Jaunita Pye (She/Her)

Jaunita Pye is the Associate Director of Programming and Administration for the Community Safety Initiatives team at Everytown for Gun Safety. A community leader and violence intervention expert based in Chicago, IL, she is a graduate of the University of Chicago’s Community Violence Intervention Leadership Academy. Jaunita brings deep expertise in addressing gun violence, drawing on her personal experience as a survivor and advocate.

Previously, Jaunita served as Executive Director of YMCA Chicago Violence Reduction, where she led initiatives aimed at reducing violence and fostering resilience in Chicago’s most vulnerable neighborhoods. She also worked as Chief Operating Officer at Think Outside Da Block, implementing successful violence reduction strategies. Jaunita currently contributes to Everytown by building strategic partnerships to tackle the root causes of gun violence.

Jaunita holds degrees in English and Spanish from the University of Illinois at Chicago and is recognized for her skills in conflict resolution, outreach, leadership development, and trauma-informed practices.