YOUTH & YOUNG ADULTS
Bring your ideas, your creativity, and your questions. This movement is built with you at the center.
FIND YOUR NEXT STEPWhat if we stopped the violence?
Bring your ideas. Find your people. Open new doors. What If We brings young people, families, and communities together through music, gaming, mentorship, and sports to create real opportunity and help end gun violence, one choice at a time.
Sign up for movement updates and tell us how you'd like to show up.
MEET THE
MOVEMENT.
What are we building, and why does it matter? Get to know What If We and the vision bringing us together.
SEE WHERE YOU FIT
What If We An introduction.Stock photo preview · RDNE Stock project / Pexels
VIDEO COMING SOONTHERE'S ROOM
FOR YOU HERE.
You don't have to have it all figured out.
Start with what you bring.
PARENTS & FAMILIES
Start a conversation. Keep it going. Find practical ways to listen and connect at home.
START A CONVERSATION
MENTORS, EDUCATORS & COMMUNITY LEADERS
Your experience and presence can help a young person see what's possible. Share your interest as these programs take shape.
BRING WHAT YOU KNOWPARTNERS, SPONSORS & ORGANIZATIONS
Schools, nonprofits, faith communities, and businesses can help open real pathways for young people.
EXPLORE A PARTNERSHIP
ROOM
FOR YOU.
YOU BRING SOMETHING
NOBODY ELSE CAN.
Share a question. Bring an idea.
Help someone see a possibility.
ONE MOMENT.
MORE POSSIBILITIES.
What If We is a youth-centered, community-powered movement that inspires young people, young adults, and communities to pause before pivotal choices and imagine what could happen if we chose differently.
Through music, gaming, mentorship, sports, education, career opportunities, and community partnerships, we aim to create positive pathways while bringing people together to build safer, stronger communities. Gun-violence prevention is a central focus; our broader vision is about choices, opportunity, connection, and better outcomes.
Built for youth and young adults, with an initial program focus on ages 12–27 where appropriate. The movement welcomes everyone.
PAUSE
One moment of thought can change a whole story.
POSSIBILITY
Your choices open doors.
PEOPLE
Nobody does it alone.
PATHWAYS
Real places to go next.
WHAT WE'RE EXPLORING
IN DEVELOPMENTTHE ANTHEM
A musical expression of the movement.
EXPLORE THE SONGWHAT’S YOUR NEXT MOVE?
A decision-making game where every choice opens a different path. In development; not yet available to play or download.
GET GAME UPDATESTHE PAUSE
Before your next move, pause.
A proposed initiative within the movement: a shared moment for reflection and connection. Not yet a scheduled event.
These are planned initiatives, not active programs. Dates, locations, and participation details have not been confirmed.
TURN IT UP.
The song behind the movement is on its way. Come back to listen, save it to your playlist, and share it with someone who should hear it.
Coming soon to streaming.
Once released, choose your platform here to listen.
GET MOVEMENT UPDATESWHAT IF WE
TALKED TONIGHT?
Pick one question.
Listen more than you talk.
If someone disrespected you in front of your friends, what would you want to do? What would you actually do?
Who's the one person you'd call if something felt wrong?
What's something you want to build in the next five years?
FOUNDED BY
STEPHANIE SMITH.
BUILT BY ALL OF US.
What If We is a youth-centered, community-powered movement rooted in Charlotte, with a vision to inspire communities nationwide. Founded by Stephanie Smith, the movement began with a simple but powerful question: What if we chose differently? It’s a question that invites all of us to be part of creating safer communities and greater opportunities for young people.
We're at the beginning. Programs, mentor matching, and volunteer placement have not launched yet. Signing up lets us keep you informed and reach out as opportunities open.
Belonging starts with showing up.
Expressing interest, sharing a resource, and becoming a formal ambassador are different steps. Ambassador expectations and volunteer onboarding will be shared once approved.
HELP CREATE MORE
OPPORTUNITIES.
Have something to contribute? Let's explore how your organization could be part of what's next.
