs meant to spark meaningful conversation around the topics of gun violence prevention and civic engagement. All profits are donated directly to organizations fighting to solve the epidemic of gun violence. Return Home Supplies believes every student and teacher deserve to Return Home safely from school each day.
Every day, an average of 96 Americans will be shot and killed in their homes, neighborhoods, schools, and houses of worship. This statistic holds deep significance in Jules’ life, as fellow camper, Alyssa Alhadeff, was one of those 96 taken on February 14th, 2018. Since the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School last year, Jules has committed herself to changing the 96 in that statistic to ZERO.
In just a year – Jules and Return Home Supplies have:
• Attended and spoke at over 30 events across North Carolina and the United States
• Sold conversation-sparking school supplies to more than 650 people
• Donated nearly $3000 to the fight against gun violence
• Engaged over 13,000 people online
• Sent more than 500 handwritten postcards to Congress and state legislatures nationwide
Through speaking with people in many different communities she is inspiring other people to join the fight against gun violence. Other teenagers help sell Return Home Supplies at events and students and community members proudly use these supplies and welcome the opportunity to explain the messages to their co-workers and friends. Return Home Supplies has sparked countless conversations to continue the fight against gun violence.
Check it out!: https://leadasap.ysa.org/share_story/everyday-young-hero-jules-oringel/
From Girls Life Magazine - October 10th, 2019:
She believed she could, so she did! 5 girls who are changing the world
She believed she could, so she did! 5 girls who are changing the world
October 11 is the International Day of the Girl, and what better time to clap like crazy for those fierce females who take matters into their own hands and get things DONE?! Here are five girls who are making big changes in their communities and beyond...watch out, world!
The girl fighting for stricter gun laws: Jules Oringel can remember the knot in her stomach when she looked at her phone on February 14, 2018, and read a text from one of her best friends. Jules' friend was writing to tell her that she was trapped inside Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and that an active shooter was storming the halls. Luckily, Jules' friend made it out alive, but 17 others did not. Riddled with anxiety and fed up with the lack of change, Jules decided to do something about it. She started Return Home Supplies, a website that sells anti-gun-violence products, and donates all of the profits to organizations like March For Our Lives, Everytown for Gun Safety and Change the Ref. The ultimate goal is stricter gun control laws so that no one ever has to get a text like Jules' again. |
Read the full story: https://www.girlslife.com/trending/in-the-news/35616/she-believed-she-could-so-she-did-5-girls-who-are-changing-the-world
Spectrum News Story - October 5th, 2019:
'I Have to Take Action': Charlotte Teenager Focuses On Stopping Gun Violence
'I Have to Take Action': Charlotte Teenager Focuses On Stopping Gun Violence
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- A Providence High School senior in Charlotte wants to stop gun violence.
The organization sells school supplies online and the money goes to other organizations focused on fighting gun violence, including groups like March for our Lives and Moms Demand Action. She also travels the country to try and spark change.
“No offense to the older generation, but a lot of them have failed us. The legislature is filled with people much older than I am. They didn't make laws that make America safer,” Oringel said. “I have to take action.”
Oringel hopes to continue selling the school supplies from her dorm room when she goes to college next year.
Watch it all at https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nc/charlotte/news/2019/10/06/charlotte-teenage-focuses-passion-on-stopping-gun-violence
- Jules Oringel knows two people who survived the shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School
- Her organization, Return Home Supplies, sells materials online
- That money goes to other organizations focused on fighting gun violence
The organization sells school supplies online and the money goes to other organizations focused on fighting gun violence, including groups like March for our Lives and Moms Demand Action. She also travels the country to try and spark change.
“No offense to the older generation, but a lot of them have failed us. The legislature is filled with people much older than I am. They didn't make laws that make America safer,” Oringel said. “I have to take action.”
Oringel hopes to continue selling the school supplies from her dorm room when she goes to college next year.
