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Kankakee United outlines 2024 outreach, seeks part‑time youth leader and victim advocate
Summary
Kankakee United presented a 2024 recap to the Kankakee City Public Safety Committee, reporting victim-support figures, community events and a plan to add a part‑time youth leader and a victim advocate funded with existing grant/stipend money.
Troy Louie, outreach coordinator for Kankakee United, presented the group's 2024 year‑end recap to the Kankakee City Public Safety Committee on Tuesday (date not specified), summarizing services for gun‑violence survivors, community outreach and staffing plans.
Louie said the group served a survey population of about 25,000 and provided “critical support services” to dozens of people affected by gun violence. He reported 26 victims for 2024 in one slide and later referenced 28 known violence victims in Kankakee; both figures were presented in Louie’s summary. Louie also said the organization helped six formerly incarcerated residents secure employment and continued follow‑up support for those placements.
Kankakee United emphasized events and training that it ran or helped organize during 2024, including community launches, teen town halls and Stop the Bleed trainings. Louie noted the group opens training events to the public and praised a local officer who “played a major factor in saving someone's life” during a response last year.
On costs and scale, Louie told the committee the city’s average per‑homicide cost of gun violence is about $700,000, compared with a national figure he listed as $1,900,000; he said the city’s average cost per gunshot injury is about $500,000. Those figures were presented by Louie as components of his cost‑of‑gun‑violence slide.
Louie described Kankakee United’s current staffing as two full‑time staff led by director Johnny Graham Wicks, with outreach coordination by Louie and a community partner role filled by Rhonda Curry. He said the organization plans to add two roles this year: a victim advocate who would provide emotional and practical support to victims and a part‑time youth leader to serve as a bridge between leadership and young people. Louie said the youth leader position would be a one‑year role tied to the Cities United roadmap academy, paid via a stipend of $500 per month.
When Alderman Cobb asked about referrals, Louie confirmed residents in need may be sent to Kankakee United and offered to provide his card to committee members. Louie also agreed to email the PowerPoint presentation to the committee after the meeting.
The presentation constituted information for the committee; no formal committee action was taken on staffing or funding during the meeting.
