LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A $1 million grant is being put toward helping young people in Louisville's Smoketown neighborhood cope with violence.

The grant will be given to YouthBuild Louisville from the U.S. Department of Justice, Kentucky State Rep. Morgan McGarvey, D-Louisville, announced in a news release Thursday.

The money will go toward helping the nonprofit organization expand its services and helping schools increase their capacity to address youth violence. 

Specifically, the grant will help YouthBuild develop a school safety plan with Meyzeek Middle School, training residents in de-escalation, positive youth development and recruiting community members for the Smoketown Anti-Violence Coalition.

"They have come to us asking for support many, many times and we have had to tell hem no in some cases because the funding has just not been there," said Katie Carpenter, YouthBuild's grant writer.

YouthBuild works to minimize exposure to violence for young people in Louisville and help them build coping and resiliency skills.

The nonprofit plans to build a relationship with students inside the walls of Meyzeek Middle School, and outside of school, at YouthBuild's offices, across the street from the school.

YouthBuild has primarily worked with young adults between the ages of 18 to 24. In 2022, a grant from Louisville Metro Government, focused on youth prevention, expanded its services to beyond those ages.

The Department of Justice's grant, again, allows YouthBuild to expand, now serving children between the ages of 11 to 13.

"That allows us to be more of a one-stop-shop by looking at them mindfully and developing case plans that are going to help them be successful in school and in the neighborhood," said Kal Carey, who is the site manager for its Pivot to Peace program.

Carey said Smoketown has lost many opportunities of resources for young adults to stay engaged with over the years. He hopes YouthBuild's expansion will fill a void.

"I'm relieved in the fact that it is providing something where nothing has existed or not to the level that it used to exist," Carey said.

Cameron also said Smoketown is an area that will benefit from more violence prevention intervention.

"The FBI identified Smoketown is one of three hot spots in Louisville for neighborhood based gangs," Cameron said.

"The design is to increase students' personal protective factors and their sense of safety and community at school," Lynn Rippy, YouthBuild Louisville's president and CEO, said in a news release Thursday. "In short, young people will use their internal strength and brilliance to build their personal agency to be thriving students and active community members."

YouthBuild Louisville provides education, job training and leadership programs to low-income young adults between the ages of 18 and 24. The hope is to inspire students to "reach lifelong success as they become strong, confident young adults with a commitment to work, education, family and community."

"This will allow YouthBuild Louisville to expand their services to young people in Smoketown and empower them with positive development programs, setting them up for success later in life," McGarvey said in a news release announcing the grant money. "This federal funding will support our youth and continue efforts to keep our communities safe."

Former students, Leondrea Johnson and Mekhi Jordan, had such a positive experience with YouthBuild, they now work at the non-profit, and are encouraged the work that can continue to be accomplished with the grant.

"Lot of opportunities here, even a lot of opportunities you don't think about," Johnson said.

"It's bigger than us, it's about our community," Jordan said.

It also works to help those young adults complete their GEDs. It's currently enrolling for the next program. More information can be found by clicking here.

For more information about YouthBuild Louisville and its programs, or to make a donation to the organization, click here.

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