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August 2022 Newsletter
 The 2022 Dirt Bowl is a wrap, and OSHN had the opportunity to table the event all summer long. Through this partnership, OSHN was able to hand out almost 100 gun locks, engaged over 3,000 spectators, and made over 200 resource referrals. The tournament culminated with one of OSHN's largest community events yet where more than 25 community partners provided a one-stop shop for referrals and resources on Championship Day. In the end, Newburg took home the title for the third consecutive year. See the championship game here.
Upcoming Events
Ambassador Training
The Office for Safe and Healthy Neighborhoods (OSHN) would like to invite you to be a part of the next One Love Louisville Ambassador Training THIS SATURDAY! This is an opportunity for citizens to help us create a safer Louisville through safe and effective interventions taught by experts in Stop the Bleed, Conflict Resolution, Mental Health 101, Domestic Violence Awareness, The Public Health Approach to Violence, and Community Organizing.
Join us on Saturday August 20, 2022 at the Louisville Free Public Library's Main Branch. This will be an in-person event, and food and refreshments will be served!
Contact jacob.hazel@louisvilleky.gov for questions.
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September Networking Night
Do you want to know how to get more involved in violence prevention work? The Office for Safe and Healthy Neighborhoods (OSHN) would like to invite you to be a part of the next Networking Night. This is an opportunity for citizens to get to know the change-agents doing the work in the Louisville area. Our September 27th presenters include Seven Counties Services – Bellwood & Brooklawn, A-ONE Allstars, and The Hope Buss.
Join us on Tuesday September 27 from 6:00p-7:30p. This will be an in-person event held at the Seven Counties Services Bellwood & Brooklawn 3125 Brooklawn Campus Drive, 40218. Food and refreshments will be served!
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Louisville TRC Project Resilience Academy
Please join us for the upcoming Louisville Trauma Resilient Community Project Resilience Academy on August 30th and 31st. This two-day training event is being offered at no charge. The project's overarching goal is to enhance coordination and alignment of the city in Trauma-Informed Care and promote healing and recovery from race-based trauma, community violence, and unrest in West and South Louisville. As a participant, you will receive foundational training in the Trauma Resilient Community (TRC) Model. The only requirement to be considered for this opportunity is that participants must work for an organization that serves the communities of West and South Louisville.
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Ambassador Spotlight
OSHN offers multiple avenues for civic engagement to help move this important work forward. We aim to highlight these partners, referred to as violence prevention ambassadors, here.
The Community Mobilization Initiative, operating in the Russell, Shawnee, Smoketown, Portland, Newburg, and Parkhill neighborhoods, have been meeting monthly to discuss anti-violence initiatives in their neighborhoods. Recently, one focus has been ensuring youth programming and supports are available over the summer. The Smoketown anti-violence coalition hosted their first Family Movie Night on Friday August 12, 2022. Approximately twenty families enjoyed popcorn and the Pixar Movie, Soul. Family movie nights will take place monthly throughout the Fall at 760 S. Hancock Street. The next premiere is scheduled for Friday September 23, 2022 at 8pm.
If you live or work in one of the above neighborhoods and are interested in joining their anti-violence neighborhood coalition, please contact tonesha.hearn@louisvilleky.gov
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Online Reading and Learning
With limited trainings and in-person gatherings, below are some interesting learning opportunities to continue to grow and develop our collective understanding of violence.
West Louisville Strategies for Success
The nine neighborhoods of West Louisville are home to hard-working, entrepreneurial people and some of the most historic, beautiful and important places in our city. Since 2014, these neighborhoods have seen an infusion of more than $1.5 billion of investment announced, completed or underway.
Throughout 2022, Louisville Metro has been focused on continuing work to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic as well as building on previous work to inject equity in every aspect of LMG operations, and improve social determinants of residents’ health – factors like age, race, economic opportunity, access to fresh and healthy food, and physical environment. Read about some of the exciting updates in the 2022 West Louisville strategies for Success
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District Advocacy Toolkit
The Coalition for Juvenile Justice (CJJ) has released an in-district Advocacy Toolkit with advice, information, and resources to use if you meet with your members of Congress.
This year, Congress will be in their home districts from August 6 through September 6. This is a great time to invite your congressional representative to visit programs in your local area, and see firsthand how federal dollars are being spent to help keep our kids and communities safe.
While this toolkit has a focus on the important work of juvenile justice and re-entry resources, this toolkit could be used for any level of community organizing work. Check out the advocacy tool kit here.
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#GetTheChampAStamp
Peter Villegas, the chairman of the California State Athletic Commission, joined the board of the Muhammad Ali Center in February. An avowed Ali fan, he’d even named his daughter, Alisandra, or Ali, for short.
Villegas asked Lonnie Ali if her husband had been on a postage stamp. When she said no, Villegas suggested it would be a good idea to begin a campaign to bring it about. And such was born the social media hashtag, #GetTheChampAStamp, designed to promote a public awareness campaign to champion the effort to memorialize Ali on a postage stamp. Read the story here.
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Community Board
Take a look at some of the latest news, resources, and events in the community. Keep your community informed by sharing these with family, friends, and neighbors.
Newburg Days Festival
Once a year, the Newburg area hosts "Newburg Days," a three-day celebration showcasing what the neighborhood has to offer. More than 90 vendors in Petersburg Park. The festival begins on Friday August 19, 2022 at 6:30 pm with music and vendor sales.
