David Wheeler, father of Sandy Hook shooting victim Ben Wheeler, will speak 7 p.m. March 24 in Shaeffer Auditorium at Kutztown University.

The event is free and open to the public.

Wheeler will discuss the aftermath of the school shooting and how cultural and societal change must be the driving force to protect future generations of children from the threat of gun violence.

After the shooting in December 2012, which claimed the lives of 20 students and six adults, including his son, Wheeler struggled in his grief to make sense of what happened.

In his talk, Wheeler will share his journey of grief and his effort to make sense of the tragedy, discussing his belief that only through understanding is it possible to find solutions to help make communities safe.

Wheeler, his wife Francine, and other Newtown families work to encourage citizens to come together for a national conversation about community safety and urge state and national lawmakers to pass comprehensive gun control legislation.

The Wheelers also work closely with Sandy Hook Promise, a nationwide group founded by Newtown friends and neighbors to open new avenues of communication and action against gun violence in the U.S.

This event is sponsored by the Association of Campus Events.