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September 2023 Newsletter |
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 Nominate a Youth Who, Despite Odds, Achieves in the Face of Challenge
In partnership with local resident s Jim and Claudette Patton, Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg announces, “Mayor’s 100 Youth.”
This collaborative community initiative gives high community recognition to Jefferson County youth who do not usually get recognition for their unique achievements. These youth are the ones who meet and overcome adversity, hardships, handicaps and unique challenges and obstacles.
“These youth don’t accept their odds for defeat, “said Mayor Greenberg. “They challenge the negative in their lives with fight hope and confidence.”
Claudette Patton is a well-regarded local family law attorney. While in high school, a counselor told her the school was replacing her history and economic classes with food service and cosmetology so that she would be better prepared to immediately start making a living after graduating.
But Claudette’s plan was to go to law school, despite the zip code she lived in. She fought the counselor through higher officials and won, which kept her career aspirations on track.
“I’m excited to meet 100 young Louisvillians who are succeeding and serving (their community) despite hardships and setbacks,” she said. “My goal is to identify youth in every zip code in Jefferson County and be a part of helping literally thousands over the coming years to make our community strong,” she said.
Make Your Nominations by Sunday, Oct. 15th!
Nominations should come from adults associated with the youth: teachers, religious leader, doctor, coaches, mentors, and advisors. Nominations from family members are not accepted.
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BE THE ONE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE |
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 Change Happens When People Get Involved
OSHN’s Reimagine Network is charged with ensuring that assistance and resources are available for concerned, engaged citizens involved in the fight against violence. The Reimagine Network is OSHN’s community mobilization division and is the city’s gateway for where civic-minded neighbors come together to share concerns, address problems, and then work TOGETHER as they take an active role against anything that brings violence to their neighborhood.
We need more citizens to get involved - NOW.
We encourage residents to join a coalition, especially those in the Shawnee, Parkhill, Smoketown, Russell, Newburg and Portland neighborhoods.
Coalitions are small groups of people with powerful reaches because they address issues and inequity through grassroots tactics, networking and ideas.
Such involvement is a strong, collective way to hold leaders accountable for community-driven change.
502-574-6949
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 Unique, Artful Student Banners Grace Smoketown
Street banners artfully drawn by students from the Meyzeek Middle School are now displayed in numerous spots in Smoketown.
In association with a community pride effort from the Smoketown Anti-Violence Coalition, the students were asked to illustrate what makes them proud of where they reside and/pr go to school. Smoketown. Some illustrations copy wall murals throughout Smoketown and channel Muhammad Ali.
As part of the community mobilization initiative, OSHN organizes anti-violence coalition in several neighborhoods. These citizen coalitions work to do what they believe needs to be done to eliminate violence in their neighborhoods. OSHN has assisted in several coalition ventures, including installing lights in dark alleys, organizing volunteers to help walk children home from school and assisting in the development of community gardens.
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Little more than a year ago, Bethany Olson was promoted to the first ever supervisor’s position at YES!, or the Youth Engagement Services division at OSHN. In that position, she handles community outreach, the metro youth cabinet, grants management and special issues.
Coming into that position, she’d developed a diverse mix of advanced education and work experiences that made her progression at OSHN seem an appropriate accumulation.
With a master’s in education and ten years’ teaching experience, she also brought years of insight from working as an administrator at one of Louisville’s largest employers, the United Parcel Service (UPS), and also tutoring college students.
“I got into education and teaching because I wanted to help them (youth) find joy in learning,” she said.
But a career turning point was when her father became ill with COVID-19. “That changed everything,” she said. “I needed a change from teaching. People (associated with her students) were not following COVID guidelines and that angered me. I wasn’t exactly sure what my change would be,” but that she wanted to stay connected with youth, she said.
“And with my specific background, I wanted to work with youth. I know it sounds corny, but I believe that children are our future. And kids are so challenged today. They deserve more than they get.”
She found her way to an administrative position in the city’s old Office for Youth Development, which transitioned into OSHN. “So having the opportunity to affect change in government, I think is a cool thing. I don’t want to do something just to do it. I want to have impact,” she said.
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TRAUMA RESILIENT COMMUNITIES |
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How Our Community Has Handled Trauma
The COVID-19 pandemic is the most traumatic event of our lifetime. Polls show that many Americans are still living in a sustained survival mode, which has caused trauma. During its first summit, OSHN’s Trauma Resilient Communities division highlighted what has been done to address local community trauma. This inclusive effort has depended on grassroots organization, UofL, educators, Spauling University, local hospitals, and a gamut of service organizations.
The results are measurable gains:
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THE COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH PROJECT & TRC HEALING PROJECT
FREE Mental-Health Services for any Louisville Resident Traumatized by Community or Domestic Violence
Through the Trauma Resilient Communities (TRC) division at OSHN, all local Neighborhood Places now have mental health professionals on site who can handle walk-in counseling for individuals traumatized by community and domestic violence or any form of toxic stress.
In addition, TRC has implemented culturally specific trauma care in the Latinx and immigrant communities. The "Trauma Resilient Communities Healing Project," is a 4-year expansion being handled by the local La Casita Center, a grassroots, Louisville-based nonprofit that provides services heavily in the Latinx communities. Those services cover mental health, education, and legal assistance.
