Knoxville native Kevin Perry has been hired as Community Outreach Manager in the City of Knoxville's Department of Community Relations.

Perry graduated from Austin-East High School and earned a Master of Arts degree in Biblical Studies and Theology from Minnesota Graduate School of Theology. In 2001, he and his wife Natalia founded Word of Life Ministries, and he has served as a chaplain for the Knoxville Police Department since 2010.

“Kevin comes to the job with strong connections in the community and a deep passion for this work,” Mayor Rogero said. “His experiences mentoring and ministering to young men and families will benefit our city.”

Perry has served in the United States Air Force and on advisory boards of the Boys and Girls Club, Knox County Health Department, and the FBI’s Tennessee State Advisory Committee for Civil Rights.

Under the supervision of Community Relations Senior Director Dr. Avice Reid, Perry will co-manage the Mayor’s Save Our Sons (SOS) initiative and implement the three-year Tennessee Community Crime Reduction Program (TCCRP) grant with Tatia Harris. Harris joined the department as TCCRP Grant Manager and Title VI Coordinator in October 2016, after three years as Public Affairs Specialist in the Communications Department.

Perry says he’s eager to “develop strategies to bridge the lost relationship of men of color in the community.”

“I’ve personally experienced the day-to-day challenges living in the inner city – in Walter P. Taylor Homes – as a youth,” he says. “This position gives me the opportunity to create the change I always wished to see.”

Save Our Sons collaborates with community partners with the mission of eliminating violence-related deaths among boys and young men of color and increasing opportunities for their success. Since 2013, Save Our Sons has expanded the Summer in the City internship program; partnered with and expanded resources to multiple youth-serving groups; announced the creation of the multi-use community facility called The Change Center; and received a three-year TCCRP grant from the State of Tennessee. The grant promotes crime-reduction initiatives located in the city’s Project Safe Neighborhood Zone, which includes parts of the Five Points, Morningside, Parkridge, Park City and Burlington neighborhoods.

This project is funded under an agreement with the State of Tennessee, Department of Finance and Administration, Office of Criminal Justice Program and is supported by Award #2012-DJ-BX-0208 and Award #2013-MU-BX-0019, awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance, Office of Justice Programs, USDOJ.

Perry begins his new job Tuesday, Jan. 3.