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 The Louisville Metro Office for Safe and Healthy Neighborhoods (OSHN) is the backbone of the city’s effort to address the root causes of gun violence. This work requires the adoption of innovative strategies and approaches that extend beyond traditional law enforcement to shift social norms and that activates the community to help prevent shootings and violence. Through partnerships and collaboration, we intervene with those involved or impacted by gun violence and promote community and youth-led solutions to foster safer neighborhoods.
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Challenged Youth? We See You! |
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 Youth Facing Challenging Situations
There are hidden gems among us. Scores of youths in Jefferson County have been forced to handle adult issues because of COVID, the prevalence of gun violence, inequities, assumptions, and hardships.
In partnership, private citizens Jim and Claudette Patton and the Louisville Metro Youth Cabinet, are asking that Jefferson County residents from all zip codes to help recognize these youth who are not typically highlighted for overcoming challenges and adversities. The recognition is called AMPLIFY 502 .
Nominees, for example, could be youth raising their siblings, or who is homeless, but still attending school, or who is physically or mentally challenged, but thriving. Those selected will be honored by local government and community leaders, will receive recognition at a local gala event and will be included in a commemorative book.
Scan the QR code or follow the link below to nominate a worthy youth. For more information, please email: YES@louisvilleky.gov.
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Warm Deployment into Russell
Reports of gun violence has dominated the news. While people are resilient and can cope with difficult times and events, gun violence can interrupt any sense of safety and order. In the aftermath of a recent shooting in Louisville’s Russell Neighborhood, the Community Sanctuary Project (CSP), a program under the Trauma Resilient Communities division at OSHN, held a two-day deployment at the Chestnut Street YMCA where residents and area businesses were offered free mental well-being counseling and spiritual assistance from local faith leaders. The CSP is a mobilized network that deploys spiritual and emotional support where gun violence is prevalent in Louisville. Its focus is to deliver harmony, love and peace into any community that typically and tragically manages frequent gun violence.
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BE THE ONE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE |
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 Helping Kids Walk Home Safely
Like finally staying home alone or getting a phone, walking home from school is a rite of passage to many youths. It represents independence and making decisions. But walking in a neighborhood perceived to be unsafe can be a frightening barrier that can diminish confidence and any sense of safety. To make their kids feel safe walking home and in partnership with OSHN, the Smoketown Neighborhood Anti-Violence Coalition is asking credible adults to monitor youths as they walk home from the Meyzeek Middle School. It’s a commitment that requires training. Adult volunteers, wearing identifying clothing, will be situated at strategic points to monitor as the kids walk home. If you are interested in this community service, please connect with OSHN’s Reimagine division.
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 Louisville native Claire Tallmon is a data analyst in the Administration division.
Her job is to review data and to do research that provides critical insights into OSHN’s practices and effectiveness.
So, she plays a critical role in helping evaluate OSHN’s programs and intervention/prevention approaches. and is relied upon to do heavy research on broad issues related to gun violence, both locally and nationally. “Research drives effectiveness, “she said. “I look at a lot of best practices and see what would be beneficial to OSHN.”
She progressed into her position after working as an administrative coordinator in OSHN’s community mobilization division, Reimagine. That meant she spent a lot of time engaging with the public at events. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science from the University of Louisville, with a minor in history.
Her early ambitions were to work towards becoming a professional crisis response professional in foreign countries. “Life changed for me, but i’m still interested in eventually going into crisis work,” she said.
“I love what I do at OSHN specifically because I know my work is important. OSHN does an excellent job of being in the forefront,” she said.
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Violence Reduction in the Community |
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This is living, gainful proof that joining a Anti-violence Coalition (AVC) makes a difference right where you live. The Smoketown AVC worked with and brought the city's Park Alliance to the table to start major improvements in Ballard Park.
This is what the Parks Alliance said about the Smoketown AVC:
"A Smoketown Anti-violence Coalition has been formed following a deadly shooting in Ballard Park, meeting once a month at Meyzeek Middle School. The priorities for the coalition are improving Ballard Park and Smoketown's need for a community center. Youthbuild is building the community center, and PAL will be renovating the park. "
People, BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE. Please join in a coalition meeting. It's not a question of "Can you?" Only, "Will you?"
