LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- While homicides across Louisville dropped for the second straight year, there were still at least 150 murders across the city as 2023 comes to an end.
There are anti-violence grassroots organizations across the city, and many focus on children.
PAVE, or Parents Against Violence Organization, is aimed to educate and empower the leaders of the household.
They're working through parents, grandparents, and guardians of kids to take back neighborhoods besieged by crime.
WDRB News sat down with four PAVE team members, Ron Triplett, Nathan Gardner, Brandi Dunn, and Roshon Blakey, who share a common bond as west end natives.
"It's time for us to step up, stand up and take back our community," Blakey said.
They grew up in neighborhoods full of history and love that have been torn apart by quick tempers, and quicker triggers.
"Everybody's coping with different situations. Everybody's coping with different ways to communicate," Triplett said.
When it comes to death, Gardner notices something different in his grandkids' generation.
"It's almost as if they're immune to death," Gardner said. "It's almost like this is nothing, this happens every day. That's not normal."
That's why PAVE launched in 2021.
"We can reach the parents and help them do something different," Gardner said.
"You hear everyone say it takes a village to raise a child," Dunn said. "But parents need a village too. It's hard to be a parent sometimes."
Dunn said PAVE is teaching parents a number of tools including conflict resolution, self-love, co-parenting, and building community.
"It forges relationships where I can trust you again," Gardner said.
"And cultivating that type of interpersonal relationship, and giving them some hopes and chances outside of PAVE is really the key," Triplett said.
PAVE recently celebrated 30 parents who graduated from their program. In 2024, they hope to reach close to 100.
"We just can't give up. Love never fails," Blakey said.
If you're interested in registering for PAVE, the program is free and still has space available.
The three locations are in the Parkhill Community Center, Newburg Community Center and Parkland's Baptist Fellowship Center.
The Parkhill meetings will be on Mondays at 6 p.m., and start on Jan. 8. The Newburg meetings will be on Tuesdays at 6 p.m. beginning on Jan. 9. The Parkland meetings will be on Thursdays at 6 p.m. starting on Jan. 11.
If you want to contact a PAVE team leader, call 502-224-5017 or email PAVEllc502@gmail.com.
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