Watch it all at https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nc/charlotte/news/2019/10/06/charlotte-teenage-focuses-passion-on-stopping-gun-violence
C-SPAN - February 6th, 2020:
User Clip: Rep. Alma Adams Speaks in Honor of the Survivors of Gun Violence
User Clip: Rep. Alma Adams Speaks in Honor of the Survivors of Gun Violence
|
In her speech urging the US House of Representatives to pass gun violence prevention legislation, Representative Alma Adams talks about Return Home Supplies' Founder Jules Oringel and the work she does in Charlotte and across the country. Most importantly, Rep. Adams emphasizes Return Home's mission: making sure that every student and teacher can return home safely from school each day. Rep. Adams continues her speech by honoring the UNC Charlotte shooting survivors and other gun safety activism happening in North Carolina.
Check it out! https://www.c-span.org/video/?c4853581/user-clip-rep-alma-adams-speaks-honor-survivors-gun-violence |
ADDITIONAL COVERAGE:
From the Crumley Roberts, Attorneys at Law Facebook Page - May 18th, 2020:
CR LIVE! Chairman’s & Next Step Scholarship Winners!
CR LIVE! Chairman’s & Next Step Scholarship Winners!
Check out this interview of Return Home's founder, Jules, with Cory from Crumley Roberts, Attorneys at Law! She discusses her personal connection to the Parkland shooting, the Return Home Supplies story, and how other young people can step up to make a difference. Also featured is Deirdre Mack, a Next Step Scholarship recipient. Thank you to Crumley Roberts for supporting gun violence prevention activism! Jules' interview begins around the 12-minute mark.
Crumley Roberts' Facebook can be found at https://www.facebook.com/crumleyroberts/.
Crumley Roberts' Facebook can be found at https://www.facebook.com/crumleyroberts/.
From the Richie's Spirit Foundation Blog - May 18th, 2020:
Meet the Finalist: Juliana Oringel
Meet the Finalist: Juliana Oringel
Juliana Oringel was approaching the end of the school day at Providence High School in Charlotte, NC, on February 14th, 2018, when she received texts from her friends at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL, sharing that a gunman had opened fire in their school, and that one of her friends had not survived. After the massacre, Juliana developed severe, debilitating anxiety that prevented her from attending classes, or sleeping through the night.
Juliana eventually was able to transform her fear into action when she founded Return Home Supplies, a nonprofit school supply brand, which raises funds for the nation’s leading gun violence prevention group, and provides educational mentorship.
Juliana found power in her advocacy, and she did not stop there. She has made it her mission to empower her peers to do the same. Whether speaking with elected officials, organizing a protest, registering voters, or raising funds, Juliana is committed to educating other passionate teen activists.
In her essay, Juliana shares, “As hard as it is to constantly speak about the epidemic of gun violence and my experiences in the haze of recent attacks, I am motivated to know that every day, there are more than two thousand school supplies on desks nationwide that raise awareness for an issue deeply personal to me.”
Richie's Spirit Foundation congratulates Juliana Oringel on being selected as a finalist. Please stay tuned for the announcement of scholarship winners coming soon.
Read the blog: http://www.richiesspirit.org/blog/2018/5/11/meet-the-finalist-juliana-oringel-rka9f-jntdr-nxgfc-whnz6
Juliana eventually was able to transform her fear into action when she founded Return Home Supplies, a nonprofit school supply brand, which raises funds for the nation’s leading gun violence prevention group, and provides educational mentorship.
Juliana found power in her advocacy, and she did not stop there. She has made it her mission to empower her peers to do the same. Whether speaking with elected officials, organizing a protest, registering voters, or raising funds, Juliana is committed to educating other passionate teen activists.
In her essay, Juliana shares, “As hard as it is to constantly speak about the epidemic of gun violence and my experiences in the haze of recent attacks, I am motivated to know that every day, there are more than two thousand school supplies on desks nationwide that raise awareness for an issue deeply personal to me.”
Richie's Spirit Foundation congratulates Juliana Oringel on being selected as a finalist. Please stay tuned for the announcement of scholarship winners coming soon.
