Founded by Creative Director Cheryl Najafi, with the art direction of Gabriel Vinas and Kelsey Vinas, the Butterfly Art Collective created Resilience in response to the urgent need for dialogue, education, and action around gun safety in America. The campaign merges art with evidence-based education, advocacy, and grassroots organizing to foster a sense of agency in creating safer schools and communities. 

The loss of a loved one to gun violence creates waves that touch every corner of our society. Just as a butterfly’s wings create changes that ripple outward, the Resilience campaign empowers individuals to become agents of transformation in their communities. Our mission integrates art, education, and community through a comprehensive threefold approach.

This initiative centers on the creation of 25 pairs of butterflies, each uniquely designed in response to the 25 deadliest mass shootings in the United States. The butterflies honor the many lives lost and resilience of the surviving communities. One butterfly from each pair will be donated to the place impacted by the atrocity, while its mate will join a traveling art exhibition, ultimately raising funds for its partners, GIFFORDS and Sandy Hook Promise.

As a symbol of both the fragility and transformation of life, the butterflies are crafted from flexible yet durable resin with wingspans up to five feet. Each piece serves as a compelling visual narrative, featuring colors, abstract representations, and embedded found objects inspired by the strength of the affected communities while emphasizing the shared responsibility to prevent future moments of profound loss.

The Butterfly Art Collective recognizes that creative connections can evolve into meaningful change. Their education partnership with Sandy Hook Promise blends research-backed violence prevention curriculum with art, while their advocacy alliance with GIFFORDS champions proven policies to safeguard communities nationwide from gun violence.

Founded by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who survived a 2011 assassination attempt while meeting with constituents, GIFFORDS works at federal, state, and local levels to advance policies proven to save lives from gun violence. Their approach brings together diverse voices—including gun owners, veterans, law enforcement, and community leaders—to shift conversation from divisiveness to collaborative problem-solving. They advocate for solutions that respect Second Amendment rights while prioritizing community safety.