Progress is a Process

The Year So Far with NMRD

It's important in this field of work to appreciate the accomplishments no matter how small they seem. 2025 has been moving in a whirlwind. Let's reflect on some of the progress made, despite the recent CVI funding cuts.

So, what have we've been doing lately? It actually starts back in the later part of 2024.

In late 2024, on top of addressing gun violence through our programs, we were asked to help in the task of lowering the number of stolen goods in the Kroger on West Broadway in the Parkland neighborhood. We immediately set up a plan to access the situation in the store and saw more than enough evidence that stealing was happening on a massive scale with little being done to stop it. We were informed that the Kroger would be shut down if the losses kept happening...The Kroger on West Broadway is one of the only 3 remaining grocery stores in Louisville's 'West End'.

In our planning, we thought: what causes theft on this scale? And what can we actually *do* to curb the number of robberies?

Goods being stolen by the cart load in plain sight is a striking sign that the need for food is not being met. Individuals over 25 years old were the predominant group responsible. During the 6 months we've been at the location we've witnessed the numbers of shoplifting go down, and we've been able to sign up over 200 people to NMRD's programs so that participants may receive the support and services they need.

Have we been able to service every individual that's signed up? To be honest, no. During our journey during these past few months, our number of team members have dwindled to a few dedicated individuals, who've been working with no pay. But what we have been able to accomplish so far has been mind blowing considering the circumstances. More on that later though, for now, let's talk about food insecurity and how it affects violence and crime in general.

Food Insecurity As a Risk Factor for Violence

The connections between poverty, violence and food insecurity is undeniable. Our country has studied and analyzed these conditions and how they work together at least since the 80s. Can we break down some terms?

• Food Insecurity - not knowing where your next meal is going to come from; not having access to an adequate food source, i.e. grocery store or food market.

• Gun Violence - the number of gun homicides has increased over the past decade in Louisville. Non-fatal shootings (NFS) have also increased, in comparison to homicides, usually higher in numbers. For example, while the # of homicides in Louisville lowered last year to 143, the number of NFS were around 350. That's a lot of shootings.

• Poverty - where an individual or family cannot meet education, food, shelter, healthcare, or clothing needs due to a lack of financial resources.

• Trauma - there are levels of trauma that can emotionally and psychologically affect a person. We know that violence, domestic or otherwise, even hearing gunshots, can cause trauma in individuals, especially youth. Coupled with conditions of poverty and food insecurity, trauma can create chronic stress and long term health issues.

What we understand: homicides and shootings happen all around the city, but are concentrated in the West End. This is also where poverty is the highest; the number of grocery store closures are the largest; and the number of open stores are the lowest. It's a miserable (and preventable) cycle that overall causes grief and layers of trauma for predominantly black and brown families in Louisville.

Reducing the numbers of homicides and shootings is going to need much more than one organization, we know this. Why? Because all of these conditions influence one another and can change whole communities in negative ways. Not one organization can address all conditions at once.

When we started working at the Kroger on West Broadway we experienced on a daily basis how much Louisville residents are impacted by food insecurity. We've been able to talk directly with residents on a daily basis. We discuss everything from day to day concerns; stresses from worried parents on young individuals turning to crime, or not attending school; individuals simply asking for a dollar, and more. All the while, handing out our information to store patrons and potential shoplifters.

The Playing Field is Changing

What we've been doing since 2018 (reducing gun violence and recidivism) has ebbed and flowed as the grounds for intervention work has changed rapidly over the past decade. Not only have shootings and homicides spiked at their highest numbers yet for the city in 2020, the world of politics, technology, gun violence terminology and economic change has been in at meteoric pace at the same time, making the job an interesting task to say the least.

This year's financial stability has been completely diminished for most organizations working in Community Violence Intervention. This is extremely unfortunate for cities all across the country. Louisville has seen a slow turn around from dangerously high numbers of gun violence, mostly thanks to the CVI work done by various organizations over the past 3 years. It's not something to be proud of, but as a non-profit working in the field of gun violence intervention, NMRD has grown resilient from seeing funding sources disappear in the past. This doesn't make it right, though. Inadequate funding needs to be desperately changed.

In the near future, we hope that a consistent amount of funding for organizations working to address violence and crime can be provided, because we're not only lowering numbers of shootings in our cities, we're helping feed families; provide mental health support; and educational resources; we're talking one on one with youth and families during mentorships and group support sessions. We're helping our city on levels that law enforcement can't provide, at least not the way it's currently structured.

So what are we doing to get through this tough time?

Working! Moving forward is the best thing that we can do at this moment, because when we stop, people suffer. We will continually plead our case and show our evidence to the public and private sector. But, we know it's not easy, and what we can do may not be what another organization can do, such as maintaining primarily off volunteers. Grant writing suffers; social media posts slow down; event showings aren't as consistent; team member morale lowers, etc. While we hate times like these, we've been able to do a lot of work still.

Whats been helping us:

• Utilize partnerships - not every organization is struggling right now. Some may have the resources to spare and can help you accomplish your task. For example, we've been able to work with Feed Louisville and KY Harvest to provide food items and meals for participants during group sessions.

• Make it known that any work being done is currently volunteer work...at least for the moment - let's not sugar coat it. Money is incoming, but we can never be sure of when. Unfortunately, we're at the whim of what's happening with the political world and what grantors want to fund and when.

• Be flexible - like our comrades recently said during an Everytown cohort, it's good to have back up plans and use whatever talents we have, maybe learn some new ones. Ever grown a garden? If food insecurity is what we're addressing, there's no better way than simply providing the food that's needed. Thankfully every little bit counts and there's no limit.

• Get tech savvy - this helps save time. As they say, time is money. Money which many of us CVI workers may not have to spare. Technology such as AI is changing rapidly, but it's available and still free to use. It's a good idea to study up on new tech and learn how it can benefit your organization.

  
  

We apologize for not posting on here more frequently! We can't wait to tell you more about our work addressing food insecurity and providing OHMP group sessions with Louisville Development Group and their various locations around city.

Operating through tough times is stressful and can make us less productive as an organization. While we're talking an individual through gaining employment, we're likely struggling to pay for simple needs ourselves. That being said, any contribution you can make to help us maintain this work is greatly appreciated. Please consider making a donation here.

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