Founded in 2015, The Trace is the only newsroom exclusively dedicated to reporting on our country’s gun violence crisis. We use the power of journalism to improve public understanding, increase accountability, and identify solutions that can lead to safer homes and communities for all Americans.
In 2022, The Trace established a local bureau in Philadelphia to drive more in-depth and inclusive coverage of the city’s gun violence crisis. Our two-person Philly team is producing journalism that’s critical to building safer communities, including our Up the Block resource guide for residents concerned about gun violence.
Mensah Dean is our Philadelphia staff writer and Afea Tucker is our community engagement reporter. Their work is supported by Joy Resmovits, our senior editor for local impact, under the direction of Craig Hunter, our executive editor.
Editorial Independence and Donor Transparency
As a nonprofit, The Trace accepts financial support for our work while maintaining a strict firewall between our news coverage decisions and all sources of revenue. You can read more about our editorial independence policy here.
The Trace’s reporting in Philadelphia is a part of Every Voice, Every Vote, a collaborative project managed by The Lenfest Institute for Journalism. Lead support for Every Voice, Every Vote in 2024 and 2025 is provided by the William Penn Foundation with additional funding from the Lenfest Institute for Journalism, Comcast NBC Universal, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Henry L. Kimelman Family Foundation, Judy and Peter Leone, Arctos Foundation, Wyncote Foundation, 25th Century Foundation, and Dolfinger-McMahon Foundation. To learn more about the project and view a full list of supporters, visit www.everyvoice-everyvote.org. Editorial content is created independently of the project’s donors.
Our Philadelphia bureau has also been supported by separate grants from Comcast, the Lenfest Institute for Journalism, the William Penn Foundation, the Neubauer Family Foundation, and the Jacob & Valeria Langeloth Foundation.
Additionally, our journalism in the city draws upon the generous support of our members, who donate to support gun violence journalism. Virginia B. Clark sustains our work as a major donor. You can read more about our donor and financial transparency policy here.
If you’re interested in supporting The Trace’s reporting on gun violence in Philadelphia, please reach out to Maddie Nell Jane at [email protected].