LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Greater Galilee Baptist Church on West Broadway in Louisville's Chickasaw neighborhood will host its annual Family and Friends Day this weekend, a chance to showcase the church's new pavilion and, most of all, to help them connect to the city's at-risk youth.
Greater Galilee broke ground earlier this year on a state-of-the-art community center, a tool church leaders believe will provide an outlet for local youth and keep them out of trouble.
April Ralston knows firsthand the pain of losing a child to violence. In June 2022, she lost her son, 22-year-old Andre Clayton, to gun violence. Ralston believes her son needed mentors and an outlet to avoid some of the temptations of the streets.
Greater Galilee Baptist Church on West Broadway is opening its doors on weekdays to connect local youth with seniors in the community. (WDRB photo)
"If it wasn't for my son, I would have probably been done quit by now," she said Friday.
The tragedy fuels Ralston's mission to save other youth, and it's something Dr. Eric Johnson, pastor of Greater Galilee, hopes to create.
From noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, Ralston will volunteer at Greater Galilee's annual Family and Friends event.
"On behalf of the greater Galilee Community Development Corporation and Greater Galilee church, we want to invite all the community persons to come and be a part of this," Johnson said Friday. "Come see. Come see the new narrative in west Louisville."
Construction began in March at Greater Galilee on a community center and basketball court right across the street from the church. The goal is to reach the city's at-risk youth. Johnson is looking forward to showcasing the pavilion at this year's event and feels confident it will be a game-changer.
"It's not the only solution, but it's definitely one of the solutions to eradicate violence in our community, in our city," he said.
Ralston said she'll always be a grieving mother but she said her work now gives her a sense of purpose.
"We want to show the young people how to put the word neighbor back in the hood," she said. "We want our kids to know that this is going to be a safe place."
The church is selling commemorative bricks to help raise money for the project. To find out how to purchase one, click here. And to learn more about Greater Galilee Church, click here.
Related Stories:
- West Louisville pastor hopes new community center will impact youth in area plagued by violence
- Construction begins on new state-of-the-art community center in west Louisville
- West Louisville church wants to help save lives with community center targeting at-risk youth
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