LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Community members in Louisville are creating a nonprofit hoping to help stop gun violence in the city.
"We save one life, that's one life worth saving," said Krista Gwynn, with the nonprofit, Less is More. "Every life is worth saving."
Promoting anti-violence is a challenge Gwynn holds close to her heart. Her son Christian was shot and killed just days before Christmas in 2019.
Less than two years later her daughter Victoria survived a shooting at Ballard Park.
"I'm going to do everything I can for my son," Gwynn said. "And my daughter. Because she fights this every day. Not having her case solved, not knowing who shot her, it's an every day nightmare for my daughter. And I'm not going to stop until those people are behind bars."
Gwynn is now working with others through the nonprofit Less Is More. The idea grewĀ from aĀ recent essay contest where people focused on ways to reduce gun violence.
The organization is pushing for less gun violence and more peace and love. It plans to focus its efforts online to reach kids where they are through social media and digital platforms.
"... and let them know, if you are in a place of needing help, here we are," Gwynn said. "And you don't have to result to violence."
Hip Hop Into Learning, a hip hop based educational organization with well-known programs like The Real Young Prodigys, is working on a collaboration with Less Is More to have teens create social media videos promoting violence prevention.
"Right now, the way our kids receive information is right in their hands, its on their smartphones, it's on their tablets," said Antonio Taylor, creative director for Hip Hop Into Learning. "So if you have a message for kids, the first place you want to go is to their digital space."
Taylor said members ofĀ The Real Young Prodigys will create these videos for Less Is More, focusing on violence prevention, teen safety, and healthy living. He said the content will include music videos as well as informational videos with high school aged teens speaking about violence prevention.
Taylor expects this to be the first of many collaborations betweenĀ Hip Hop Into Learning and Less Is More.
"We hope and we know that the message will get across to their peers about how serious violence is in our communities and how they want to be a part of the solution," he said.
According to LMPD, each year since 2020 there have been over 100 homicides in Louisville. Since this January, there have been over 125 homicides. That's very similar to this same time last year.
"It hasn't change since we lost Chris," Gwynn said. "It keeps rising and keeps rising. At some point, hopefully we are at the top and it's going to start to drop."
Gwynn said part of the goal for Less Is More is to help connect Louisville's youth with services that ultimately help save lives.
"When children are looking for help and you say, 'Ok, let me call this person and it'll be a couple days.' It's too late. A couple days is too late," she said.
Less Is More hopes to fully launch its online presence in 2025, according to Jane Emke, also part of the nonprofit.
"... don't wait until then if you feel like you need help," Gwynn said. "Reach out to the other organizations that are out here to get that help."
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