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Louisville's National Youth Violence Prevention Week Recap |
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Louisville’s version the National Youth Violence Prevention Week was filled with events to get youth and their supporters engaged in gun violence reduction among the youth population. Currently, roughly 34 percent of gun-related deaths in Louisville take place among those aged 18 to 24. The availability of guns, substance use, delinquency and family and community factors have necessitated more attention – from youth and others.
 Youth crowded a lively youth-led panel discussion at the Chestnut Street YMCA.
 Community Field Day brought out youth looking for fun and games at Central High School.
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Youth Violence Prevention Training
OSHN partnered with the Whitney Strong Organization on March 23rd during one of the National Youth Violence Prevention Week events. Hosted by Habitat For Humanity, a training geared for youth gave participants a chance to receive in-depth knowledge on topics including firearm safety, mental health, "Stop the Bleed" training, and the public health approach to violence. Helping to train participants was a member of the Metro Youth Cabinet.
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 Congratulations to the 2024 National Youth Violence Prevention Week Award Recipients
These are the youth who are truly moving the needle to make a difference in our community. Thank you for your passion, dedication, and commitment to fostering safe and healthy neighborhoods in our city!
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 Connie Cherry came from a large family and had six children of her own. But in 2006, her 21-year-old son was murdered. His case remains unsolved. The experience of that sudden loss strengthened her personal need to become more forcefully involved in violence reduction/prevention/intervention efforts.
“I think I know how a mother feels; to lose a child to violence”, she said. “You lose trust. Then there’s depression. The counseling. The therapy. I needed all of it. I could have dealt if he had died in a car wreck. Murder was too much.”
She works as the multidisciplinary coordinator at OSHN in the street outreach program. She is responsible for assembling the right mix of assistance and response for a family experiencing a homicide. She collaborates with JCPS, Juvenile Justice and UofL Hospital.
“In my work, I try to get in front of them,” the family, and especially a mother, she said. “Because when my son was murdered, the first thing I thought was ‘My baby. Someone did this to my baby,’ and I blamed myself.”
Before her own tragedy, the Brownsville, Tenn. native has already spent several years working as a community violence interrupter and with youth from troubled neighborhoods as an assistant at the Parkland neighborhood Boys and Girls Club. “They struggled at home,” she said. “Most of the kids I worked with are now gone,” because of violence. “I remember that they were never home; they wanted to stay,” at the club. So, I got to know them; they were like my kids. And their problem became my problem.”
She was raised by a single father who transported her and her eight siblings to Louisville after their mother died at a young age. “He taught us to have compassion for others. We knew how hard things could be because we grew up without a mother.”
She was bussed from the West End to the Jeffersontown Middle School in Jeffersontown. “I remember people would throw stuff at the bus and there was a lot of naming calling” in school, she said. She eventually graduated from DuPont Manual High School.
“I think my work is very important,” she said. “Because of my son and my experience, I want to help. When I use my experience, I get a reaction” from potential clients. “If there’s a mother, I want to talk to her. There are a lot of resources out there for victims and family,” she said. “The hard part is connecting the resources to the people.”
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 OSHN Ambassadors Partner with Change Today - Change Tomorrow
Ambassadors met this month to assist with the "Feed The West" program which serves hundreds of families a month in an effort to address food insecurity in West Louisville. OSHN Ambassadors are always encouraged to volunteer in their community or share their volunteer idea with us!
Interested in volunteering in the future?
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Chalk the Walk Honors Sexual Assault Awareness Month
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and OSHN worked with the local Center for Women and Families to "Chalk the Walk" on Broadway. Chalked were messages of hope, encouragement, and spread awareness about domestic violence. The Center for Women and Families has several other ways to get connected this month to show your support for survivors of assault.
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Be the One to Make a Difference |
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Local youth, participating in an OSHN-sponsored program to receive free suits from an anonymous donor
The "Thoughts Out Loud" barber shop mental health initiative, which works in collaboration with OSHN's community outreach, has new suits for youth from the area's most distressed neighborhoods. An anonymous donor was moved by the program's mental health mission and wanted to contribute in a meaningful way.
The donor explained that her father, who recently passed away, believed in the importance of dressing well, especially for important occasions like job interviews. In honor of her father's memory and his values, she wanted to ensure that his suits would find their way to young men who could benefit from them, particularly for potential job interviews and other professional endeavors.
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OSHN is looking for a few good pastors
What many might not know is the OSHN deploys a spiritual and mental health triage into any local community after a traumatic gun violence incident.
Through the Community Sanctuary Project (CSP), faith leaders representing that community’s population are deployed to assist or give counsel to community members experiencing trauma.
Free mental health assistance for secondary trauma is offer by professional clinicians.
The most recent religious recruitment effort was earlier this month at the St. Martin de Porres Parish on Broadway in Louisville’s West End.
It was a standing room-only crowd of ministers, community activists and other religious-associated professionals exploring how they can help.
For More Information:
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News Related to Violence Reduction |
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 Vice President Harris Announces Measure for Gun Violence Reduction and Enhanced Background Checks
On a press call, Vice President Kamala Harris announced a major new action by the Biden-Harris administration to reduce gun violence and save lives.
“Today, gun violence is the leading cause of death for the children of America — not car accidents, not some form of cancer — gun violence. And, you know, it — it just — it does not have to be this way.” said Vice President Kamala Harris. “We know how to prevent these tragedies.”
The Justice Department announced it has submitted to the Federal Register the “Engaged in the Business” Final Rule, which makes clear the circumstances in which a person is “engaged in the business” of dealing in firearms and thus required to obtain a federal firearms license, in order to increase compliance with the federal background check requirement for firearm sales by federal firearms licensees.
“Under this regulation, it will not matter if guns are sold on the internet, at a gun show, or at a brick-and-mortar store: if you sell guns predominantly to earn a profit, you must be licensed, and you must conduct background checks,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “This regulation is a historic step in the Justice Department’s fight against gun violence. It will save lives.”
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"Shoot Balls Not Guns" event is free for middle and high school students
Come out to Western High School on Thursday April 18th for "Shoot Balls NOT Guns" from 6-8pm! Willenium Enterprises is specifically targeting middle and high students in the Louisville area.
No sign-up is necessary, and participants are welcome from all across the Louisville area.
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Where Gun Violence is Happening in Our City |
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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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Office for Safe and Healthy Neighborhoods
908 W Broadway, 5th Floor, Louisville, KY 40203 | Phone: 502-574-6949
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