Undergrad to speak at Democratic National Convention

When Edgar Jared Vilchez '27 witnessed the shooting of a classmate outside his Chicago high school in 2022, it changed the trajectory of his life.

It's a story he'll share at the Democratic National Convention (DNC), as part of a segment about the impact of gun violence in the U.S.

"I'll be talking about how guns really changed my story," said Vilchez, a government major in the College of Arts and Sciences and an intern at the DNC. "I was just a few feet away when a gun went off and shot a classmate, and it was very traumatic. When that happened, a light bulb went off for me, and I started coming out against gun violence."

The segment will air at 9:45 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 22, as part of the main programming before Vice President Kamala Harris officially accepts the Democratic Party nomination for president.

After the shooting outside his school, Vilchez joined the youth council of a nonpartisan nonprofit called Project Unloaded, which works to prevent gun violence through education, with a focus on reaching young people. When organizers for the DNC were looking for speakers, Vilchez's connection to Chicago, where the convention is being held, made him a good fit.

"This stuff is happening to thousands of people. Every week, every month there's a school shooting," Vilchez said. "I'm here to advocate for the change that's needed in this country so stories like mine don't occur again."

Vilchez said his time at Cornell so far has already helped prepare him for the moment. "Already in my first year, I've found a lot of passion for politics," said Vilchez, who is also working towards a minor in public policy in the Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy and was inspired by the course Inside Elections, taught by Steve Israel, former congressman and director of the Brooks School's Institute of Politics and Global Affairs (IPGA). "People are not just teaching me but helping me use what I learn and bring that into the arenas that I'm entering. And while I'm here at the DNC, I'm also interacting with a lot of people and being vocal, and I feel like Cornell has prepared me in how to be articulate about my ideas."

Earlier in the summer, Cornell students attended the GOP Convention in Milwaukee, through the IPGA. The group met with Republican National Committee delegates and state chairs, participated in events with the New York state Congressional delegations, and interacted with members of the national media and polling teams.

On Aug. 22, Vilchez will be joined by two other speakers who will share their stories. Georgia U.S. House Representative Lucy McBath and others will speak after the testimonials. Vilchez said his voice will represent the perspectives of young people.

"As youth, we're using our voices, and I feel that's an important perspective to bring on stage," he said.

Vilchez also has to be concise - he'll have about a minute to speak, and he wants to tell his story but also offer hope.

"The violence I experienced made me an advocate for gun violence prevention and for using my voice," Vilchez said. "Our narratives, our stories are really important and powerful to spread the message, and I'm going to make this the best minute I can."

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