LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Gov. Andy Beshear was in Louisville Wednesday to honor a program that helps children impacted by gun violence.

Since its inception in 2021, Future Healers has touched the lives of 400 children and their families, offering hands-on experiences and career exploration in the medical field.

The program is designed to provide kids with confidence, healing and hope through interactive activities. One of the program's success stories is Stev’e Clayton, a fifth-grader at Lincoln Elementary Performing Arts School who has been part of Future Healers since her brother was shot. Clayton found strength in the program, which focuses on health education and anatomy.

"I’m happy and I feel safe," said Clayton, now 10. "We kind of just do activities with stitches and oranges a lot, every time and we kind of just talk about health."

Beshear visited Louisville to recognize the program's impact and presented official acclamations to Future Healers, as well as its partners, including UofL Hospital's Trauma Institute, School of Medicine and Department of Surgery.

"This is just one way to tell some of our young people, especially those that have maybe been through too much, that the world hasn’t been very fair with, that not only do they have value but they have such great potential," Beshear said.

Future Healers is not just about learning medical skills; it's also about fostering hope and offering a path to future careers. For Clayton, the program gave her the confidence to take the stage with Beshear, something she never thought possible before joining.

"I was kind of nervous a little bit," she admitted. "But now, I want to inspire little kids when I grow up. I want to act in movies and just help kids if they don’t feel good as a nurse."

Beshear praised the program’s ability to spark curiosity in children, citing its positive effects on both their academic performance and personal development. Many parents have shared how their children's grades improved, and how the program has made them more purpose-driven.

"This is a type of program that can make really important changes regardless of who's passing what type of laws in different places, ways that we can educate children about gun safety, ways that we can provide career paths for young people out there," he said. "Christopher 2X has stood next to far too many families that have lost someone, but he's trying to create a path to where that doesn't happen, a path to where people see opportunity."

By providing an engaging, supportive environment, Future Healers is helping to heal not just bodies, but the futures of children in Louisville. Through programs like this, young minds are finding strength, potential, and inspiration—one stitch at a time.

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