ONE Lexington addresses latest efforts to curb youth gun violence
LEXINGTON, Ky (WTVQ)- ONE Lexington provided an update to Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government Council members city council meeting Tuesday, addressing the organizations latest efforts to curb youth gun violence.
The organization uses community-based intervention strategies to combat youth gun violence here in the city.
According to the latest statistics from ONE Lexington, so far in 2023, there have been 11 homicides involving youth between the ages of 13 and 29. That number matches the same as last year to this point.
Shootings, however, are down for the same age range. As of November 13th, there have been 49 shootings involving victims between the ages of 13 and 29. In 2022, there were 76 shootings.
Director Devine Carama speaking before the council, talking about changes that include making investments in trauma informed care support into summer youth programs, and providing trauma-informed training for staff, crisis response teams, and community partners.
Carama also talked about building a faith-based alliance for victims support. He says churches are creating different funds, and offering school mentoring at Lexington elementary schools.
ONE Lexington addressing the pilot program for Downtown Peacekeepers Initiative, which helps engage with youth who hang around downtown overnight.. He says that’s where a lot of incidents stem from.
“When we get to the root causes of what we’re dealing with, there has to be more opportunity for some of these young people, for some of these communities. So that is where we are pivoting towards next. But they have to be prepared to receive that opportunity, which is why trauma support is so important. But we as a city has to create that opportunity or remove those barriers to opportunities for some of these communities,” says Carama.
Carama says there are plans to make investments in spaces for those impacted by gun violence in next year’s budget. He credits ONE Lexington’s community partners for their efforts, saying they’ve dove in in a big way to help.
