Council gives first approval to contract with national group to address violence

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ) – During Tuesday’s Urban County Council meeting, Mayor Linda Gorton asked the council to approve a contract with Cities United to help Lexington work on a plan to reduce the number of homicides and shootings.

“Cities United has 130 partner communities across the country that are working together to create safe, healthy and hopeful communities,” Gorton said. “The plans are tailored to the needs of the individual cities, while also benefitting from the lessons other cities have learned. This is a national challenge that is growing. Cities United gives us the opportunity to learn more about the nation’s best practices, and frame them to fit Lexington.”

Along with other concerns, working with Cities United will help Lexington focus on issues brought up by the Commission for Racial Justice and Equality.

“The Commission’s recommendations are always a touchstone we return to as we seek to improve our City,” Gorton said.

Leading the team working with Cities United is Director of One Lexington Devine Carama. The team will bring together the criminal justice community, social workers, mental health professionals, the faith community and youth advocates.

“The word for this season in our nation and local communities is collaboration,” Carama said. “We get so much more done when we work together! Cities United brings a big picture focus on nationally vetted practices toward making communities safer and more equitable. When you combine the work ethic and passion of our local organizations working on the frontlines every day with the expertise of a national organization like Cities United, I believe we can do some very amazing things.”

According to Gorton, Lexington’s other youth violence prevention and intervention programs such as One Lexington and Safety Net will continue.

“We’ve made progress with these programs, but it’s clear we need to do more,” said the mayor. “We have lost too many young lives to this violence.”

The William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust will fund the $100,000 contract.

The Council approved the contract on first reading Tuesday. A second reading is required.