Read the blog: http://www.richiesspirit.org/blog/2018/5/11/meet-the-finalist-juliana-oringel-rka9f-jntdr-nxgfc-whnz6
From the Teen Health Connection Website & Facebook Page - May 14th, 2020:
2020 Johnston Ziegler Youth Leadership Award
2020 Johnston Ziegler Youth Leadership Award
Watch how this Charlotte teen turned tragedy into her life’s work.
Congratulations to Jules Oringel, Providence High School Senior and the 2020 recipient of The Johnston Ziegler Youth Leadership Award.
Congratulations to Jules Oringel, Providence High School Senior and the 2020 recipient of The Johnston Ziegler Youth Leadership Award.
Learn more about teens making the Charlotte community safer and healthier at https://teenhealthconnection.org/johnston-ziegler-scholarship/. Thank you to Teen Health Connection for this incredible opportunity to share Return Home Supplies with others!
From the Charlotte Women's Movement Blog - January 19th, 2020:
#UseYourPower in 2020 with the Women United March Community Partners
#UseYourPower in 2020 with the Women United March Community Partners
Join in…use YOUR power…turn your activism into action…by connecting with our wide variety of community partners, organizations doing good and important work right here in Charlotte. Charlotte Women’s Movement and National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc.–Queen City Metropolitan Chapter encourage you to band together to get more done and create the changes we seek!
Return Home Supplies: A gun violence prevention nonprofit that sells school supply products designed to spark empowering, educational conversations about gun safety and civic engagement in our community. returnhomesupplies.com
Learn about all the CWM Community Partners at: https://charlottewomensmovement.org/2020/01/19/useyourpower-in-2020-with-the-women-united-march-community-partners/
Return Home Supplies: A gun violence prevention nonprofit that sells school supply products designed to spark empowering, educational conversations about gun safety and civic engagement in our community. returnhomesupplies.com
Learn about all the CWM Community Partners at: https://charlottewomensmovement.org/2020/01/19/useyourpower-in-2020-with-the-women-united-march-community-partners/
From South Charlotte Weekly - December 27th, 2019:
South Charlotte Weekly's 100 Biggest Newsmakers of 2019
South Charlotte Weekly's 100 Biggest Newsmakers of 2019
Jules Oringel: Started Return Home Supplies to wipe out gun violence.
Full Story: https://thecharlotteweekly.com/news/2019/12/south-charlotte-weeklys-100-biggest-newsmakers-of-2019/ |
From Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly - November 9th, 2019:
Providence High senior works to prevent gun violence
Providence High senior works to prevent gun violence
Jules Oringel recalls receiving panicked texts from two of her friends in Parkland, Fla. as an active shooter roamed the halls of their high school. She felt helpless as she watched the news from her home in Charlotte, texting her friends constantly to give them updates on what she saw on television.
Oringel, a senior at Providence High School, became involved in the gun violence prevention movement immediately after the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Both of the friends texting her throughout the shooting made it out alive, but a member of Oringel’s sleepaway camp community was murdered in her English class.
Though she marched on Washington against gun violence, registered voters, campaigned for the 2018 midterm election and led a school walkout despite instructions from her school’s administration not to, Oringel felt like there was still more she could do for the gun violence prevention movement.
In June 2018, Oringel started Return Home Supplies, a nonprofit she runs from her bedroom. She said the organization is founded upon the belief that every student and teacher deserves to return home safely from school.
Oringel sells school supplies, including pencils and water bottles, with messages intended to spark educational conversations about gun violence. All of the profits go to gun violence prevention organizations like March For Our Lives and Moms Demand Action. Oringel also travels around the country with these organizations, where she sells Return Home Supplies and delivers speeches to people at rallies and meetings.
“I think the most important element of my advocacy is that I speak to people who disagree with me,” Oringel said. “I’ve spoken to countless National Rifle Association members and I find that we can always find at least some sort of common ground … Even if we just agree that we don’t want to see our students getting shot in schools, or even if it’s some sort of legislative agreement like disarming domestic abusers or requiring background checks for online purchases. It all matters and it’s helping depolarize this issue in American politics, which is also really meaningful.”