EXPLORE A PARTNERSHIPSpace & equipmentCreative expertiseMentoring capacityEducation & career connectionsFunding possibilities
These are conversations to explore, not confirmed opportunities or sponsorship packages.
DONATE
FUEL WHAT
COMES NEXT.
Every contribution helps turn a question into real pathways for young people. Your support will help us build the programs, tools, and community moments that give young people more choices and better outcomes.
DONATIONS COMING SOONOnline giving is not open yet, and no payments are accepted on this site. We'll share how to give, and how gifts will be managed, once it's ready.
MUSIC & MEDIA
Producing the anthem and stories that carry the message to young people where they are.
WHAT’S YOUR NEXT MOVE?
Developing the decision-making game so young people can explore choices and their outcomes.
MENTORSHIP & SPORTS
Building safe, supportive spaces where young people connect with each other and with caring adults.
EDUCATION & CAREER PATHWAYS
Connecting young people and young adults with learning, skills, and career opportunities.
COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS
Bringing families, schools, and organizations together to build safer, stronger communities.
GOOD QUESTIONS.
REAL ANSWERS.
Who can be part of What If We
Everyone is welcome. The movement centers youth and young adults, with an initial program focus on ages 12–27 where appropriate. Parents and families, mentors, educators, community leaders, artists, faith communities, and organizations are all part of the We.
What does signing up mean?
Signing up through BE PART OF THE WE means you'll receive movement updates and we'll know how you'd like to participate. It is not program enrollment, a mentor match, a volunteer placement, or formal ambassador status. We'll reach out as those opportunities launch.
What can I do right now?
Sign up to be part of the We, use and share the conversation starters with your family or friends, and tell us how you'd like to get involved. Organizations can start a partnership conversation.
Can I get involved if I don't live in Charlotte?
Yes. What If We is rooted in Charlotte with a vision to inspire communities nationwide. Anyone can sign up for updates and share where they're located. Local activities outside Charlotte have not been announced yet.
What if I'm under 18?
You're at the heart of this movement. You can explore and share the resources on this page with no sign-up. To get updates, ask a parent or guardian to sign up using their own information. We don't collect contact details from anyone under 18 through this site.
Can I volunteer or mentor?
You can share your interest by choosing Volunteer, Ambassador, or another option in the sign-up form. Volunteer and mentoring programs have not launched yet. Any future role working with young people will include an application and screening process, and an expression of interest is not approval or access to minors.
How can my organization partner with you?
Use the partnership inquiry to tell us about your school, nonprofit, faith organization, or business and what you'd like to explore, such as funding, space, expertise, or career connections. A conversation does not promise sponsorship benefits or participant access.
Can I donate?
Not yet. Online giving is coming soon, and no payments are accepted on this site right now. Sign up and choose Donor or supporter to be notified when giving opens.
When can I play the game or hear the anthem?
WHAT’S YOUR NEXT MOVE? is in development and isn't available to play or download yet. The anthem is coming soon to streaming. Sign up to hear first when either is released.
Is The Pause an event?
The Pause is a proposed initiative within the movement: a shared moment to stop and reflect before your next move. No dates or locations have been set.
How can I reach the team?
Use the contact form for general questions and media inquiries. To get involved, use BE PART OF THE WE. For organizations, use the partnership inquiry.
WHAT IF WE
STARTED
WITH YOU?
One pause. One choice. One person willing to show up. There's room for you here.
Young people bring the possibility.
All of us can help make room for it.
BE PART OF THE WEOPEN
First, find your path.
Choose the path that fits you. All public resources stay open to everyone.
Your ideas belong here.
Explore the questions and what we're building. Talk with a parent or guardian about getting involved together. They can sign up using their own information, and you're always welcome to use and share the resources here.
EXPLORE THE QUESTIONSSEE WHAT'S TAKING SHAPEWe use what you share only to send updates and follow up about how you'd like to participate. We don't sell your information.
CONTACT US
LET’S
TALK.
Have a general question, a media request, or feedback? Send us a note and the team will get back to you.