PHOTO CREDIT: WDRB News
Greater Galilee Baptist Church on West Broadway in Louisville’s Chickasaw neighborhood broke ground earlier this year on a state-of-the-art community center, a tool church leaders believe will provide an outlet for local youth and keep them out of trouble.
Construction began in March at Greater Galilee on a community center and basketball court right across the street from the church. The goal is to reach at-risk youth across the city. Tiffany Williams, whose daughters have been in trouble with the law, loves that kids in west Louisville will have the resources. She knows the heartbreak the wrong path can cause.
“As a mother having two young daughters — or two young adult women growing up — I feel sorry for them,” Williams said Friday. “They are having to experience loss at such a greater and a younger age than we did when I was growing up.”
The violence has been pervasive across much of the city. Earlier this week, LMPD arrested a teenager in connection with a recent shooting on Amherst Avenue. And several months ago, the ongoing violence in Louisville hit close to home for Williams.
“Six months ago, my daughter lost her boyfriend to gun violence, and our family is still reeling from the loss of that and still feeling the effects of his absence,” she said.
Rev. Dr. Eric Johnson, senior pastor of Greater Galilee, hopes the work they’re doing at Broadway and 40th Street will make an impact.
“It grieves me more than surprises me,” Dr. Johnson said of the violence. “It gives me fuel to do the work that we need to do on the ground.”
His new community center will include retractable basketball goals and will host weekly farmers markets, live music and community days.
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