Networking and staying in touch with other activists and organizations has helped Oringel spread the message and mission of Return Home Supplies.
She does this all while balancing schoolwork and extracurricular activities. Oringel said because she is dual-enrolled in college courses, she is able to leave high school early and work on projects for Return Home Supplies before going to her evening college classes.
“It can definitely be difficult to manage my classwork and Return Home Supplies responsibilities in addition to other extracurricular activities, but because I’m managing this myself, I have more control over my schedule and when I work on our website, product design, legal paperwork and all of those things,” Oringel said.
As she prepares to go to college in less than a year, Oringel knows there will be some difficulties running a nonprofit.
“I would love to continue running Return Home Supplies from my dorm room because all the incredible people I get to meet on this journey inspire me to keep fighting for what I believe in,” Oringel said. “However, my room is exploding with our school supplies and I don’t know if that will fit in a tiny dorm room. So I think in college, when I’m actually at the university, my advocacy will be focused more on speaking and rallying versus bringing school supplies to an event and selling them.”
Creating change starts with education, according to Oringel. She hopes to inspire others to lead programs to educate their communities about gun violence. Return Home Supplies offers an “activism in a box” kit for teens hoping to lead programs for their schools, organizations and other groups.
Moving forward, Oringel hopes to continue connecting with gun violence survivors, advocates and concerned Americans to spread her message.
“Until we start finding power and finding motivation beyond this movement, we won’t be seeing legislative changes in Congress,” Oringel said.
Oringel said persistence is key to creating change. Remembering the reasons for starting activism is a great motivator to keep persisting.
“It’s not always going to be easy, especially with an issue like gun violence,” Oringel said. “Seeing all of these mass shootings in the news can be depressing and make you feel like you’re not doing enough, but stay true to your passions and the reasons that you care so deeply about the issues you care so deeply about. Continue fighting until you see the change that you want to be had.”
Want to learn more?
Visit www.returnhomesupplies.com for more information.
http://www.matthewsminthillweekly.com/news/2019/11/providence-high-senior-works-to-prevent-gun-violence/
Oringel, a senior at Providence High School, became involved in the gun violence prevention movement immediately after the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Both of the friends texting her throughout the shooting made it out alive, but a member of Oringel’s sleepaway camp community was murdered in her English class.
Though she marched on Washington against gun violence, registered voters, campaigned for the 2018 midterm election and led a school walkout despite instructions from her school’s administration not to, Oringel felt like there was still more she could do for the gun violence prevention movement.
In June 2018, Oringel started Return Home Supplies, a nonprofit she runs from her bedroom. She said the organization is founded upon the belief that every student and teacher deserves to return home safely from school.
Oringel sells school supplies, including pencils and water bottles, with messages intended to spark educational conversations about gun violence. All of the profits go to gun violence prevention organizations like March For Our Lives and Moms Demand Action. Oringel also travels around the country with these organizations, where she sells Return Home Supplies and delivers speeches to people at rallies and meetings.
“I think the most important element of my advocacy is that I speak to people who disagree with me,” Oringel said. “I’ve spoken to countless National Rifle Association members and I find that we can always find at least some sort of common ground … Even if we just agree that we don’t want to see our students getting shot in schools, or even if it’s some sort of legislative agreement like disarming domestic abusers or requiring background checks for online purchases. It all matters and it’s helping depolarize this issue in American politics, which is also really meaningful.”
Networking and staying in touch with other activists and organizations has helped Oringel spread the message and mission of Return Home Supplies.
She does this all while balancing schoolwork and extracurricular activities. Oringel said because she is dual-enrolled in college courses, she is able to leave high school early and work on projects for Return Home Supplies before going to her evening college classes.
