LEXINGTON, Ky. — ONE Lexington presented its 2025 year-end report to the Urban County Council's Social Services and Public Safety Committee on March 17, revealing plans to establish itself as an independent government entity while documenting continued progress in the city's gun violence prevention efforts.

The initiative, currently housed within the Mayor's Office, is exploring a move to become a standalone agency to ensure long-term sustainability and increase credibility with potential funders. ONE Lexington operates using a public health approach to violence prevention, guided by the P.I.E.R. strategy—prevention, intervention, enforcement and re-entry.

ONE Lexington Director Devine Carama told councilmembers the program is outgrowing its current operational structure, with the Mayor's Office budget no longer sufficient to meet expanding needs. Lexington Chief of Staff Tyler Scott said the program is considering creating a work group to examine what a transition to an independent office might look like and to consult with stakeholders.

The 2025 data shows gun violence has declined 60 percent since 2021, with the city recording its lowest number of shootings in nearly a decade. Among youth and young adults ages 10-29, the city recorded 32 shootings in 2025, down from a four-year average of 69.

The program detailed its comprehensive work during the presentation. In 2025, ONE Lexington facilitated 93 crisis response referrals, providing immediate support including financial assistance for temporary hotel stays, moving costs and property damage repairs. The program conducted 18 youth and young adult conflict mediations, deploying "Peacekeepers" to intervene when potential conflicts arise.

ONE Lexington reported 5,635 youth and young adult engagements in 2025 through community outreach, school assemblies and its "It Takes a Village" mentoring program. The organization also awards the Be the Change Scholarship to graduating high school seniors pursuing careers in fields that address gun violence, such as social work, criminal justice and nursing.

ONE Lexington awarded $150,000 in violence prevention grants to grassroots organizations in 2025, supporting community-based intervention efforts across the city.

ONE Lexington Community Outreach Coordinator Larry Johnson emphasized the program's need for greater independence and resources. "The streets are safer," Johnson said, attributing improvements to aggressive coordination between ONE Lexington, the Fayette County Public Schools, nonprofit organizations, local agencies and law enforcement.