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After the success of Alberta Jones Park, the Parks Alliance has recently announced they will be shifting their focus to the Smoketown Neighborhood where they will prioritize Ballard Park. Parks Alliance identified OSHN's Smoketown Anti-violence Coalition has one of their top factors for this. Read about their work with the Smoketown Anti-violence Coalition here.
Also, see the results from a comprehensive community survey conducted by Parks Alliance below.
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On January 30th, Mayor Craig Greenberg joined leaders from Seven Counties Services, Emergency Services and Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) to announce the city’s successful Crisis Call Diversion Program (CCDP), also known as “Deflection,” will expand its service hours to 10 a.m. -2 a.m. beginning Sunday, February 4. The program sends certain 911 calls to a non-police response and currently operates from 10 a.m. -10 p.m., seven days a week.
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Two winners chosen for Louisville contest aimed at finding ideas to curb gun violence.
After receiving more than 200 responses, judges have chosen two entries as winners for the "Curbing Gun Violence in Jefferson County Competition" launched by organizers in Louisville's Crescent Hill neighborhood in the summer of 2023.
The winners, Michael Reed and local artist Lisa Austin, were announced in January by Congressman Morgan McGarvey, Mayor Craig Greenberg and Crescent Hill Community Council president Cynthia Thomas at Metro Hall.
While the initial prize for winners was set to be $1,000, that number climbed to $7,000 after an outpouring of support for the contest. Austin and Reed will split the money, according to a statement from the Crescent Hill Community Council.
What ideas won the 'Curbing Gun Violence in Jefferson County Competition'?
Austin said she hopes to take a blank banner to Jefferson County Public Schools and have students write the name of someone lost to gun violence on it. Children will then write corresponding essays about the person whose name they wrote down.
Viewers will be able to read the names and find the corresponding stories about them in a book near the installation.
"As a professional artist for over forty years, I have seen art play a large role in healing," Austin wrote in her submission. "Sharing your truth can help resolve grief and make others aware of the pain and suffering of all involved whether (a) family member or peripheral participant."
The project can be continued "as long as there are people dying from guns and people mourning their passing" by sewing more cloth onto the bottom of the banner, she said.
The other winning idea, submitted by Reed, centers around the idea of "peace begins with me."
"It is evident our society has become more divisive, angry, and mean-spirited, which sadly, includes senseless gun violence," Reed wrote in his submission. "There are many causes of this, but rather than focusing on what people shouldn’t do, I feel we also need to emphasize what people can do."
Reed's plan hopes to include poster contests at schools, the promotion of conflict resolution, hosting "Peace Walks" and a "Community Peace Day."
In 2023 — for the third consecutive year — homicide totals were in the triple digits. Since the start of 2024, there have been at least 12 homicides, according to the Louisville Metro Gun Violence Dashboard.
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The Algonquin Park pool will reopen in the spring of 2025 following extensive renovations, Mayor Craig Greenberg and other city leaders announced Tuesday.
Demolition of the old pool is set to start now and new construction will begin in the spring, Greenberg said.
“We are working together with urgency to deliver on the promise of a great pool for this park, which had not seen the investments needed since it opened in 1968," he said. "Now, it’s going to be one of the best in our city and I can’t wait to see it come to life.”
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 The West End Opportunity Partnership is hosting community engagement sessions to gather feedback on the types of community and business development projects needed to grow and sustain our communities.
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 If You Offer Youth Services, Programs or Goods, We Want to Help You Get the Word Out!
The Yes! Youth Engagement Services division at OSHN is on a mission: We invite ALL Louisville-associated, youth-focused services and organizations to register themselves on the developing YES! Direct, the city’s Amazon-like database of youth-focused services, products, organizations, and providers.
The directory is scheduled to launch this summer. Its purpose is to provide residents, youth, and their families, an accessible, easily navigated, one-stop, comprehensive database for anything and everything they need. Looking for a youth summer camp for special needs youth? The database will have it! Looking for a private, summer tutor? The database will have it! Looking for used school uniforms? The database will have it! Is a youth looking for a job? The database will have it!
Service providers can register four ways: At OSHN’s city website. Click the QR code. Email YES@louisvilleky.gov. Call 502-574-6884.
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What's Going On in Your Neighborhood? |
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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. |
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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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Office for Safe and Healthy Neighborhoods
908 W Broadway, 5th Floor, Louisville, KY 40203 | Phone: 502-574-6949
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