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Happy New Year! Many apologies for this being the first newsletter of 2024—this year has been way busier than I anticipated it starting!
Since the last newsletter in December:
- We planted 125+ trees in Schnitzelburg and Germantown with Louisville Grows—THANK YOU to all the amazing volunteers!
- We collected 520 items of food for the Metro Council Holiday Food Drive that was donated to the Association of Community Ministries—that amount put D15 in second place for most items collected! WOW!
- The Women's Caucus that I co-chair held a Barbie party at City Hall and invited Louisville Girls Leadership to join us. We collected 39 Barbies that were donated to The Center for Women & Families and nearly 60 toys and games for UP and Gutermuth Elementary.
- We welcomed Alena Balakos to the D15 team. Alena is heading our B.O.B. initiative which you can learn more about below.
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Canvassed over 400 homes in the Lucky Horseshoe neighborhood to spread the word about our B.O.B. planning event on Saturday, January 27.
- I participated in fire training at the Louisville Fire training academy. We had the opportunity to rains and climb ladders (including and aerial ladder), use various tools, and search for a victim with a self-contained breathing apparatus in a smoke-filled room. It was a very cool experience!
- We visited the new AOJ Park in the California neighborhood.
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Met with various organizations and groups, such as Churchill Downs, Louisville Metro Animal Services, House of Ruth, the Office for Women Ambassadors, and the MUSCL Jim King Senior Center.
Not too shabby for less than two months with a few major holidays thrown into the mix!
A couple of Council updates:
- I have filed my first 3 resolutions that are asking for the Landmarks department to begin the landmarking designation process on Iroquois Amphitheater, the Wheelman's Bench, and Manual Stadium. Three down, many more to file!
- The start of the new year means (possibly) new committee assignments. My committees remained the same: Planning & Zoning, Public Works, and Government Oversight & Accountability. You can view all member's committee assignments here.
BTW, if you were following the story of the dog I found in October in the middle of Taylor Blvd, I am happy to report that Blossom was adopted on December 16th! I don't have any information about her adopters, but I hope she's having the best life. There are still many other critters looking for a loving home at Louisville Metro Animal Services, so please consider volunteering, fostering, or adopting.
See ya around D15,
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Meet BOB! District 15's BIGGEST initiative to date!
B.O.B. stands for Building Our Blocks and is an event that seeks to ✨transform✨ a neighborhood in one day through projects such as tree plantings, home repair, street safety improvements, beautification, and more. The event is community-led, Louisville Metro-supported, and non-profit partnered. The goal is to be proactive in solving issues our community members face daily by bringing city services to their doorstep.
The Lucky Horseshoe neighborhood was chosen as the pilot neighborhood because of its smaller size and centralized location in the district (see: the area with the greatest need). Lucky Horseshoe is bound by Central Avenue to the north, Oakdale Avenue to the east, Longfield Avenue to the south, and Taylor Boulevard to the west. The hope is to replicate this in every neighborhood in D15.
We have a TON of stuff planned for the big day on April 6th, but what we think the neighborhood wants isn't always representative of what the neighborhood actually needs. So, we need YOU to help us fill in the gaps.
We're hosting our second planning meeting on Saturday, January 27, from 10:00 to 11:30 am at the Kentucky Derby Museum (2nd-floor gallery, 704 Central Avenue). Join us to help identify needs/partners, learn more about what we already have planned, and figure out how you can plug in.
You're going to love BOB. I just know it.
Learn more: https://louisvilleky.gov/government/metro-council-district-15/lucky-horseshoe-neighborhood-bob
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Are you an artist living in D15? We want to connect!
We don't have an immediate need for an artist, but we want to make sure that we have a strong Rolodex of artists when the time comes. We're specifically looking for folks who live in D15 or have their studio based in D15.
Register here: https://forms.gle/Fb9tCm57xG1zJdVe7
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The new year is here, and with it, the 2024 Cafe LOUIE season. The panel-series kicked off on January 13 and continues through March at Louisville Free Public Libraries around town. Saturdays at 9 am is your opportunity to sip on Heine Brothers Coffee, discuss local matters, and make your voice heard.
Come see me on February 3rd at the Iroquois Library and March 16th at the Shively Library!
Do you have a free arts-related event coming up in April, May, or June that needs support? Check out the Community Event Mini-Grants program from Fund for the Arts!
These mini-grants are designed to make supportive grant awards throughout the year to organizations and artists presenting multi-disciplinary, multigenerational, free gatherings with arts included. Be sure to get an application in by February 16 for consideration in the spring grant cycle!
Learn more and apply: https://fundforthearts.org/.../community-event-mini-grants/
Stansbury Park sits just on the edge of D15 adjacent to the University of Louisville Campus. On Monday, Feruary 12th at 6 pm at the Old Louisville Visitors Center in Central Park (1340 S. 4th Street) there will be a public meeting for people to give their comments on how they would like to see the park improve.
If you're unable to attend the meeting, you can give comments via an online survey.
In the first three years Evolve502 enrolled more than 1,500 JCPS graduates in college at Jefferson or Simmons College of Kentucky; 47 of those students live in district 15 and 14 of those are from the class of 2023. Creating access to postsecondary education and strengthening the workforce are critical to our community’s future success and Evolve502 is working with students, families and partners every day.
