Resilience is learning to bend, not break, when times are tough.

Sarah Teeters Appointed ADA Coordinator for Louisville Metro

Louisvillians who experience disabilities have a new advocate in Sarah Teeters, who has been appointed the city’s Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) Coordinator. 

Teeters has worked for Louisville Metro Government for the last seven years; she currently manages the Office of Outreach Services for the Metro Office of Resilience and Community Services. In her position, Teeters oversees the Office of Aging and Disabled Citizens, the Office for Veterans, the Foster Grandparent Program, and the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP).

“I’m honored that my work has been recognized, and the relationships I’ve built with people from all the agencies around our town,” said Teeters. “It’s an honor and it really makes me excited to think about the possibilities of where we could take some of the services and education and outreach in our community.”

The ADA Coordinator position was created in 2019 to help the city work with the disability community to create more accommodations, outreach, and opportunities. 

“Mayor Greenberg recognized the importance of it, and has really made a commitment to working with the disability community,” said Teeters.

Teeters says her main goal as ADA Coordinator will be to facilitate roundtable discussions among Metro agencies and disability-focused advocates. She hopes that increased communication and collaboration will lead to practical benefits for people with disabilities, like increased access to public meeting spaces and sign language interpreters.

Teeters says she also wants to help ensure everyone has access to adequate transportation, accessible housing availability, and employment opportunities.

“I have a lot of work ahead of me but I’m more than ready for it,” she said.

IN THE NEWS

Meals On Wheels Needs Drivers Are you ready to make a big difference in the life of a senior? Meals On Wheels needs volunteers to deliver meals to homebound seniors. Volunteer opportunities are available Monday through Friday between 10am and 12 noon, and most routes usually take about one hour to deliver. Click here to learn how you can help.

LIHEAP Appointments Still Available Could you use some help with your utility bills? The LIHEAP and LIHWAP programs can help! Households up to 150% of the federal poverty guidelines may be eligible for electric and/or water service benefits. And the programs are not just for wintertime - the LIHEAP summer cooling phase is going on now. Click here for details.

Week of Valor Accepting Event Submissions If your organization is thinking about hosting an event that honors the contributions veterans make to our country, it's time to submit your application. The 2023 Mayor's Week of Valor, sponsored every year by Metro Veterans, happens in the week around Veterans Day, Nov. 11. Click here for details.

What fun we had last week at the annual RCS Picnic! ❤ Thanks to our marvelous Employee Activities Committee, we all enjoyed a sumptuous meal of fried chicken, potato salad, baked beans, and much more at the beautiful Sun Valley Community Center! Then we got into some bingo, trivia, Uno, cornhole, and horseshoes. Our people care so much about our community and they work so very hard - it was so nice to be able to take a pause to eat, relax, and enjoy one another's company.

SUCCESS STORY

Financial Freedom

Dana Jassey came to Louisville Urban League, Inc. and Bank On Louisville's Financial Empowerment Center because she wanted to get financially fit, save money, and work toward owning her own home. She is now saving her money, and has improved her credit score! The Financial Empowerment Center could help you, too!

EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT

Hailing from the sleepy hills and valleys of Owenton, Kentucky, Grace Engelman always knew she wanted to help others. 

Since high school, Grace has been involved in community organizing initiatives, and when it was time to go away to college, she ambitiously pursued a Bachelor's degree in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, as well as a double minor in Pan-African Studies and Political Science. 

Upon graduation from the University of Louisville last spring, Grace began looking for work in the community services sphere. For a little while, she worked at Cave Hill Cemetery but found herself wishing for a work atmosphere that was a little more lively. 

So Grace asked herself, “What can I do that would actually help people?”

After meeting Neighborhood Place Administrator Cassandra Miller – and clicking with her instantly – Grace joined RCS as an Administrative Coordinator with Neighborhood Place.

"I wanted to work somewhere where I knew I was helping people,” she says.

Her favorite accomplishment thus far? Working to make the Senior Farmers Market Voucher program a success. The voucher program has allowed her to connect with clients and distribute vouchers at senior living facilities and at educational events. Being able to interact with clients on a more personal basis helped Grace feel more connected to RCS and its mission.

In her spare time, Grace enjoys vegetable gardening, hiking, and cooking. Currently, Grace's favorite dish to prepare is soup, as she says it is "soup season" and nothing is better than being able to cook everything you need in one pot.

Grace is also a karaoke buff, so don’t be surprised if you see her out at a karaoke bar, belting out the lyrics of her go-to song: "Crocodile Rock" by Elton John.

SUMMER VACAY PHOTOS! Margaret Gummer and her son, Virgil (ABOVE), keep cool in the waters of Orange Beach, Alabama while Jennifer Massie and her best friend enjoy a wine tasting event in Georgia.

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