LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Hundreds of Louisvillians attended a daylong summit on gun violence reduction Monday, Dec. 16. 

Louisville Metro’s Office of Safe and Healthy Neighborhoods hosted the event, bringing together dozens of organizations and groups sharing a common goal of reducing gun violence. The city’s goal is to "mobilize" different groups engaged in reducing violence.

Approximately 400 people attended, with many demonstrating their unique roles in the mission. Shane Simmons works in Louisville’s "Group Violence Intervention" and is tasked with interrupting the cycle of gun violence and focusing on known or suspected gang members.

Simmons spoke during a session called "Innovative Approaches to Law Enforcement."

“Engage people who have been victims and offer the support services to desist from the lifestyle of group and gang-involved crime,” Simmons said. 

Another breakout session, "Understanding Historical Injustice as a Barrier to Community Engagement," featured Chanelle Helm of Black Lives Matter Louisville.

Helm spoke, in part, about the state’s juvenile justice system.

“We have some strong players in re-entry for adults, but we are going to need that even more for our children because if we send them down the river, how are we going to bring them back?” Helm said.

There were more than 20 separate sessions on the summit’s daylong itinerary.

“We’re asking people every day across the city to do what they do in their area of expertise," said Paul Callanan, director of the Office for Safe and Healthy Neighborhoods. "We’re asking to understand what they are doing, and the framework allows us to see all the work that’s being done, allows us to break down, decompartmentalize that work that’s being done and really focus on how do we get groups to work together." 

City leaders said they want to build a clear framework of all of those involved in violence reduction while hearing from community stakeholders during each session.

“Everybody in here, we all have a role to play," said Joseph Fox of LMPD's Criminal Investigation Department. "And sometimes that changes. I might be the quarterback today, and you might be the quarterback tomorrow." 

Learn about the Office for Safe and Healthy Neighborhoods on Louisville Metro's website.