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The Louisville Metro Youth Cabinet Holds Event to Develop Relationships with Louisville Metro Council
Recently, the Metro Youth Cabinet (MYC) and several Louisville Metro Council members met to discuss opportunities for collaboration and exchanged perspectives during a casual meeting at the Goodwill Opportunity Campus in the Russell neighborhood. Such meetings create opportunities for the MYC to directly discuss their concerns and ideas with elected officials. It gives officials a chance to get a better sense of what local young people need and care about, which can shape future policies or initiatives. Attending council members were Shameka Parrish-Wright (District 3), Betsy Ruhe (District 21), Ken Herndon (District 4) and Jennifer Chappell (District 15.)
The MYC’s mission is to elevate youth voice in the community and in government while providing an outlet for their civic engagement.
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A Permanent Home!
The last two issues of OSHN’s newsletter have told the story of a remarkable canvas painting that was safely stored for over 21 years and cared for by various city offices.
The painting depicts the Parkland neighborhood and was collaboratively done by talented youth from a long-gone city art program. But it is stored no more! OSHN gave the large art to the newly reopened/restored Parkland Library.
The art fell into OSHN’s hands when the Office for Youth Development was merged into OSHN. We looked mightily for the then youth that contributed to the painting, unfortunately to no avail. Visit this large, beautiful art in the community meeting room at the library. “We understood the value of this art,” said Paul Callanan, director of OSHN. “It was created in Parkland, by Parkland residents and is about their love for that neighborhood. So, the art is where it should be, and we are grateful to the library for sharing it.”
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TRC’s Community Sanctuary Project Deployed into Liberian Community
The Community Sanctuary Project (CSP), a spiritual and mental health triage from OSHN’s TRC division, brought quick assistance into Louisville’s Liberian community after the killing of a Louisville Metro Correction’s Officer who immigrated from Liberia. The death of LMDC Officer Michael Wehdah, 44, is still being investigated after his body was found in the Russell neighborhood in mid-February. The CSP deployment assisted an estimated 60 individuals, including family members. The event’s purpose was to provide community support and mental assistance to help community members through issues like depression, fear, stress and anxiety caused by the violent loss of someone they knew.
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National Youth Violence Prevention Week |
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Kyle Geele’s job is to merge community needs and ideas with government abilities, all aimed to reduce gun violence in the city’s most crime challenged neighborhoods.
As a project specialist for the Reimagine Division at OSHN, he listens and frequently meets with individuals associated with the Smoketown, Parkhill, and Taylor Berry neighborhoods where he discovers community needs and executes ideas. He says his challenge is turning the passions and interests of the community into impactful programs. “So many people have ideas about how to better the community,” he said. “It’s my job to make their visions a reality with available resources.”
His job takes someone with strong listening skills, a willingness to work long, odd hours, who can manage daily meetings and phone calls, and who has real ability to connect with diverse communities.
“Our team leverages the power of community to come together to combat gun violence, “ he said. “The issues that we address are generational. The only way to create a future with less gun violence is through generational effort. By bringing the energy of community together, we are planting seeds that will hopefully blossom into a city where all can live and work safely.”
The Cleveland, Ohio native earned a master’s degree in Law, Justice and Culture and a bachelor’s degree in History, both from Ohio University. He choose to work at OSHN because the job allows him to continue prior work in government/community/business collaborations.
“On the best days, I see people at their absolute best, coming together for their neighborhood and our city. On the most challenging days, I keep in mind that everyone working for a better future in Louisville is working toward the same goal, and that unity of purpose will be the difference maker.”
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Be The One to Make a Difference |
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SHAWNEE Residents - Ready. Set. GO!
Residents in the Shawnee neighborhood now have the chance to really show how much they love their block! Thanks to the Bloomberg Philanthropies, residents can apply for mini grants to financially support those residents who want to personally develop a Shawnee neighborhood environmental improvement project. Homeowners and renters can apply for grants from $100-$4,000 that can be used in typical and unique ways: Clear liter, start a community garden, plant greenery, paint/wash buildings, buy food for volunteers, install an art mural – go wild, Shawnee!
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Local Anti-Violence Coalitions meet monthly in the Russell, Shawnee, Smoketown, Newburg, Parkhill, Portland, Taylor-Berry, Algonquin, and St. Dennis neighborhoods.
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OSHN Events & Opportunities |
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Taylor Berry Neighborhood Networking Connection
Tuesday, April 22nd, 2025
6:00-7:30pm
Location: South Louisville Community Center, 2911 Taylor Boulevard, Louisville, KY 40208
The Office for Safe and Healthy Neighborhoods (OSHN) would like to invite you to be a part of the April Neighborhood Networking Connection in the Taylor Berry Neighborhood. This event is an essential discussion on youth, gun violence prevention and community initiatives. Please register and get updated on what is being done to create a safer, and even more supportive community. Louisville’s holistic approach involves education, mental health, and community engagement. Please join this discussion for creating more resilient neighborhoods for everyone.
Registration is required.
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News Related To Gun Violence |
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Hospital gun-violence prevention programs may be caught in federal funding crossfire
Seven years ago, Erica Green learned through a Facebook post that her brother had been shot.
She rushed to check on him at a hospital run by Denver Health, the city's safety-net system, but she was unable to get information from emergency room workers, who complained that she was creating a disturbance.
"I was distraught and outside, crying, and Jerry came out of the front doors," she said.
Jerry Morgan is a familiar face from Green's Denver neighborhood. He had rushed to the hospital after his pager alerted him to the shooting. As a violence prevention professional with the At-Risk Intervention and Mentoring program, or AIM, Morgan supports gun-violence patients and their families at the hospital — as he did the day Green's brother was shot.
"It made the situation of that traumatic experience so much better. After that, I was, like, I want to do this work," Green said.
Today, Green works with Morgan as the program manager for AIM, a hospital-linked violence intervention program launched in 2010 as a partnership between Denver Health and the nonprofit Denver Youth Program. It since has expanded to include Children's Hospital Colorado and the University of Colorado Hospital.
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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 looking for community spaces to host our 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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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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