What is Pivot to Peace?
Pivot to Peace is a community-based violence intervention program led by Goodwill Industries of Kentucky, in partnership with the City of Louisville’s Office for Safe and Healthy Neighborhoods (OSHN), Volunteers of America Mid-States, and the University of Louisville Hospital.
Supported by federal funding, the program is designed to address and reduce gun violence in specific vulnerable neighborhoods within Louisville.
Our Vision and Goal
The City of Louisville has secured federal funding to support violence intervention efforts. In collaboration with OSHN, Goodwill has built our Pivot to Peace team consisting of community violence intervention specialists who will leverage their credibility, experience, and deep understanding of the community to actively engage with individuals involved in conflicts, providing de-escalation, mediation, and resources.
Our primary objective is to address and reduce gun violence within vulnerable areas of Louisville, connect participants to programs and services in collaboration with OSHN and VOA that can utilize Goodwill’s Opportunity Centers, and ultimately change the societal perspective on gun violence.
Our Role in the Community
- Relationship Building: The Pivot to Peace team engages and establishes trust with individuals at high risk of being involved in gun violence through consistent outreach and communication.
- Daily Outreach: Actively canvasses and engages individuals in high-risk areas across Louisville on a daily basis (?).
- Street-Level Interventions: Conducts real-time interventions, focusing on de-escalation, conflict resolution, and preventing retaliation when tensions arise.
- Resource Connection: Facilitates access to vital resources and services for individuals aged 14-35. With Goodwill and VOA partnering together we can offer education, employment, mental health support, career coach, and other support services.
- Mediation: Uses active listening, questioning, and reframing techniques to clarify issues, promote understanding, and guide individuals toward mutually agreeable solutions.
Pivot to Peace Statistics
For access to the CVI site tab that will help the community and Pivot to Peace track shootings within the Pivot to Peace coverage area, click here to view the Louisville Metro Gun Violence Dashboard.
Target Areas
Our current efforts focus on specific high-risk neighborhoods within Louisville.
These targeted areas consists of certain blocks, allowing us to concentrate our resources for maximum impact:
- Russell
- Park Hill & Algonquin
- Taylor Berry
- Newburg
Note: While we recognize that other neighborhoods are also impacted by violence, our initial focus is limited to these areas based on current data and resources.
Our Partners
The Pivot to Peace network consists of four agencies. Goodwill partners with The Office for Safe and Healthy Neighborhood, Volunteers of America Mid-States, and University of Louisville Hospital.
Interested In Learning More?
Contact our Director of Pivot to Peace Darleen Horton at Darleen.Horton@GoodwillKY.org.