On Saturday August 20, 2022, there is a community parade that starts at noon. On Sunday August 21, 2022, there is a worship service in the park & a senior luncheon at 1:30 PM at the community center. Carnival rides, basketball tournament & vendor sales are present all three days.
Petersburg Park is located at 5008 E. Indian Trail Louisville, KY 40218
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California Day
The Sparrow House will be hosting California Day held at California Park. This is a day meant to bring the community together for a day of fun and connect the community to resources.. The Sparrow House, which organized the event, is a collaborative workspace that unifies California residents, businesses and community resources. A number of community resources like the United Way, Metro Health, and some area counselors will be on hand.
Join the fun on Saturday August 27, 2022 at 12pm-6pm. California Park is located at 1600 W. St Catherine Street. There will be music, fun and vendors.
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Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kentuckiana is Seeking Mentors
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kentuckiana (BBBSKY) is recruiting "Bigs" to serve as mentors for children in all of Louisville’s neighborhoods! You have a BIG opportunity in front of you— to not only impact a child’s life today— but to transform their potential for tomorrow.
IT TAKES TWO! Two people- the mentor and the child, one year commitment, two outings per month, two total hours per month! This is a powerful way to make a difference in a young person's life that will affect them for years to come!
For more information on how to become a "Big", click here or scan the QR code to learn more.
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Free Firearm Safety and Stop the Bleed Classes EVERY Tuesday
This two hour training meets every Tuesday from 5:30 pm-7:30 pm located at 3900 West Broadway. Participants will learn the basics of firearm training including safe handling, storage, and local laws. Participants will also learn Stop the Bleed basics including packing a gunshot wound and using a tourniquet. Participants will receive a free gun lock. To register, contact Darwin Belliard at katanasavage@protonmail.com
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News and Announcements
Louisville awarded $20.5 million in federal RAISE grants to fund ReImagine 9th Street, Broadway All the Way
Mayor Greg Fischer today celebrated news that the city of Louisville is receiving $20.5 million in federal RAISE grants to fund two transformational transportation projects that are integral to the revitalization of west Louisville and the continued growth of the city’s downtown and edge neighborhoods.
Louisville received a $15.5 million implementation grant to fund the design finalization and construction of the ReImagine 9th Street project and a $5 million planning grant to fund design work for Broadway all the Way, which will make that project shovel-ready. Both projects will improve connectivity, mobility, safety and aesthetics, while promoting economic development and quality of place.
“Today is a great day for the city of Louisville! These projects are part of a larger strategy to reinvigorate west Louisville, which is already seeing an unprecedented $1.5 billion in investment, and will have ripple effects across our community. After many years of working to break down the physical and invisible 9th Street divide, we are excited to bring ReImagine 9th Street to life, which will complement the ongoing investments in Beecher Terrace and the broader Russell neighborhood,” the Mayor said. “Broadway All the Way will connect neighborhoods from the Highlands in the east to Shawnee in the west, as well as provide an improved transportation experience for everyone who travels this major corridor.
Continue Reading Here
Mayor highlights progress to address vacant and abandoned properties, new property condition survey and changes to the Landbank Authority following racial equity review
In 2020, the Landbank Authority began a racial equity review of its policies, programs, and procedures, and this year, the Authority’s board is reviewing program and policy changes that prioritize the sale of Landbank properties for owner occupancy and will result in more equitable practices.
“The Landbank Board and the OHCD team has worked diligently to improve property and home ownership in neighborhoods impacted from vacant and abandoned properties. Over the past few years, we have engaged city officials, as well as community members, to make policies and opportunities fairer and more equitable for local residents looking to build wealth, not only for themselves but for their family’s future,” said Dr. Rev. Jamesetta Ferguson, member of the Landbank Authority Board of Directors. “When sales resume in mid-September, I believe the residents wishing to engage the process will begin to reap more benefits from the new and improved policies put in place.”
The Authority stopped accepting applications to purchase city-owned properties in June to implement the changes and expects to begin accepting applications again on September 15. The proposed changes include:
- Collecting demographic data on Landbank buyers;
- Creating a $1 million Landbank Homeownership Improvement Fund to assist with the cost of rehabbing Landbank properties for properties going to an owner-occupant;
- Eliminating first-come, first-serve options for several Landbank programs to offer more equitable access to properties;
- Revising scoring criteria for multiple programs to favor neighborhood residents and homeownership; and
- Changing applicant eligibility to its Lot On My Block Program to allow long-term renters to purchase vacant lots on their block.
The Authority now is seeking community input on the proposed changes. Community members can view proposed changes and provide feedback by visiting www.louisvilleky.gov/vacant.
Stay Connected!
There is great work happening here in the Office for Safe and Healthy Neighborhoods, and most importantly, in our community. It is our goal to keep you engaged and co-leading our important work. Our vision for Louisville is a city of safe neighborhoods where everyone is supported, free of violence, and prepared for lifelong success. We can only achieve this together, so stay connected with our monthly newsletters, social media, and visit our website for more information and additional calls to action.
Past OSHN Newsletters can be viewed here.
We would love your feedback. If you have questions or concerns regarding our newsletter, or have a related event that you would like to communicate with our networks, contact Joseph Newland.
Take care of each other.
#BeThe1
OSHN Team
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