Message From Our Director

The recent mass shooting is shocking. As is true for all other tragic forms of gun violence, we can’t accept this as an inevitable element of our lives.

Each incident of violence stretches beyond those killed and wounded; it harms the well-being of survivors, their families, and  the entire community because the regularity of violence has caused a cascade of trauma that is razing the mental health industry and dulling compassion in ways that demand greater engagement. 

As complex as violence is, we can’t allow it to alter who and what we are; a city of vibrant neighborhoods that care and support one another.

OSHN commits to ending local violence through a multi-faceted, comprehensive, all-inclusive, collaborating, sustainable public health approach that addresses the root causes of violence from all angles.

We will continue to support all those impacted by violence and intervene with those planning violence.

It will take time. It will take paramount effort. It will take all of us working together and regularly.

I urge all of you to never devalue our collective strength, our resilience and the distinct beauty of our diverse communities. With you, we are a city of safe, healthy neighborhoods where every person is secure.

A Reminder About Trauma

Nannette Dix, TRC Program Manager

Louisville’s mass shooting follows the grim, familiar pattern of national shootings. According to data from Everytown for Gun Safety, an organization focused on greater gun control, between 2015 and 2022, over 19,000 people were killed or wounded in the United States in a mass shooting.

Research also shows that the negative effects of mass shootings spread farther than previously understood. It even harms the health of residents not directly touched by violence because community violence can shatter a sense of safety that we all often take for granted for ourselves and our families.

So mass shootings can lead to higher rates of depression and anxiety and a higher risk of suicide among young people.

If you need help coping, OSHN has direct resources. By calling the TRC (Trauma Resilient Communities) hotline, you are connecting yourself to a network of free, mental help that can impact you and those who love and care about you. If you feel unbalanced, Let’s Talk About It.

“Violence Reduction Summit” was an event aimed for serious, sustainable change

Nearly 250 individuals participated in the recent, two-day “Citywide Violence Reduction Summit,” held at the Muhammad Ali Center in March.

Its purpose was to gather all of Louisville’s violence-reduction change agents for a rare opportunity to meet, connect and share resources with the goal of making Louisville the safest city in the country.

The event was hosted by the Louisville Alliance for Sustainable Gun Violence Reduction and in association with OSHN. Participants engaged in deep, sometimes uncomfortable discussions about the causes of violence and were purged to earnestly discuss what works or doesn’t, what needs greater support and what there is too much of. “Now the Coalition will review the event's results, make recommendations and report out what the possibilities are,” said Amber Burns-Jones, an assistant director at OSHN and event facilitator. “There will be a lot of work ensuring the best and most realistic takeaways from the event are realized.”

“Night of Resilience” was an inclusive, prayerful response to shocking local events

In the aftermath of the mass shooting of five individuals at Old National Bank and of a youth shot to death at the downtown campus of the Jefferson Community and Technical College, OSHN quickly asked and helped to mobilized several area religious leaders to open their doors for services that recognized all gun violence victims in Louisville. The “Night of Resilience” was held two days after the tragic events. Its purpose was to give everyone throughout the city a place to grieve, pray and seek professional counseling if the events impacted them professionally. “Violence has a long reach," said Nannette Dix, program manager for OSHN’s Trauma Resilient Communities. “Certainly it impacts family and friends, but the community, also. It makes people feel frustrated and less safe. That can have emotional impacts,” she said. Seventeen places of worship, which included the Christian, Muslim and Jewish communities, opened their doors for two hours. Some observed a collective moment of silence while others rang bells to solemnly remember the lives of all lost to violence.

Metro Youth Cabinet will move rapidly forward in 2023

The Metro Youth Cabinet hosted Louisville’s version of the “National Youth Violence Prevention Week” and offered a mix of events that encouraged youth and adults to talk and work together in preventing local youth violence. The events ran from March 27 to April 1. They included a youth-focused vendor fair, a community-wide panel discussion and a youth activists' event. Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg helped the Cabinet kick off the week with a press conference that featured the highlights of the week, but also issues the Cabinet will focus on this year. “Safety is not only essential for success, but also a fundamental human right,” said District 8 cabinet representative Charlie Fitzgerald, 17, and a student at the Louisville Collegiate School. “Preventing youth violence is crucial for promoting equal opportunities.”

The Cabinet works in an advisory role with the mayor and the Louisville Metro Council. At the press conference, it said it will focus on root causes of violence, including access to food, homelessness, and that they will work jointly with youth-focused organizations.

District 15 representative Zion Smith, 21, said “My ask of everyone is for you to reach out to a young person, let them know that they are safe, welcomed, loved, and have your support. We are one family. We are one city. And we are one Louisville.”

“A Youthful Gala” For Those Working With Youth

 The YES! “A Youthful Gala” at the Muhammad Ali Center on April 1 was a colorful, elegant event that was a combination of celebration and recognition for individuals and service organizations battling youth violence locally.  It highlighted  small and milestone achievements in the fight against youth violence and capped Louisville’s version of the National Youth Violence Prevention Week. “You can’t give enough recognition to those who get right in the battle against youth violence. It’s hard work that is really a commitment,” said Carla Kirby, an OSHN assistant director. “We are lucky to have such individuals in this community.”

The awardees are:

• Keeper of the Beat Award: The Real Young Prodigies
• Youth Advocate Award: Sarah Bartley of Seven Counties Services
• #1 Supporter Award: Michelle Cunningham of Seven Counties Services
• Making the Difference (Large Organization): Metro United Way, Inc.
• Making the Difference (Medium Organization): La Casita Center
• Making the Difference (Small Organization): Tiger Strike Martial Arts Academy

2023 "Capacity Building Fellowship" granted to 11 grassroots organizations working to reduce local violence

After a competitive evaluation process, The Reimagine Network has selected 11 grassroots, violence-reduction organizations as the 2023 recipients of the “Capacity-Building Fellowship.” Each organization will receive a $20,000 grant to help them build their capacity to become more effective as local change agents in Louisville’s violence landscape.

The recipients cover seven (7) community pillars: Community Building, Health and Social Wellness, Employment and Economic Development, Sports, Youth Development and Violence and Conflict Intervention.

"As OSHN continues its aggressive effort to reduce our community’s risk of violence, we look forward what these organizations will do to make the end of violence a more tangible reality," Joe Newland, program manager of The Reimagine Network.

The grantees are:

• A Hand Up Community Resource Center, Inc.
• Mothers of Murdered Sons and Daughters
• One Plus One Equals U, Inc.
• Emma’ Lees Transformational Studios, Inc.
• Tiger Strike Martial Arts
• Friends of Nicole
• CHOICE, Inc
• Cycle Breakers Breaking Chains
• Boss Not Bangers, Inc.
• Men Against Gun Violence
• Free2Hope, Inc.

OSHN Hosts Ambassador Training at Iroquois Hish School

For the past several months, The Office for Safe and Healthy Neighborhoods has been joining Iroquois High School's Black Student Union during club days to contribute to their ongoing discussion about gun violence. On Friday, more than 20 students completed this training with a discussion on the Public Health Approach to Violence. We look forward to co-leading this work with a new cohort of change-makers who are eager to move the needle when it comes to gun violence in their community. 

In partnership with the local Metro United Way, The Reimagine Network is now listing real time volunteer opportunities in the Louisville communities.  

The Reimagine Network Volunteer Opportunities

Or contact Reimagine@louisvilleky.gov 

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.