Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton is asking the city council to okay a $100,000 contract with a national violence prevention program.
The contract is with Cities United, a group committed to reducing homicides and shootings among Black men and boys ages 14-24. If the deal is inked by the council, Lexington will become one of more than 100 partner communities supported by the program.
The Cities United work would also draw on recommendations from the Mayor’s Commission on Racial Justice and Equality.
As part of the Cities United partnership, a Lexington team— comprised of the criminal justice community, social workers, mental health professionals, the faith community, and youth advocates—would be led by One Lexington director Devine Carama.
Lexington saw a record spate of homicides in 2020 and is on pace to exceed that rate this year.
