Today I attended the 2020 Violent Crime Summit at the Attorney General's Office in Louisville, Kentucky. The United States Attorney, Mr. Coleman, brought together a room full of community leaders with varying political beliefs to begin to imagine how we could reshape the narrative around violent crime. I heard the heartbreaking testimony of a mother, Krista Gwynn, whose 19-year was killed walking home from dinner in the Shawnee neighborhood just days before Christmas. He was a brother to 5 and was full of ambition and life. His parents and siblings are dealing with unimaginable grief. This is not okay. The children in our city deserve better. His death marked the 93rd homicide in Louisville in 2019. It's not okay that children do not go outside and play after school because they are afraid of gun violence. It's not okay for children to sleep under their beds because they are afraid of being shot in their own home. Our city is better than this. We are better than this.
In addition to hearing first hand stories of violence in Louisville, we also heard from LMPD Chief Conrad about the Synergy Project to build trust with the public and new LMPD initiatives. We also heard about the positive community developments from non-profits such as The Urban League of Louisville, The Family Scholar House, The Metro United Way and the Pivot to Peace Program. Professor David Kennedy, a noted national public speaker and author, closed out the summit with proven strategies of preventing homicide and gun violence.
What do we do with this information? I'm not sure yet. I have to be honest. I think many of us who are white east end residents of Louisville need to learn about redlining. We need to make sure we are supporting educators as they teach children who have been traumatized by gun violence. I know it's important to support and pray for our LMPD and continue to come together to have conversations about how we bring about policy change for the under-resourced neighborhoods in our city. Personally, I want to begin to discover the assets of neighborhoods that many of us are scared to visit. It's not us and them. It's us. We are community. We are the city of Louisville.
I'm curious how many of you who may read this have traveled west of 9th street. If you haven't, I encourage you to travel west of 9th and you'll meet some amazing people. I'll go with you! Ask me about Priscilla sometime and I'll tell you how resilient she is! Ask me about non-profits in West Louisville who are sharing the HOPE of Jesus as they are living in solidarity with families and children.
Never been west of ninth? Once again, you can start by visiting restaurants in West Louisville or by serving with non-profits in West Louisville.
Let's continue conversations about poverty and racism. Let's continue learning even when it makes us feel uncomfortable. Let's continue getting to know people different from us.
I have to give a special shout out to the #LOVETHEVILLE Family at Northeast Christian Church for traveling with me to West Louisville this year. We've learned a lot and there's more to learn!
Read the story of The Good Samaritan and figure out to whom you need to have mercy! Be a good neighbor.
I'm curious how many of you who may read this have traveled west of 9th street. If you haven't, I encourage you to travel west of 9th and you'll meet some amazing people. I'll go with you! Ask me about Priscilla sometime and I'll tell you how resilient she is! Ask me about non-profits in West Louisville who are sharing the HOPE of Jesus as they are living in solidarity with families and children.
Never been west of ninth? Once again, you can start by visiting restaurants in West Louisville or by serving with non-profits in West Louisville.
Let's continue conversations about poverty and racism. Let's continue learning even when it makes us feel uncomfortable. Let's continue getting to know people different from us.
Read the story of The Good Samaritan and figure out to whom you need to have mercy! Be a good neighbor.