If you know a family with a student graduating from a JCPS high school in 2024 encourage them to apply for an Evolve502 scholarship. Students and families interested in exploring their next steps toward a postsecondary credential, certificate or degree can receive resources and support from Evolve502. More than 1,300 students from the class of 2024 have applied already.
Apply now: https://evolve502.org/apply/
Glow Worm Cafe & Play is now open in Beechmont! Glow Worm Cafe & Play, Louisville’s first play cafe, offers a cafe & bakery for everyone, with a play space for kids 6 and under. Tuesday through Sunday, we have play sessions that focus on creative, child-led play. Our Play Lounge is complete with a comfortable area for parents & caregivers to relax, mingle or get some work done. They also offer a full service cafe and bakery that is open to the public.
TreesLouisville will be coordinating the Urban Forestry Master Plan Project for Louisville Metro that will inform the processes for creating a robust and sustainable urban forest.
We are seeking enthusiastic volunteers to join our efforts in developing an Urban Forestry Master Plan (UFMP). The UFMP is a community-driven strategic initiative aimed at investing in the long-term well-being of Louisville’s trees and its people.
Over the coming decades, this plan will serve as a roadmap for prioritizing, preserving, and expanding our city's tree canopy. The plan will ensure that we are using the best management practices for air and water quality improvement, stormwater management, urban heat island effects, and social cohesion.
Why Urban Forestry Matters:
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Urban Forest Definition: Refers to all trees within a city, spanning both public and privately-owned lands.
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Tree Canopy: The shaded area of a city covered by trees. In Louisville, 39% of the city is graced by trees, providing numerous health benefits to the community.
We are looking for 100 (or more!) individuals to participate in the Urban Forestry Advisory Group that will hold three workshops in late spring/early summer 2024. These sessions will delve into current conditions, challenges, and future goals for Louisville's urban forest. The "Discovery Through Self-Assessment" workshops will involve data analysis, discussions on challenges and priorities, and collaborative brainstorming, all facilitated by experts.
Equity Council Positions:
For those in historically excluded areas or neighborhoods redlined in the 1930s, we have reserved 10-15 positions on the Advisory Group for an Equity Council. Members will contribute their unique perspectives and ideas, guiding the development of strategies and policies. We understand the importance of this participation and offer stipends to cover transportation, childcare, and other costs to facilitate your involvement.
Register to participate: https://form.jotform.com/233515066069053
The Capacity Building Fellowship is a great opportunity for you to make a difference in your community! It has been created out of OSHN's desire to invest in, and institutionalize, violence prevention standards by building capacity and supporting organizations to implement strategies that are comprehensive, evidence-based, socially-just, and grounded in the public health approach.
In doing so, OSHN wants to provide trainings and technical assistance as you bring your organization to the next level. The CBF aims to help grassroot organizations overcome your self-identified barriers to be more successful and sustainable in your mission.
Eleven chosen organizations will receive a $20,000 grant in exchange for their participation in our fellowship program. Application deadline is January 31.
Learn more and apply here: https://louisvilleky.gov/government/office-safe-healthy-neighborhoods/capacity-building-fellowship-grant
The Office of Sustainability at Louisville Metro Government is conducting a Regional Climate Action Plan Survey to collect information on the climate and sustainability priorities of residents living in the Louisville Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). Feedback received by January 31 will influence our Priority Climate Action Plan. This work is funded by an EPA Climate Pollution Reduction Grant.
They have collected 559+ responses so far and the goal is to reach 1,000 participants by Wednesday, January 31!
Take the survey: https://louisville.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_dmYa3jp8EKAZU3A
TARC is celebrating 50 years of services in 2024, so here are some information about our city's public transit:
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Jefferson county voters approved funding and formation in 1974. Fifty years of service in 2024!
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TARC has Service in Louisville Metro, Clark and Floyd counties in Indiana
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Team of nearly 800 employees and contractors
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TARC has a fleet of 329 hybrid, electric, clean diesel and paratransit vehicles
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1,700 miles of service on 30 lines covering Louisville Metro and Southern Indiana
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TARC operates 7 day a week service in majority of our network
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Over 5.2 million transit trips were completed in 2022
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Some of TARC’s core frequency line are along Broadway, Bardstown Rd, Dixie Highway, Preston Highway, and 4th Street corridors.
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TARC can get you to work with connections to major job centers around region including downtown, UPS/Ford, GE, River Ridge, River Port, Renaissance Park, major hospitals, and more
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In 2019 TARC introduced a Tap & Go MyTARC Card as an easy, convenient way to ride and save money.
To learn more remarkable facts about TARC please visit www.ridetarc.org or stop by our Customer Service kiosk located 1000 W. Broadway, Louisville, KY, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
The Office for Safe and Healthy Neighborhoods launched the Louisville Metro Gun Violence Dashboard today. It gives the public a better idea of where gun violence is concentrated and who is being impacted.
It's no surprise that the areas in my district that have seen the least investment are the ones with the highest rates of gun violence. These neighborhoods deserve better and that's why I have been working on projects to invest in and uplift communities like Taylor Berry, University, Oakdale/Wyandotte, and Lucky Horseshoe. I'm really excited to see some things go into motion in 2024.
It's also worth mentioning that most of these neighborhoods don't have a neighborhood association or are represented by one that isn't active. Neighborhood associations are so important because they connect people who care and empower change. If you're interested in getting involved, please contact my office—we have work to do.
Access the dashboard: https://louisvilleky.gov/government/safe-neighborhoods
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