Mayor Greenberg Makes Good on Promise to Help Community Garden After WLKY Story
Updated: 5:40 PM EDT Sep 4, 2025
LOUISVILLE, Ky. —Back in July, we introduced you to Sacred Earth Community Garden, a safe space for at-risk kids and young adults, ages 16 to 24. The program not only gave them purpose, but also a paycheck, $15 an hour until the money ran out. “So it has been, oh, such a relief,” said Velvet Welch. The next week, after hearing young people from the garden describe youth violence in their own words, Mayor Craig Greenberg was on our set and made this promise: “We need to find a way to help the funding continue for that great garden program. And so my team and I will be following up with them."
Updated: 5:40 PM EDT Sep 4, 2025
LOUISVILLE, Ky. —Back in July, we introduced you to Sacred Earth Community Garden, a safe space for at-risk kids and young adults, ages 16 to 24. The program not only gave them purpose, but also a paycheck, $15 an hour until the money ran out. “So it has been, oh, such a relief,” said Velvet Welch. The next week, after hearing young people from the garden describe youth violence in their own words, Mayor Craig Greenberg was on our set and made this promise: “We need to find a way to help the funding continue for that great garden program. And so my team and I will be following up with them."
Louisville Teens Call for Change Amid Rise in Youth Violence
Updated: 8:48 PM EDT Jul 18, 2025
LOUISVILLE, Ky. —Youth violence is on the rise in Louisville. Teenagers are both behind the trigger and the ones dying from it. Just this week, four young people were shot. Two of them didn’t survive. In a city where sirens often drown out silence, a garden called Sacred Earth Community Garden in Shawnee offers something different. Peace for Johnny. Purpose for Neveah. A place to grow for Deontae. “The garden brings you light,” said Johnny Ray. “I just want everyone to know that the garden will cover you up.”
But outside the garden gates, reality is much harsher. “Last week, I walked outside and I seen a shootout,” said Deontae Atkins. These teens aren’t just watching violence unfold. They’re surrounded by it.
Updated: 8:48 PM EDT Jul 18, 2025
LOUISVILLE, Ky. —Youth violence is on the rise in Louisville. Teenagers are both behind the trigger and the ones dying from it. Just this week, four young people were shot. Two of them didn’t survive. In a city where sirens often drown out silence, a garden called Sacred Earth Community Garden in Shawnee offers something different. Peace for Johnny. Purpose for Neveah. A place to grow for Deontae. “The garden brings you light,” said Johnny Ray. “I just want everyone to know that the garden will cover you up.”
But outside the garden gates, reality is much harsher. “Last week, I walked outside and I seen a shootout,” said Deontae Atkins. These teens aren’t just watching violence unfold. They’re surrounded by it.
LMPD Chief Calls on Parents, Community to Help Curb Youth Violence
Updated: 6:31 PM EDT Jul 11, 2025
LOUISVILLE, Ky. —Louisville Metro Police Department Chief Paul Humphrey is issuing a plea to the community.
“We need the community’s help in dealing with juvenile crime. Ultimately, it is the parents and the community’s responsibility to take care of this. You need to know where your kids are,” Humphrey said. His call to action comes as at least nine teens between the ages of 12 and 17 have been arrested for violent crimes since June. “So, I’m putting that call of action out to the community, to parents, to neighbors, get these kids in line,” Humphrey said.
Updated: 6:31 PM EDT Jul 11, 2025
LOUISVILLE, Ky. —Louisville Metro Police Department Chief Paul Humphrey is issuing a plea to the community.
“We need the community’s help in dealing with juvenile crime. Ultimately, it is the parents and the community’s responsibility to take care of this. You need to know where your kids are,” Humphrey said. His call to action comes as at least nine teens between the ages of 12 and 17 have been arrested for violent crimes since June. “So, I’m putting that call of action out to the community, to parents, to neighbors, get these kids in line,” Humphrey said.
Community Activists React to Office for Safe and Healthy Neighborhoods Rebranding Under New Crime Plan
By Noelle Friel
Published: Apr. 17, 2025 at 6:07 PM PDT
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WAVE) - During the announcement of his new five-year Safe Louisville plan, Mayor Craig Greenberg revealed the Office for Safe and Healthy Neighborhoods will now become the Office of Violence Prevention. The new office will be led by interim director James Tatum, and the search for a new director is now underway. Those who are part of OSHN’s programs now wonder how this change will impact them. One of those programs was Sacred Earth Community Garden, a program that allows at-risk teens and young adults to be paid to work in a community garden. The garden, located in the Shawnee neighborhood, was built from the ground up by the program’s participants. It started when the city purchased the land on Tait Place, which was formerly the site of an abandoned building, with the plan to transform it into a neighborhood garden.
By Noelle Friel
Published: Apr. 17, 2025 at 6:07 PM PDT
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WAVE) - During the announcement of his new five-year Safe Louisville plan, Mayor Craig Greenberg revealed the Office for Safe and Healthy Neighborhoods will now become the Office of Violence Prevention. The new office will be led by interim director James Tatum, and the search for a new director is now underway. Those who are part of OSHN’s programs now wonder how this change will impact them. One of those programs was Sacred Earth Community Garden, a program that allows at-risk teens and young adults to be paid to work in a community garden. The garden, located in the Shawnee neighborhood, was built from the ground up by the program’s participants. It started when the city purchased the land on Tait Place, which was formerly the site of an abandoned building, with the plan to transform it into a neighborhood garden.
The LT Governor Jacquline Coleman visit to Sacred Earth Community Garden in June 2025