Explanation
This ordinance authorizes an appropriation within the Public Safety Initiatives subfund in support of a sixth APPS Cap City Nights Festival in the Wedgewood neighborhood.
In February 2018, Columbus City Council committed $500,000 in funding to support community safety initiatives. In addition to supplementing the Police recruiting classes in an effort to stem neighborhood violence, Council funding is intended to enhance the city's violence intervention program, build, empower, and unify neighborhood leaders, enhance collaboration between human services providers, and provide additional youth employment opportunities.
The Applications for Purpose, Pride, and Success (APPS) program was created in 2011. Its mission is to reduce crime and violence by increasing protective factors in the lives of Columbus youth and young adults (ages 14-23) through proven prevention and intervention strategies. Those strategies include offering safe and constructive alternatives to violence, youth mentorship, linkage to necessary services, and providing long-term support for future goal attainment.
One component of APPS program includes the Cap City Nights Festivals. The summer festivals are a prevention strategy that aims to foster safe and healthy community relationships by bringing together neighborhood residents, worshipers, service providers, and business owners. Festival activities encourage relationship building among families and neighbors, thereby strengthening community ties and empowering the community to work together to reduce violence while creating a platform of trust to produce positive change. Festivals are themed, highlighted with free food, live entertainment and a host of games and activities for the entire family. In 2018, there are currently 5 planned events.
This ordinance provides funding for the execution of a sixth Cap City Nights Festival, to be held in the Wedgewood neighborhood on Saturday, August 4th.
Fiscal Impact: Funding is available wi...
Click here for full text