“It can definitely be difficult to manage my classwork and Return Home Supplies responsibilities in addition to other extracurricular activities, but because I’m managing this myself, I have more control over my schedule and when I work on our website, product design, legal paperwork and all of those things,” Oringel said.
As she prepares to go to college in less than a year, Oringel knows there will be some difficulties running a nonprofit.
“I would love to continue running Return Home Supplies from my dorm room because all the incredible people I get to meet on this journey inspire me to keep fighting for what I believe in,” Oringel said. “However, my room is exploding with our school supplies and I don’t know if that will fit in a tiny dorm room. So I think in college, when I’m actually at the university, my advocacy will be focused more on speaking and rallying versus bringing school supplies to an event and selling them.”
Creating change starts with education, according to Oringel. She hopes to inspire others to lead programs to educate their communities about gun violence. Return Home Supplies offers an “activism in a box” kit for teens hoping to lead programs for their schools, organizations and other groups.
Moving forward, Oringel hopes to continue connecting with gun violence survivors, advocates and concerned Americans to spread her message.
“Until we start finding power and finding motivation beyond this movement, we won’t be seeing legislative changes in Congress,” Oringel said.
Oringel said persistence is key to creating change. Remembering the reasons for starting activism is a great motivator to keep persisting.
“It’s not always going to be easy, especially with an issue like gun violence,” Oringel said. “Seeing all of these mass shootings in the news can be depressing and make you feel like you’re not doing enough, but stay true to your passions and the reasons that you care so deeply about the issues you care so deeply about. Continue fighting until you see the change that you want to be had.”
Want to learn more?
Visit www.returnhomesupplies.com for more information.
http://www.matthewsminthillweekly.com/news/2019/11/providence-high-senior-works-to-prevent-gun-violence/
South Charlotte Weekly's Front Page Article - November 8th, 2019:
High school students fight gun violence, anti-Semitism
High school students fight gun violence, anti-Semitism
Jules Oringel recalls receiving panicked texts from two of her friends in Parkland, Fla. as an active shooter roamed the halls of their high school. She felt helpless as she watched the news from her home in Charlotte, texting her friends constantly to give them updates on what she saw on television.
Abigail Adams remembers feeling fearful of publicly expressing her Jewish identity after hearing the news of an anti-Semitic mass shooting at the Chabad of Poway in San Diego, Calif. She spoke with a friend in another state who felt the same way.
Mass shootings in communities outside of Charlotte inspired these high school seniors to help others.
Return Home Supplies
Oringel, a senior at Providence High School, became involved in the gun violence prevention movement immediately after the shooting at Marjory Stone Douglas High School. Though both of the friends texting her throughout the shooting made it out alive, a member of Oringel’s sleepaway camp community was murdered in her English class.
Though she marched on Washington against gun violence, registered voters, campaigned for the 2018 midterm election and led a school walkout despite instructions from her school’s administration not to, Oringel felt like there was still more she could do for the gun violence prevention movement.
In June 2018, Oringel started Return Home Supplies, a nonprofit she runs from her bedroom. She said the organization is founded upon the belief that every student and teacher deserves to return home safely from school.
Oringel sells school supplies, including pencils and water bottles, with messages intended to spark educational conversations about gun violence. All of the profits go to gun violence prevention organizations like March For Our Lives and Moms Demand Action. Oringel also travels around the country with these organizations, where she sells Return Home Supplies and delivers speeches to people at rallies and meetings.
“I think the most important element of my advocacy is that I speak to people who disagree with me,” Oringel said. “I’ve spoken to countless National Rifle Association members and I find that we can always find at least some sort of common ground… Even if we just agree that we don’t want to see our students getting shot in schools, or even if it’s some sort of legislative agreement like disarming domestic abusers or requiring background checks for online purchases. It all matters and it’s helping depolarize this issue in American politics, which is also really meaningful.”
Networking and staying in touch with other activists and organizations has helped Oringel spread the message and mission of Return Home Supplies.
