Mayor Linda Gorton today joined members of the One Lexington team to discuss gun violence survivor support services, including a new initiative aimed at expanding services for individuals and families affected by gun violence.
“This is very important work that many members of our community rely on, and we know that we cannot do it alone,” Gorton said. “By working together, we can extend our reach and partner with individuals and organizations that have first-hand experience in supporting survivors and their families, ensuring support is guided by those who understand the long-term trauma that can be caused by the act of gun violence.”
Expansion of survivor support is a goal envisioned in One Lexington’s updated, community-based Strategic Plan, released in 2025.
The plan cites the importance of intentionally placing the leadership of survivor support services in the hands of individuals and organizations with lived experience of gun violence. Survivor support services include providing supplemental financial assistance and connecting individuals and families affected to wrap-around resources, such as de-escalation and retaliation prevention, legal referrals, funeral support, relocation services, and mental health and trauma counseling.