The City of Knoxville is helping young people at highest risk for violent crime access jobs and activities this summer through its Summer Opportunity Youth Grant. Applications are open now through the Office of Community Safety.   

Local nonprofit organizations (or those with fiscal sponsors) that operate youth summer programs can apply for grant funding in amounts between $3,000 and $20,000 to expand their job programs and other activities to a category of at-risk youth identified as “opportunity youth.”

“Opportunity youth are the most at-risk, or proven risk, young people in our community,” says Community Safety Director LaKenya Middlebrook. “They are likely disconnected from programs or activities; they are group affiliated, 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.”

In Summer 2021, a pilot grant program managed by the City’s Empower Knox Initiative within the Office of Community Empowerment supported 281 youth served by 11 organizations. Funding recipient The 5th Woman reported that all of the young people in their summer program knew a young person who had died due to violence in the previous year. The 5th Woman is a nonprofit founded by educator and spoken-word artist Rhea Carmon, who currently serves as Knoxville Poet Laureate. 
            
Mayor Indya Kincannon said she is proud to continue funding violence-prevention initiatives. “Summer employment programs have been effective at reducing violence and increasing opportunities for youth in other cities and show great promise in Knoxville,” she said.  

Grants will be awarded in May 2022 for programming and support carried out between June 6 and Sept. 2, 2022. Grant funding should specifically support programming, stipends, payment, or other services directly for the Opportunity Youth engaged in programming. Applications are due April 7, 2022. 

The Office of Community Safety, established by Mayor Kincannon in August 2021, leads violence interruption strategies, coordinates safety innovation and collaboration among City departments, and enhances partnerships with on-the-ground people and organizations who are working to make Knoxville safer. The office works closely with the Office of Community Empowerment and coordinates resources with others on the front lines working to keep our neighborhoods safe.

Individuals seeking additional information about the Summer Youth Opportunity Grant program or assistance with applications should contact: 

LaKenya Middlebrook, Director
Office of Community Safety
865-215-3155
[email protected]