LOUISVILLE, Ky (WDRB) — “We’ve never seen this level of viciousness.”
Those words from Kim Moore, an advocate who has spent 20 years fighting violence in Louisville, echoed through the city Wednesday as a chilling warning that the growing violence could no longer be ignored. From shootings in broad daylight to young teens armed with powerful weapons, Louisville finds itself at a crossroads — looking to its community, its residents and organizations for a solution.
One of those organizations is Goodwill Industries of Kentucky, which has received a $3 million anti-violence grant from the city. At the heart of this initiative is Moore, who’s no stranger to tragedy and is deeply committed to being a part of the solution, even if that means rolling up her sleeves and getting directly involved.
“I had literally been in front of that woman, been in front of her son, been at the hospital when they were working on him,” Moore recalled, reflecting on a recent shooting at a local DMV office.
The victim’s death, in particular, hit Moore hard.
“When she got killed, I just … I asked myself, ‘Did I do everything I could? Did I do enough for their family?'” she said.
Moore’s pain comes from a sense of responsibility, an unshakable belief that she can help prevent more lives from being lost to violence. The city’s strategy is clear: boots on the ground, grassroots organizations and active community involvement. Moore, the CEO of Joshua Community Connectors who will consult for Goodwill Industries, firmly believes in the need for accountability within families.
“When it comes to violence, we need to hold parents accountable for the 13-year-olds who have AR-15s, who are carrying assault rifles,” she said passionately. “The responsibility doesn’t just fall on the police. The whole community needs to step up.”
Another voice in this battle is Eddie Woods, founder of the “No More Red Dots” initiative, which seeks to reduce gun violence in neighborhoods plagued by violence and gang activity. Though he has received anti-violence grants from the city in the past, this year, he did not. Still, Woods is undeterred. He has seen firsthand how the proliferation of weapons has escalated violence.
“We’ve got a lot more weapons — high-powered weapons, assault rifles — that are readily available to our young people,” he said.
The question of gangs always arises when violent crime spikes, but Woods believes the reality is different than what many people think.
“At the street level, it’s not as organized as folks would think but it is organized in terms of survival,” he said. “These young people are doing whatever it takes to survive.”
In a city trying to regain its footing, a new collaboration is emerging. Goodwill Industries is partnering with Volunteers of America, the One Stop Help Network and UofL Hospital to expand the Pivot to Peace program. This expanded effort will target high-risk neighborhoods, including Algonquin, Park Hill, Taylor Berry, Russell and Newburg — areas where the most violence has occurred.
Moore, Woods and countless other advocates are working tirelessly to bring peace back to Louisville. It’s not just a fight against violence but a battle for the future of the city’s youth, for a community that is too often left to pick up the pieces after tragedy strikes. The message is clear: Everyone has a responsibility, and it’s time to act.
