Jelani Gibson grew up in Washington, D.C., and is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, where he got his start in journalism as a public affairs photojournalist. He also worked as an education reporter at the Weatherford (Texas) Democrat. Previously he was a teaching assistant at the University of North Texas’ Mayborn School of Journalism. Now, he is a Report for America Corps member covering gun violence for The Kansas City Star.