In 2022, Lexington saw an all-time high of 44-gun related homicides. That number fell by 46% in 2023. And last year there was a 35% decrease in shooting victims among 13- to 29-year-olds. That's the age group where ONE Lexington focuses its support.
Director Devine Carama said while the progress seen in 2023 is "encouraging", too many people in our community are still affected by gun violence. He laid out the goals for 2024.
"I want us to not just have programs that are focused on people who've been impacted by gun violence, and I want to get to where we're creating pathways to keep people from even entering that cycle of violence," he said.
Carama said the group will continue to work to identify and address the root causes and find ways to reach young people before they are affected by gun violence.
The ONE Lexington program brings together a wide array of community partners – ranging from Lexington Police to grassroots organizations.
Melody Westerfield leads the It Takes a Village Summer Youth and Mentoring Program at William Wells Brown Elementary said success involves a level of involvement with at-risk kids that goes above and beyond.
"We start from the door of their homes," she said. "We show up at their homes. We put them in our cars. We take them where they need to go, where they need to be. And that's how intentional you have to be."
