Local nonprofits are invited to apply for grant funding from the City’s Summer Opportunity Youth Grant program to provide summer jobs and opportunities for young people who are most at risk for violence.

“Summer is an ideal time to engage with young people who are out of school and not working,” says Chief Community Safety Officer LaKenya Middlebrook. “The opportunities they get through this program – to work, learn new skills, receive mentorship and get paid for it – leads to future opportunities during the school year and beyond.” 

Community organizations can apply for funding in amounts between $3,000 and $20,000 to expand their summer programs to include opportunity youth – those who are at-risk, or proven risk, for violence because they are currently or previously engaged with the juvenile or criminal justice system, have a close friend or family member who has recently been involved in violent crime, or may have themselves been a violent crime victim. 

Applications are due by 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 6, 2023. Applications and additional information, including guidelines, a budget template and contacts for assistance, are posted at KnoxvilleTN.gov/CommunitySafety. 

Grant funding requests should specifically support programming, stipends, payment, or other services directly for the youth engaged in programming. 

Last year, 10 community organizations funded by the grants program served 220 young people during summer break. Activities included job skills like financial literacy, resumes and interviewing; creative endeavors like writing, screen-printing, photography, vision boarding and ceramics; and life skills like budgeting and healthy eating habits. 

The Impact Report for 2022 Spring and Summer Break Opportunity Youth Grants is available for review and download here.