Mayor Freddie O’Connell has signed an executive order affirming the city’s commitment to building the Office of Youth Safety (OYS), a Metro Nashville office focused on preventing youth-based gun violence before it begins. The OYS is the first in the nation to adopt a proactive approach to gun violence through conflict resolution training and a restorative justice model, which will be implemented city wide. The office will also serve as a central hub for coordinating efforts across Metro Nashville departments, all to positively impact young people ages 14-26.
This office was born out of the Southern Movement Committee (SMC)’s vision and advocacy, making it a cornerstone of the Varsity Spending Plan. The Varsity Spending Plan is a $10 million initiative dedicated to investing in Nashville’s young people, families, and neighborhoods by creating safer communities, addressing gun violence, and reducing reliance on arrests, courts, and jails. With overwhelming support from the Metro Nashville Council Budget Chair Delishia Porterfield successfully secured $750,000 to establish the Office of Youth Safety, with an additional $250,000 to pilot a restorative justice program at Napier Community Center.
“The youth of Nashville are the backbone of our future, and the creation of the Office of Youth Safety is a crucial step in empowering them with the tools they need to handle conflict constructively. This office will break the cycle of violence and help create a stronger, more harmonious city,” said Metro Council Budget and Finance Chair Delishia Porterfield. “The impetus for this office came directly from our youth. They advocated tirelessly for it during our budget hearings, and I am proud to have secured the funding and been part of the effort to bring it to life.”
“The mayor holds the power, but the community has the blueprint for what change needs to happen. The youth have been leading this charge, and this victory is a direct result of their voices being heard. The creation of the Office of Youth Safety is a huge step in the right direction—not just for older generations, but for the youth who will carry this work forward,” said Dyani, SMC Youth Assembly member and high school senior.
“Nashville is fortunate to have a series of great partners that are instrumental in this work, and this office has a great potential to unite our community and government efforts around a shared goal of supporting our youth,” Juvenile Court Clerk Lonnell Matthews said.
“From the start of this year, the Southern Movement Committee has been working to create a vision for community safety rooted in care, compassion, and investments in social programs. Led by our youth assembly members, we’ve been organizing for the Office of Youth Safety since May 2024. Mayor O’Connell’s executive order is a major victory for our young people, families, and entire community. As we reflect on the lives lost to gun violence this year, we find hope in knowing we are moving towards a model of safety that is community-driven and addresses the root causes of violence,” said Erica Perry, attorney and executive director of the Southern Movement Committee.
The executive order lays out the following responsibilities for the office and its director:
- pilot, assess, and promote programming to prevent conflicts from escalating into gun violence and equip youth with conflict resolution skills, with a focus separate from the criminal justice system;
- use data and research to inform Metro’s investments in youth violence prevention and restorative programming, and to focus on youth most at risk of violence;
- gather and assess how Metro departments can continue to build safer communities for youth in ways that reduce harmful interactions with the criminal justice system;
- support the development of evidence-based, community-informed, anti-violence initiatives within Metro departments as part of a comprehensive effort to promote youth safety and well-being while minimizing the harms that come from interaction with the criminal justice system;
- develop relationships with leaders of existing restorative justice initiatives within Metro departments, Metro Nashville Public Schools, and independent agencies and incubate a restorative justice program as needed.
The creation of the Office of Youth Safety represents more than just a policy. It’s an example of co-governance, where the government and community come together to shape a safer future. This collaboration between the Southern Movement Committee, the Metro Nashville government, and the broader community reflects the power of co-governance: a shared responsibility for ensuring that all members of our city, especially young people, are heard, supported, and invested in.
As we approach the holiday season, we remain inspired by the work we have done together and are driven by the promise of a safer, more just Nashville.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by PostX News and is published from a syndicated feed.)
