The Owensboro Human Relations Commission will host a community forum focused on gun violence later this month, bringing together local partners, schools, law enforcement, and community organizations to discuss solutions and collaboration.
The forum is scheduled for 6 p.m. on March 23 in the City Hall chambers in downtown Owensboro.
The Rev. Rhondalyn Randolph, executive director of the Owensboro Human Relations Commission, said the idea for the forum gained urgency after a community member reached out asking that local leaders organize something more substantial than a public statement.
“We had a member in the community reach out to request that something be done as far as organizing something outside of just putting out a press release,” Randolph said. “I agreed with that, and I had already started working on pulling a forum together. With that person reaching out and also reaching out to one of our commissioners, it just kind of put more of a sense of urgency on pulling something together to address this issue that’s taking place in our community.”
The forum will focus specifically on gun violence and its impact while highlighting challenges faced by groups working on the issue.
Randolph said the conversation will include perspectives from schools, police agencies, and community organizations that work with young people who may be at risk. Organizations that already work with at-risk youth will also be included in the discussion, she said.
“It seems like the problem is getting worse, and the children who are more at risk with these types of behaviors are not being reached,” Randolph said.
According to the OHRC, the goal of the forum is to strengthen collaboration among community partners and better understand challenges faced by those trying to address gun violence locally.
Randolph said the commission is serving primarily as a facilitator, allowing organizations already working in the community to lead the conversation about possible solutions.
“Part of our mission is advocacy and educating the community,” Randolph said. “But I want our community partners and organizations that already have programs going that are doing good things in our community to be at the forefront of doing the work and increasing the work they’re already doing to try to alleviate this problem.”
Randolph said the public is also welcome to attend, though seating will be limited. She emphasized that addressing gun violence will require participation from the entire community rather than relying solely on government agencies or law enforcement.
“This issue cannot be alleviated with just politicians or the school system and policing,” Randolph said. “This is a community-wide issue that’s not concentrated in one specific neighborhood. It’s happening in the city and the county, rich and poor. It’s affecting everyone.”
She said community members must play an active role in helping prevent violence and supporting solutions.
“People need to come together and step up, and as community members take accountability for the part they could be playing in being part of the solution,” Randolph said. “It’s going to take all of us working together to bring about solutions to this gun violence problem.”