She does this all while balancing schoolwork and extracurricular activities. Oringel said because she is dual-enrolled in college courses, she is able to leave high school early and work on projects for Return Home Supplies before going to her evening college classes.
“It can definitely be difficult to manage my classwork and Return Home Supplies responsibilities in addition to other extracurricular activities, but because I’m managing this myself, I have more control over my schedule and when I work on our website, product design, legal paperwork and all of those things,” Oringel said.
As she prepares to go to college in less than a year, Oringel knows there will be some difficulties running a nonprofit.
“I would love to continue running Return Home Supplies from my dorm room because all the incredible people I get to meet on this journey inspire me to keep fighting for what I believe in,” Oringel said. “However, my room is exploding with our school supplies and I don’t know if that will fit in a tiny dorm room. So I think in college, when I’m actually at the university, my advocacy will be focused more on speaking and rallying versus bringing school supplies to an event and selling them.”
Creating change starts with education, according to Oringel. She hopes to inspire others to lead programs to educate their communities about gun violence. She said Return Home Supplies offers an “activism in a box” kit for teens hoping to lead programs for their schools, organizations and other groups.
Moving forward, Oringel hopes to continue connecting with gun violence survivors, advocates and concerned Americans to spread her message.
“Until we start finding power and finding motivation beyond this movement, we won’t be seeing legislative changes in Congress,” Oringel said.
Visit www.returnhomesupplies.com for more information.
Activism
Oringel and Adams both said that persistence is key to creating change...
...Oringel said remembering the reasons for starting activism is a great motivator to keep persisting.
“It’s not always going to be easy, especially with an issue like gun violence,” Oringel said. “Seeing all of these mass shootings in the news can be depressing and make you feel like you’re not doing enough, but stay true to your passions and the reasons that you care so deeply about the issues you care so deeply about. Continue fighting until you see the change that you want to be had.”
Abigail Adams remembers feeling fearful of publicly expressing her Jewish identity after hearing the news of an anti-Semitic mass shooting at the Chabad of Poway in San Diego, Calif. She spoke with a friend in another state who felt the same way.
Mass shootings in communities outside of Charlotte inspired these high school seniors to help others.
Return Home Supplies
Oringel, a senior at Providence High School, became involved in the gun violence prevention movement immediately after the shooting at Marjory Stone Douglas High School. Though both of the friends texting her throughout the shooting made it out alive, a member of Oringel’s sleepaway camp community was murdered in her English class.
Though she marched on Washington against gun violence, registered voters, campaigned for the 2018 midterm election and led a school walkout despite instructions from her school’s administration not to, Oringel felt like there was still more she could do for the gun violence prevention movement.
In June 2018, Oringel started Return Home Supplies, a nonprofit she runs from her bedroom. She said the organization is founded upon the belief that every student and teacher deserves to return home safely from school.
Oringel sells school supplies, including pencils and water bottles, with messages intended to spark educational conversations about gun violence. All of the profits go to gun violence prevention organizations like March For Our Lives and Moms Demand Action. Oringel also travels around the country with these organizations, where she sells Return Home Supplies and delivers speeches to people at rallies and meetings.
“I think the most important element of my advocacy is that I speak to people who disagree with me,” Oringel said. “I’ve spoken to countless National Rifle Association members and I find that we can always find at least some sort of common ground… Even if we just agree that we don’t want to see our students getting shot in schools, or even if it’s some sort of legislative agreement like disarming domestic abusers or requiring background checks for online purchases. It all matters and it’s helping depolarize this issue in American politics, which is also really meaningful.”
Networking and staying in touch with other activists and organizations has helped Oringel spread the message and mission of Return Home Supplies.
She does this all while balancing schoolwork and extracurricular activities. Oringel said because she is dual-enrolled in college courses, she is able to leave high school early and work on projects for Return Home Supplies before going to her evening college classes.
“It can definitely be difficult to manage my classwork and Return Home Supplies responsibilities in addition to other extracurricular activities, but because I’m managing this myself, I have more control over my schedule and when I work on our website, product design, legal paperwork and all of those things,” Oringel said.