The Neighborhood Places' expansion, "The Community Mental Health Project", will provide immediate and scheduled counseling, support, and advice to individuals, families or groups. This expansion will have language interpreting services.
“Any effective trauma model can’t be a one size fits all approach. The aim is to correctly and effectively address trauma, risk factors and build up protective factors,” said Nannette Dix, program manager of TRC.
Dix said that the local La Casita Center is selected to manage the expansion because of its strong immigrant community connections, capabilities and trust it has built in the locally.
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 Support the California Neighborhood Youth Board
The "Be Heard" Poetry Slam event is the social action project chosen and planned by the California Neighborhood Youth Board. The kids on the board will perform, but the event is also open to other performers to sign up. It is a FREE event open to the public for family, friends, and community members to attend in support of the NYB. Please RSVP if you are planning to present a poem, song, or dance!
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 Connect With Other Youth-Serving Organizations!
The YES! Connection was created to foster collaboration among youth-serving organizations in the Louisville community.
Come join us for an educational in-person event at Metro United Way on East Broadway, Louisville, KY. National Alliance on Mental Health Louisville (NAMI) will be sharing resources specifically helpful for youth-serving organizations as we discuss National Suicide Prevention & Awareness Month. A special YES!-funded project, The Louisville Youth Mental Wellness Bus, will also be highlighted at this event. Mark your calendars and get ready to say YES! to an amazing experience at The YES! Connection!
This is a FREE event - Registration is required - Lunch will be provided!
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 Louisville is abundant with smart, civic-minded youth and we'd like to see them become change makers by being involved. We are inviting any qualified youth to apply to the Metro Youth Cabinet in 2024. This is a major platform that means the ideas and opinions of local youth will be included.
TO LEARN MORE:
502-574-1903
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INFORMATION RELATED TO GUN VIOLENCE |
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The stress of experiencing high levels of community violence harms entire families
Black mothers are the canaries in the coal mine when it comes to the mental and physical harms of stress from living with gun violence in America.
Our research team sought to understand how stress from structural violence affects the body, specifically the immune system.
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Everytown For Gun Safety, Moms Demand Action, and Students Demand Action celebrate gun-sense champion, President Joe Biden, signing the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act into law. The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act is a historic gun safety, mental health, and school safety bill. The legislation was passed by strong bipartisan majorities in both the U.S. Senate and House, and is the first major federal gun safety law to pass Congress in nearly 26 years. Everytown for Gun Safety advised in the drafting of the bill.
Read The Full Story HERE
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 Help Our City Create a Food Vision 2030!
Food in Neighborhoods partners with Change Today, Change Tomorrow
Food in Neighborhoods (FIN) and Change Today, Change Tomorrow (CTCT) are inviting everyone to share their thoughts by participating in a survey to help develop a Louisville Food Vision 2030! The information you provide will help Louisville develop a multi-year strategic plan to make food more accessible to ALL communities and that supports our local farmers and food-related businesses, with a special focus on ensuring equity. The survey is relatively short with just a few questions for ALL that play a role in the food system, from grower to consumer! Your answers will be anonymous unless you choose to share your personal information.
Share your email for a chance to win a $100 gift card!
As a special "thank you" from Change Today, Change Tomorrow, everyone that participates in the survey will receive a voucher for free groceries that can be picked up at the CTCT office. Voucher and instructions will be sent to you after your survey is received.
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 Invest in Your Financial Future!
A Hand Up CRC created a Financial Empowerment Program that introduces residents of West Louisville and other surrounding communities to basic financial knowledge that will provide them with the tools to increase their financial capability and build confidence to make informed decisions about their own finances - present and future.
This FREE, six-week incentivized program focuses on financial literacy education, with sessions on economics that include saving, budgeting, credit building, debt and loans, stock investments, and much more!
LEARN WHILE YOU EARN! Dollar-for-dollar match savings & other financial incentives will be available for all participants!
WHEN: September 16th - October 21st 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
WHERE: Hand In Hand Ministries 518 N 26th Street, Louisville, KY 40212
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 After School Enrichment for Families
The Robert Jamison Ministries and partners are hosting an after school academy program where kids and families will have the opportunity to participate in fun and educational activities during the entire school year. The program provides sports, computer literacy, academic tutoring, parent empowerment, and more! Explore, Learn & Grow with Project Inspire!
TO ENROLL OR WITH QUESTIONS:
Call 502-554-3770
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The Office for Safe and Healthy Neighborhoods is always for looking community spaces to host our Ambassador Training and Network Nights events. If you know of a community space please email The Reimagine Network.
reimagine@louisvilleky.gov
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 OSHN’s mission is to reduce the risk of violence in all of Louisville’s communities. If you have an event or festival that we can table and share what the city is doing to holistically reduce violence and how it affects you and our community - We Want to Come! Please fill out our tabling request form or go to the website at Office for Safe & Healthy Neighborhoods | LouisvilleKY.gov We’ll look forwarding to meeting you!
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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. |
 View any past OSHN Newsletter!
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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 the Reimagine Network.
Take care of each other,
The Reimagine Network
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908 W Broadway, 5th Floor, Louisville, KY 40203 | Phone: 502-574-6709 |
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