During Knox County Schools’ Spring Break, 10 community organizations will provide jobs, activities and development opportunities for opportunity youth with the support of grant funding from the City’s Office of Community Safety. 

City Council approved $28,205.56 for Spring Break Opportunity Youth Micro Grants Program grants to provide support programming for teens who are at highest risk of becoming victims of, or committing, violent crime due to past experiences, including involvement with the justice system or having an incarcerated parent.

Groups providing programming are: Drums Up Guns Down, Emerald Youth Foundation, Florence Crittenton Agency, Girl Talk, Inc., Muse Knoxville, My Daughter’s Journey, Real Talk, SEEED, Turn Up Knox, and YWCA Knoxville & the Tennessee Valley. 

This is the second year the City has offered grant funding for local organizations to provide programming for opportunity youth during Spring Break. 

Next month, 11 community organizations, with support from Community Safety funding, will provide programming and activities during Youth Violence Prevention Week, April 24-28. 

At their March 7 meeting, Council approved $31,148.00 for the 2023 Youth Violence Prevention Week Micro Grants Program to bring awareness citywide to youth violence in our community during National Youth Violence Awareness Week.  

Grant recipients are: Thrive, You in the Mirror, Two Bikes, The Bottom, Drums Up Guns Down, Centro Hispano de East Tennessee, Canvas Can Do Miracles, My Daughter’s Journey, Karate Five Association, The Edge Foundation, and YWCA Knoxville & the Tennessee Valley.  

Community organizations applied for grant funding through a competitive application process, and applications to both programs were reviewed by independent, volunteer evaluation committees. 

Established by Mayor Indya Kincannon in August 2021, the Community Safety Department leads violence-interruption strategies, coordinates safety innovation and collaboration among City departments—including Knoxville Police Department, Knoxville Fire Department and Community Empowerment—and enhances partnerships with on-the-ground people and organizations who are working to make Knoxville safer. 

For more information about the Office of Community Safety, and how to apply for the Summer Opportunity Youth Grants Program, visit KnoxvilleTN.gov/CommunitySafety.