As she prepares to go to college in less than a year, Oringel knows there will be some difficulties running a nonprofit.
“I would love to continue running Return Home Supplies from my dorm room because all the incredible people I get to meet on this journey inspire me to keep fighting for what I believe in,” Oringel said. “However, my room is exploding with our school supplies and I don’t know if that will fit in a tiny dorm room. So I think in college, when I’m actually at the university, my advocacy will be focused more on speaking and rallying versus bringing school supplies to an event and selling them.”
Creating change starts with education, according to Oringel. She hopes to inspire others to lead programs to educate their communities about gun violence. She said Return Home Supplies offers an “activism in a box” kit for teens hoping to lead programs for their schools, organizations and other groups.
Moving forward, Oringel hopes to continue connecting with gun violence survivors, advocates and concerned Americans to spread her message.
“Until we start finding power and finding motivation beyond this movement, we won’t be seeing legislative changes in Congress,” Oringel said.
Visit www.returnhomesupplies.com for more information.
Activism
Oringel and Adams both said that persistence is key to creating change...
...Oringel said remembering the reasons for starting activism is a great motivator to keep persisting.
“It’s not always going to be easy, especially with an issue like gun violence,” Oringel said. “Seeing all of these mass shootings in the news can be depressing and make you feel like you’re not doing enough, but stay true to your passions and the reasons that you care so deeply about the issues you care so deeply about. Continue fighting until you see the change that you want to be had.”
Top Photo: Jules Oringel, of Providence High School, sells school supplies at an event during National Gun Violence Prevention Week in Charlotte.
Bottom Photo: Jules Oringel speaks at a rally in South Carolina.
Read the full story! https://thecharlotteweekly.com/education/2019/11/high-school-students-fight-gun-violence-anti-semitism/
Bottom Photo: Jules Oringel speaks at a rally in South Carolina.
Read the full story! https://thecharlotteweekly.com/education/2019/11/high-school-students-fight-gun-violence-anti-semitism/
Guns Down America: Rally Video - November 5th, 2019
From the Charlotte Jewish News - November 2019 Edition:
From South Charlotte Weekly - September 20th, 2019:
CHARLOTTE – Some Providence High School seniors exercised their right to vote for the first time Sept. 10, despite being under 18...
...Providence High School senior Jules Oringel also voted in the primary election.
Oringel is a young activist and has traveled the country with her nonprofit, Return Home Supplies, which fights to stop gun violence. After encouraging people across the country to vote on policies that matter to them, she is excited to finally be able to do the same thing, even at the local level.
“I don’t see that we are making much progress to see that we are getting more regulations and laws for gun sellers in our city and for our state,” Oringel said. “It’s hard going to school every day knowing that nothing is being done.”
Oringel hopes to see her generation get excited and motivated to vote and get involved in politics.
“The young people have the power to turn any election if we just show up at the polls,” Oringel said. “As America’s next generation who’s coming up and will be impacted by legislation, it’s essential that we as youth raise our voices for the things we’re passionate about. We’re never going to be able to change anything about our laws and our leadership if we don’t vote now. That’s a big issue because this will affect us for the rest of our lives.”
Read the full story on: https://thecharlotteweekly.com/education/2019/09/charlotte-teens-excited-to-vote-for-the-first-time/
...Providence High School senior Jules Oringel also voted in the primary election.
Oringel is a young activist and has traveled the country with her nonprofit, Return Home Supplies, which fights to stop gun violence. After encouraging people across the country to vote on policies that matter to them, she is excited to finally be able to do the same thing, even at the local level.
“I don’t see that we are making much progress to see that we are getting more regulations and laws for gun sellers in our city and for our state,” Oringel said. “It’s hard going to school every day knowing that nothing is being done.”
Oringel hopes to see her generation get excited and motivated to vote and get involved in politics.
