Columbus faith-based & community groups receive city grants to fight rising gun violence
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — More than a dozen Columbus community and faith-based groups are set to each get piece of $250,000 in grant funding from city council to reduce deadly violence in the city.
"There's more opportunities for you to grow and develop and be empowered," Senior Pastor Norman Brown with The J. Jureh Ministries Church in East Columbus said.
Brown's community group is one of 14 faith-based community organizations to receive the money from Columbus City Council to keep streets safe.
His organization will receive $25,000 for an urban garden project on the eastside, where 30 grade school kids will not only learn about growing tomatoes and green beans but will get lessons in academics, health, and wellness.
"We are teaching them morality, we are teaching them what is right and what is wrong," said Pastor Brown, "there is more for them out here."
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The funding allocation comes days after Columbus experienced a violent weekend where two men lost their lives to gun violence, including a 21-year-old who was shot and killed early Saturday morning in the Short North.
A woman was shot and critically wounded late Sunday night during a fight on the south side.
"It's getting really bad out here," Lana Durham said, "it's bad with these kids, you've got to find them something to do."
Brown's summer enrichment program will run for eight weeks starting next month.
"This garden is a seed for the entire community," he said.
Among the other community groups receiving grant money:
- All Nations Worship Assembly Columbus - $25,000
- Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church - $9,840
- Bronzeville Growers Market - $20,400
- City of Grace Church (dba). 5013c Christ Cathedral Church - $10,875
- Columbus Tigers Youth Development - $17,500
- Linden Life Learning & Literacy - $17,000
- Ours Brothers Keepers - $25,000
- Prince of Peace SDA Church - $18,323
- Second Baptist Church of Columbus Ohio - $17,000
- Southfield Community Baptist Church - $14,000
- Triedstone Missionary Baptist Church - $20,550
- Twin Rivers (OH) Chapter of The Links Incorporated - $9,312
- We Are Linden - $25,000
City Council officials say after groups receive the city funding, they are required to regularly update City officials on how the grant money was spent, including providing documentation, invoices, and receipts.
Neighbors like Durham hoping the investment pays off with safer streets.
"We can try, we can never say it's not enough," Durham said, "until we try and see it is not enough."