“The young people have the power to turn any election if we just show up at the polls,” Oringel said. “As America’s next generation who’s coming up and will be impacted by legislation, it’s essential that we as youth raise our voices for the things we’re passionate about. We’re never going to be able to change anything about our laws and our leadership if we don’t vote now. That’s a big issue because this will affect us for the rest of our lives.”
Read the full story on: https://thecharlotteweekly.com/education/2019/09/charlotte-teens-excited-to-vote-for-the-first-time/
WCCB Charlotte, NC News Story - August 17th, 2019:
Check out our Founder, Jules Oringel, seen here speaking at a Moms Demand Action rally in Rock Hill, SC! In her speech outside of Senator Lindsey Graham's office, she advocated for updated background checks and red flag laws.
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From the Charlotte Jewish News - November 2018 Edition:
WRAL Raleigh, NC News Story - October 7th, 2018:
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Founder Jules Oringel shares her story in Raleigh during a state-wide tour of North Carolina - "Each of us has the power to make a difference and save lives." On tour, Return Home Supplies partnered with March For Our Lives NC and Students Demand Action to register voters and raise awareness for gun violence prevention.
https://www.wral.com/friend-of-parkland-shooting-victim-reminds-nc-students-they-have-power-to-save-lives-/17899589/ |
From award-winning author and Wharton School of Business Professor Stew Friedman's "Total Leadership" October 2018 Newsletter:
Joe Oringel took my Total Leadership course over 10 years ago, and he just wrote to tell me about his daughter Jules, whose closest friends from camp survived the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in February, though one fellow camper, a freshman at the school, did not. Jules turned her grief into constructive action by founding Return Home Supplies, whose mission is to make sure every student and teacher can safely return home from school. In a local TV news interview, she declares: “Each of us has the power to make change.”
“One of my earliest and most successful – and ongoing – TL experiments,” wrote Joe, “was to initiate ‘Dad trips’ so I could better integrate the different parts of my life. I've been bringing each of our kids on one-on-one work-related trips since they're 4 or 5 years old. The kids (and me!) have vivid memories of their contributions toward my work goals and the intersection of work and home being win/win. Jules learned about Tom's Shoes and liked their model of merging community and work through social enterprise. Now, in addition to working on voter registration to reduce gun violence, she established Return Home Supplies to make a bigger contribution to this cause than she could with just babysitting money. She's learning digital marketing, website design, and other skills – like fostering conversations about gun violence to influence how people think – that she wants to apply during and after college. She's seen early successes with friends from camp and youth groups and people she meets at events. She's learning how personal relationships contribute to professional success and vice versa.”
Joe is a great example of a father consciously teaching his child how to think about and strive for what I call four-way-wins – Jules is expressing her core values, contributing to our society and connecting meaningfully with friends, growing professionally, and making her dad most proud – that result in demonstrable gains at work, at home, in the community, and for the private self.
“One of my earliest and most successful – and ongoing – TL experiments,” wrote Joe, “was to initiate ‘Dad trips’ so I could better integrate the different parts of my life. I've been bringing each of our kids on one-on-one work-related trips since they're 4 or 5 years old. The kids (and me!) have vivid memories of their contributions toward my work goals and the intersection of work and home being win/win. Jules learned about Tom's Shoes and liked their model of merging community and work through social enterprise. Now, in addition to working on voter registration to reduce gun violence, she established Return Home Supplies to make a bigger contribution to this cause than she could with just babysitting money. She's learning digital marketing, website design, and other skills – like fostering conversations about gun violence to influence how people think – that she wants to apply during and after college. She's seen early successes with friends from camp and youth groups and people she meets at events. She's learning how personal relationships contribute to professional success and vice versa.”
Joe is a great example of a father consciously teaching his child how to think about and strive for what I call four-way-wins – Jules is expressing her core values, contributing to our society and connecting meaningfully with friends, growing professionally, and making her dad most proud – that result in demonstrable gains at work, at home, in the community, and for the private self.
Return Home Supplies is a 501(c)3 tax-deductible nonprofit organization recognized by the United States' Internal Revenue Service.